8 August 2005

Dear Arnold,

Grace and peace. It has been a tremendous summer at UrbanSpirit, and I want to thank you for the Disciples part in making it happen.
UrbanSpirit, as the center of its poverty-education mission, arranges and leads "poverty immersion" experiences for youth and adults.

In our early, developing years, we have been limited by our facilities, with some larger groups sleeping off-site. With the development of dormitories and shower rooms in our church buildings, we now have a capacity of 70, and actually hosted groups of 6 to 45 this summer-seven groups in all. They were Lutheran, Episcopalian, UCC, and Disciples; and they told us that this was among the best and most difficult experiences of their lives. We are happy to be able to challenge Christians through these events to connect their faith with Jesus' own economic teachings to develop leaders for a world in pain.

Arnold, I have to tell you that we would not have reached this place in our mission development without the Disciples Home Missions and the Office of Volunteering. Almost since we began in late 2001, you all have been with us, dreaming of ways to make this vision a reality, providing important foundational work to support our witness. The Disciples were there when we first reclaimed the church house that had been abused for many years; you were there when we stretched our wings and set a goal of establishing church dormitories.

Through many dollars and many volunteers, you have brought us to a place that would have otherwise taken many years. Disciples have worked here, talked about us, signed up for events here, and trusted us to show hospitality even while they experienced the rawness of poverty in a new way. We even get a stray Disciple now and then looking for a place to stay on a trip through Louisville. We are always happy to accommodate!

The relationships that have come are many, but especially Carl and Robin Zerweck, who have become my good friends through this ministry. I am blessed to work alongside them in various ways, happy to play with them from time to time and honored to share with them a powerful vision of a world transformed.

So, on behalf of our board of directors, but especially from me personally, I offer my thanks to you, and Disciples.

I am grateful for your commitment and for all the generosity the Disciples have shown. I look forward to working together for a long time in this corner of the vineyard. And you always have a place to stay in Louisville.

Blessings in all that you do,

Rev. Dr. Deborah DeMars Conrad, Director
Urban Spirit
Louisville, Ky.

Arnold C. Nelson Jr.

The Rev. Arnold C. Nelson Jr., president of Disciples Home Missions, is a native of Clarksville, Tenn., and is a member of Southport Christian Church, Indianapolis.