Kansas City church connects with Mosaic
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| Harris Green, Day Center Direct Support Manager (right) with Elizabeth Wilson at Cornerstone Community Church |
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Thanks to a Kansas City, Kansas church, Mosaic's day program had a temporary home for several months while emergency renovations were needed on its building.
"The pastors really opened up their arms," said Harris Green, Mosaic's Day Service Direct Support Manager. "That touched me. Many places wouldn't do that."
In October 2009, Mosaic in Kansas City found mold in its building and immediately had to suspend the day program until a new location could be found. Green was one of a number of Mosaic staff that spent several days searching and contacting local businesses and churches that might have space available. Within two weeks they found Cornerstone Community Church, located only a few minutes from the Mosaic building, and the church was ready to welcome and serve.
"They gave us full reign of their facility," Green said, "even the sanctuary."
It was, however, still a challenge. Mosaic in Kansas City serves 47 people in the day program. They needed a space with bathrooms, a kitchen, wheelchair access, and room for people to spread out. The church had two large spaces available, one of which was attached to a kitchen. Only one was wheelchair-accessible, but staff members and the people served were excited to have a temporary home so they worked around the challenges. Even the church's small prayer room was used when someone needed to be alone and away from others.
"Some people don't like a lot of noise and others like to make a lot of noise," Green said. "We work around it."
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| Tasha Love and Oletha Kane enjoy a game of cards while at Cornerstone. |
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Church staff members worked around it as well. The pastor's office is right in the midst of the space Mosaic staff and clients used. The bath-rooms were just down the hall. One church minister's office was even given over to Mosaic staff for use during the day. In return, the church asked only for a small stipend to cover the additional cost of utilities used while Mosaic was there.
"We have as part of our ministry the Cornerstone Connection," said Pastor R. Jeff Collene. "We're looking for ways to connect with people."
The church has a number of active ministries in Kansas City. Pastor Collene is zealous about getting his flock actively involved in service. Having Mosaic in their midst, he said, was not without challenges to the church. Being a church member however is not about "being comfortable" but about reaching out and serving others, especially those who are often invisible in today's culture yet fit Jesus' words about "the least of these."
"Having people with such need that you're exposed to daily wakes you up, humbles you and breaks your heart" to serve, Pastor Collene said. "If you help anyone who is in need, you help the Lord."
Green, who said serving people with disabilities is his calling, has worked in this field for 25 years. The church's welcome reaffirmed for him that there are people who want to help others.
"The best thing in my eyes," he said, "is realizing that there are people in the community who truly care and are willing to take us in. A lot of people say they're here to serve, but these people have done it."
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| The newly remodeled Mosaic office building includes a new full kitchen. |
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Mosaic was able to move the day program back into its building in June of this year. The entire lower floor of the two-story building needed mold remediation and was gutted. In addition, all new furnace/AC units, new duct work and new wiring needed to be installed. Since all new walls were needed, the space was reconfigured to better serve Mosaic's needs. The upper floor, which holds Mosaic offices, required mold remediation but not a full rebuild.
The project cost nearly $250,000 and is not covered by any insurance or other programs. If you would like to help cover the costs, donations are welcome. Please contact Brenda Solomon at 1.877.366.7242, x1116 for information on donating.
