The Good News in Cleveland

A year ago, we knew nothing about trauma. At least, not in the academic or scientific sense. Last August, MetroHealth Hospital provided a training at Youth for Christ titled, “Trauma/Toxic Stress and Child Development: Implications for Community Members.” Trauma and toxic stress rewire the brain. Cognitive, emotional, and physical development are potentially impaired by high levels of childhood trauma. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic, childhood events which have a detrimental impact on future health outcomes. Today, physicians and researchers recognize that the higher a child’s ACE score, the more likely they are to exhibit trauma-related behavioral issues, participate in risky behaviors, and experience poor health outcomes throughout life. 1   The science is rich and well above my ability to understand fully and communicate clearly. Nadine Burke Harris, a physician and leading researcher in this field, explains ACEs and their consequent health impacts in her TED...

This new worship song was written by Bernice AKA Sista Watson, a member of CityView. She has a powerful testimony and was baptized last year. Bernice has also written several spoken word poems which she's shared with our church family: "Biological Father," "Thank You Mama," and "Free." John 15:13 "No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends."

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 15 Now brothers, I want to clarify for you the gospel I proclaimed to you; you received it and have taken your stand on it. 2 You are also saved by it, if you hold to the message I proclaimed to you—unless you believed for no purpose. 3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

“ Sing to Yahweh, praise His name;   proclaim His salvation from day to day.   Declare His glory among the nations,   His wonderful works among all peoples. ”  ( Psalm 96: 2 -3 ).   Family in Christ,    As fall ends , we rejoice i n  what God  has done.   DOWNTOWN   As a church, we are  learning to worship through highs and lows this season. These include continued building negotiations , health crises, and lost loved ones .  Yet a s we write,  Julia and I  also reflect  on  the  tremendous  spiritual  growth   taking place  in individual lives including ours. God is teaching us to worship in our submission to Him, justice toward others, and discipleship with others.   PARKS   Soccer, baseball, ice cream,  d ouble  Dutch , bubbles, chalk, and people from multiple backgrounds filled a small downtown par...