Now, more than ever, churches have an opportunity to join civic leaders to ensure a healthy San Diego, said Mayor Jerry Sanders in a message to pastors and church leaders on December 2, 2008.

Sanders’ presentation was part of a six-month-long effort to hear from San Diego government officials, in hopes of answering these two questions:

1. What is your vision of a healthy San Diego?
2. What are three impossible problems that keep you from achieving that vision?

Citing state-wide budget slashes and growing economic challenges sweeping not only San Diego and California, but the entire country, Mayor Sanders urged churches to actively seek out opportunities for service in their communities. When we refuse to be oblivious to the concerns of people around us, and decide to throw off self-centeredness, we create greater connections in our city and are better able to see and meet real needs.

“When people test out a random act of kindness mentality, it changes the way we think about things; it changes our thought process,” he said. “That’s what you provide by training whole congregations about how to engage on a day-to-day basis.”

That daily engagement in city and county issues must happen neighborhood by neighborhood, Mayor Sanders said. Each of San Diego’s diverse communities is suffering the consequences of budget cuts; local churches can help alleviate the shortage by volunteering to supervise parks and recreation centers, picking up trash and running community sports leagues.

There are also opportunities for ongoing partnerships in San Diego neighborhoods, particularly when comes to the city’s children and youth.

“When we look at the health of our community, we need to look at the health of our children below age 8 or 9…Building a healthy San Diego means focusing on our children.”

Mayor Sanders said churches can help by providing children with environments that are conducive to learning, interacting with them one-on-one through tutoring and mentoring, and promoting the overall health of families.

Since the beginning of the meetings with San Diego officials, the county’s children have been the primary concern we’ve heard. In November, Assistant Executive Police Chief David Ramirez said churches have unique access to families, and are needed not only to mentor kids, but also to reach out to their parents.

Like Ramirez, Mayor Sanders invited churches to come together to take care of families.

“What we need to do is to have the help of all of you…If we don’t look out for each other, no one else is out there to do it.”

Mayor Sanders ended his presentation with a commitment to work with San Diego churches to make a difference in our city.

“We’re willing to work with you, to pave the road and clear the obstacles, so that you can get where you want to be.”

Looking forward to 2009, we’re so grateful for the opportunity to hear from Mayor Sanders and other leaders. Please join us in prayer for them as they make decisions that impact San Diego, and for churches as they lend their support in transforming our county.