Pondering Poverty in Pontiac

Picture of Elizabeth Denison, an unmarried, free black woman who purchased property in Pontiac in 1825

Pontiac history details a painful economic transition from prosperity to poverty. As senior missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we are familiar with 1^st- the remarkable early history of the church in Pontiac, and 2^nd- how current overwhelming needs impact the current strength and growth of the church here. Many residents are weighed down and grapple with generational challenges and situations over which they have little control and lack resources that too many of us just take for granted - such as:

1. Reliable transportation. Imagine trying to get to and from work, church, school, medical appointments, shopping, etc. when your options are walking, limited bus service, paying Uber, or asking friends. We don't consider having a car a big deal, but it really is.
2. Post high school education/technical training. With immediate economic needs and no tradition or support for additional schooling it is the rare exception that students are aware of, or pursue, additional training that give them skills, confidence, and opportunities to increase income and career success.
3. Healthy lifestyle and medical resources. Physical and emotional wellbeing is severely impacted by the overwhelming and ongoing stress of poverty. Everyone is subject to health problems, but they seem more limiting for the impoverished with limited access to good medical treatment. One sister was amazed at the difference and respect provided during her doctor appointment when a well educated, affluent member accompanied her.
4. Stable male support. It is difficult when there is a father and mother striving to provide for the well-being of a family, but it is crippling and severely compromised without stable male support. I marvel at the strength of women who must shoulder all the overwhelming family responsibilities, and often when they are the grandmother.
5. Living in a crime free environment. We supposedly live in safe area of Pontiac, but often walk by the memorial to a 16-year-old girl who was killed in a gangland crossfire shooting and we mourn with the grandmother recently baptized who lost her 7-year-old granddaughter in a similar situation across town in 2022. About 5% of our member households have someone who is currently incarcerated. The Pontiac daily crime rate is 2.77 (almost 3 times) higher than the national average, which makes us grateful to live on the same block as the county sheriff. Oh, and the Pontiac Police Department was disbanded in 2011 due to a lack of finances. I guess that is something most of us just take for granted but can be severely impacted by poverty.

In the opening section of the Doctrine & Covenants the Lord explains, "That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers." I am a taken aback by this declaration and can confirm the accuracy that Sister Goates & I are very weak and simple when confronted with such significant challenges. We wonder why the Lord did not send a Moses to turn the tide of poverty in Pontiac. We do not anticipate ministering to kings or rulers, and hope we don't have to make a report to our neighbor - the sheriff.

Trusting the Lord and hoping to to share the love of God with our Pontiac friends and members, we are doing what weak and simple people do as inspired, such as:

1. Holding Soup & Scriptures every Wednesday evening at 6:30 in the hopes of providing some physical and spiritual nourishment.
2. Teaching an English class for migrant Spanish speakers who make up approximately 25% of Pontiac. We do not doubt that some are descendants of Lehi who the Lord promised to gather in the last days.
3. Broadcast a weekly Sunday sacrament meeting in our home where we pass the sacrament. We feel the deeply personal interactions and fellowshipping are heartwarming and reassuring of God's love to all who attend.
4. Offering a 6-week post-high school technical/educational opportunities class for Spanish speaking families. 
5. Tutoring a 14 & 16 year old brother and sister to help them succeed and pursue additional educational opportunities.
6. Sending out a monthly letter like the one attached to encourage our members and friends to recognize and incorporate the principles and blessing of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
7. Visiting and fellowshipping with our members and friend as inspired.

We are often overwhelmed - like the Sunday (actually it was Christmas Day) we were called to break up a heated argument in a homeless shelter, but take heart when friends and members show up for the English class, Soup & Scriptures, or to attend sacrament meeting.

We are open to other suggestions and ideas that simple and weak people like us can use in the Lord's effort. We can only wonder at what the Millennium will be like when we have all things in common and there will be no poor among us - including Pontiac!

January 2024 Pontiac Member Newsletter

             Come, Follow Me 2024 – The Book of Mormon

The claims of the Book of Mormon are astonishing – that it is another witness of Jesus Christ and history of God’s dealing with the ancient inhabitants of America, including the resurrected Savior ministering to the people here. It comes with the promise that those who receive it and sincerely ask God will know if it is true by the power of the Holy Ghost.

It is either true or false, and you can know by reading it and asking God if it is true. Who does not want to know that?

If one receives a spiritual witness that it is true – it means:

·       God loves us, has a plan of happiness for us, and we are His children.

·       Jesus really is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, who died for us.

·       He overcame death and we will all be resurrected and judged by Him.

·       God actually talks to prophets and has restored His church.

·       Our happiness now and in eternity is determined by how we obey Jesus Christ and serve our fellowman.

Please read, study, and pray about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon this year. Its message and concepts are all about God’s love for us.

Anyone who claims Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon gives him too much credit! He did not know about the ancient Hebrew form of writing called chiasmus that is found throughout the book – an example is Alma 36 is on the back of this letter. The mathematical probability of chiasmus just happening 17 lines deep and then reversing itself after centering on Jesus Christ is absolutely impossible! Read the Book of Mormon and pray about it so you can know for yourself.

January 2024 Calendar - The Lake Orion and Rochester Wards (which both meet in the 1610 Brewster Rd chapel in Rochester Hills) will switch their Sunday meetings times beginning January 7, 2024. The Lake Orion Ward will start their sacrament meeting at 9 am, and the Rochester Ward will hold their sacrament meeting at noon.

Also at the Rochester Hills building - Rochester Ward Relief Society Activity – Cookies, Cocoa, & Conversation: Stop by the Relief Society room anytime between 6-8 pm on January 11^th.

Early Valentine social 7 pm Friday, January 26, 2024 at 100 Chippewa Rd for a fun evening of fellowship and games. Bring a favorite snack and game. We’ll have a good time.

Weekly at 100 Chippewa Road in Pontiac:

• Soup & Scriptures – Wednesdays at 6:30 pm - join us for soup and an opportunity to participate in scripture study led by the missionaries. Come be fed both physically and spiritually.
• Sacrament Meeting - Sunday at noon - watch a broadcast of the Lake Orion Ward sacrament meeting and partake of the sacrament.
• English Class – Saturday at 5:30 pm – tell your friends who don’t speak English about this class.