Dwell in Atlanta

adwell

DOOR Atlanta is looking for young adults to participate in service, community, hospitality, education and spiritual disciplines living together in intentional community while serving the city through agencies and local ministries. From the legacy of teachings of Dr. Martin L. King Jr. we will work together to realize solutions to the 3 Evils- Racism, Militarism, and Materialism.

About Dwell Atlanta

Lives intentionally in an urban community
Builds each other up as Disciples of Jesus Christ through curriculum that covers issues such as: race, environment, poverty, housing, and community
Is supported in their faith journey through a beginning of the year orientation, retreats during the year, and an end-of-term debriefing retreat
Is 18-29 years of age
Spend one day per week in formal, directed study and reflection on themes of ministry in the city
Receive modest stipend to support living expenses
Engage in a local Church
Observe a weekly day of Sabbath
Participate in 4 retreats spread out over the year

General Info

DWELL will connect candidates to Atlanta, to serve the community, to learn from others already serving in ministry, to assist the ministries of the local church and social service network, and practice hospitality.

Candidates will be interviewed and placed with Atlanta agencies and ministries based on the need of the local ministry and the gifts and talents of the candidate. After arriving Sept. 1, the first two weeks are set aside for orientation, tours, reading, settling in. Dwellers will serve in their ministry placement an average of 32 hours a week. They will meet together as a team one day a week for directed study, prayer, training, or living issues. Twice a month they will engage in various events and activities in and around Atlanta. Four retreats are taken in September November, April and August.

Goals

To dwell amongst the people of Atlanta as Christ's example of living among us.
To make known and to know God's presence in the city of Atlanta.
To grow as urban ministers ( teachers, social workers, friends) of the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.

Activities

COMMUNITY - Volunteers will live in community with a diverse group of 4-6 Christian young adults, learn the meaning of Christian love and work through differences. Time is set aside in the schedule each week to allow volunteers to develop relationships with people from the community in which they live and experience the joys and difficulties of cross-cultural friendships.

SPIRITUALITY - Volunteers will engage in guided curriculum, worship, and reflection as an individual, team and community of teams. Each volunteer will receive support from the City Directors and be matched to another participant as an accountability partner. They will participate regularly in a local church and learn to apply their Christian beliefs in daily life of an urban setting. Volunteers will explore the Christian discipline of simplicity.

SERVICE - Volunteers will be matched with a service site during the course of the year. That service site will be determined by the volunteer's interest in urban issues. Opportunities include working with Atlanta's refugee population, growing Hispanic population, the homeless community, serving in advocacy roles for justice issues, and other opportunities.

Details

BENEFITS - DWELL will provide housing, utilities, groceries, public transportation pass, retreats throughout the year, a monthly stipend, and health insurance. Volunteers will be expected to raise support of about $6500 and to report their experience to their home church.

PERIOD OF SERVICE - One year (beginning of September through beginning of August)

If interested, you may contact Jannan Thomas at 678-596-8122 or
Jannan@DOORnetwork.org. Or You may fill out an inquiry form to receive more information.

Curriculum

DWELL provides a curriculum that brings together a diverse collection of books, articles and experiences that our Dwellers read and discuss on a weekly basis throughout the year. The goal of our curriculum is to expose our participants to a variety of perspectives on a variety of subjects, ranging from interpersonal relationships to social justice to spiritual growth. Selections may include: Freedom of Simplicity by Richard Foster, Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman, Letters from a Birmingham Jail by ML King Jr, Beyond Charity by John Perkins, and Out of Solitude by Henri Nouwen

Trainings focus on various issues related the various community service sites, churches, or neighborhood experiences. Topics include: literacy, environmental justice, racism, civil rights, affordable housing, health care, and various other topics. Community Day is a time that all Dwellers come together to eat, worship, and reflect. Time is set aside for each person to share with an accountability partner.

Details

BENEFITS - DOOR will provide housing, utilities, groceries, public transportation pass, retreats throughout the year, a monthly stipend and health insurance. Upon completion of service volunteers are eligible for grants for partial payments of student loans and moving expenses. Volunteers will be expected to raise support of $6500, and to communicate their experience to their home church and supporting networks.

PERIOD OF SERVICE - One year (Sept. 1 through Mid- August)

Site Information

Atlanta is the ninth largest city in the United States with a population of over 5 million in the metro area and is the fastest growing metropolitan area in the nation. Atlanta is a city that is proud of its image and accomplishments. From its early history as a transportation hub where railroads came together, Atlanta has been proud of its commerce. Henry Grady promoted the city as the “New South”, a city known for its modern economy. Today Atlanta ranks third in the number of Fortune 500 companies within its city boundaries. Coca Cola, Home Depot, UPS, Delta Airlines, AT&T Mobility, and other major corporations call Atlanta home. Atlanta is also home to the fastest growing millionaire population in the United States. But the image that Atlanta promotes does not always tell the whole story. Despite its reputation as a center of commerce, almost 30% of Atlanta’s population lives in poverty and the majority are African-American.

Atlanta has reputation for being a city of opportunity, but when you look closer that opportunity is not equally shared among all residents. During the Civil Rights Movement, Atlanta stood apart from southern cities that supported segregation, touting itself as “The City Too Busy to Hate”. The strong African American leadership in Atlanta, combined with the desire of the white leadership to avoid any publicity that would hurt commerce, led Atlanta to be free of many of the riots and demonstrations in other southern cities during the civil rights movement. Although Atlanta is a wonderful multi-cultural city, there is still an element of racism in the high percentage of black people who live in poverty and the number of schools struggling in low-income, African-American neighborhoods. If ministering in this context sounds intriguing to you, than consider becoming part of the DWELL program in Atlanta. Over the course of the year, we will explore urban ministry and discuss the many questions that arise out of serving in the midst of great blessings and great need.

Return to Top