Several people have honestly discussed their concern with sending kids to Detroit. I will have to admit, this is honest. Here is a link to a USA today article from October, 2016 ranking America's most dangerous cities. Detroit is number two. (St. Louis is number one and Kansas City is number ten.)
In light of this concern, I asked Pastor John Carrier, who serves at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Detroit, which is hosting Camp Restore, about this very issue. Here's the email exchange we shared:
(I wrote)
John,
Thanks again for your answers. I'm sure you'll run into this with other groups. Unfortunately, Detroit doesn't have a great reputation. I've been there I know you guys will take good care of us (and of course evil is everywhere). Is there anything you can do to help other people know they'll be okay there?
Thanks
Jacob
(Pastor Carrier responded)
Jacob,
Thank you for your candor. While I do not live in the neighborhood (I actually live about an hour away where my wife and I had a home already before I and Mount Calvary began working to develop this ministry), I come and go freely at various times of the night in my vehicle without a great deal of concern, but I would not want to be wandering in this or any unfamiliar neighborhood after dark. I do walk freely through the neighborhood during the daylight hours. Although daylight hours will be long during the time of your visit I would not encourage youth or others unfamiliar with the community to wander alone (that is not a good idea in any urban area regardless of the city or neighborhood). I often walk the sidewalk in front of the Church to greet those walking and driving by on Sunday mornings, and have had my 3 and 4 year old grandsons alongside me doing so as they joined us during VBS week. I do not expect wandering the neighborhood to be a problem as the trip will be a time of group bonding and service. I would anticipate that any area of service to the poor, disadvantaged, or those struggling with life's challenges would be in areas of similar concern. While you will provide your own transportation to service sites, either a representative of Camp Restore or the leader of a community partner group with whom we are familiar will guide you there and ensure that you are secure as you serve.
You might check the web site of "Life Remodeled" to get an idea of some of the service work needed in Detroit. This group came through our area last summer and did extensive work with well over a thousand volunteers clearing brush away from buildings and making small repairs on homes. With the involvement of a former roofing contractor in their efforts, one woman who is a friend of Mount Calvary, even received a new roof.
You should plan "down time" to include group activities in Detroit, there are many things to see and do here. You may want to take in 1 or 2 of the local restaurants (Slow's Barbecue is one of my favorites . . . Roma's restaurant is more expensive, but they claim to be the oldest continuous restaurant in Detroit and the oldest Italian restaurant in the United States. There are museums, Belle Isle, the Detroit Zoo, and Greenfield Village experience sponsored by the Ford Co. in nearby Dearborn, just to name a few of the possibilities for group activities you might want to take an afternoon off to enjoy. I mention these possibilities as afternoon outings you might want to take as a break from your labors some time during the week. If the Tigers are in town you might choose to spend an evening at a ball game.
Other "down times" would normally be spent resting from the day's labors and discussing your experiences, especially if your group is divided for your service experience. We have fencing around much of our property to secure the building. . Our sleeping areas are on the 2nd story of our building, about 2 1/2 stories above the street level. Our fellowship areas are on that floor and in the basement, which is where our gymnasium is located. We also have a good relationship with Detroit's 9th Precinct and will request extra attention when we have guests in the building. We have a fenced lot for vehicles which will be locked overnight. We have a security system in place for overnight and any time the building is unoccupied. Your safety is our first concern. It is certainly in our own best interests, as well as yours, to keep you as safe as possible. I would not invite you to come if I was not confident that all would be safe.
As you might imagine, with less than 25% of the lots occupied by residents, there are not a lot of people to be seen in the evenings outside the Church. There are quite a number of neglected buildings in need of destruction in our neighborhood, but in the immediate vicinity of the Church most homes on unoccupied parcels have been demolished. The open areas create sight lines that make it more difficult for anyone to cause us any trouble. The City of Detroit is constantly working to clear uninhabitable buildings and eliminate the problems they can present. Our efforts to clear away over growth and debris from lots aids in this effort. We also have a well lit exterior discouraging anyone from disturbing the premises. While I have heard the stories of issues long before I came (as is common in any urban area - I spent 10 years in a blighted area of Chicago), we have had no incidents in the time I have been there and no recent issues of which I am aware. There have been incidents in the larger community around us, but those have been late-night events or the result of issues between the parties involved. The suggestion was made that groups might be housed in suburban areas and drive in for events, but that would take the group from the area of service and diminish the impact of the experience.
I have heard Detroit described as "The biggest comeback story" in recent years lately. All of our major professional sports teams have returned to Detroit after many years of self-imposed "exile" to the suburbs. Various Detroit entrepreneurs have spent millions, if not billions, of dollars investing in this community. Downtown street corners that were void of life in the last few years are teaming with people once again and Detroit is the place to be!
I hope the information is helpful. If there is anything more I can do, please do not hesitate to contact me.
God's blessings as you serve Jesus in all you do!
Pastor John Carrier, Camp Restore - Detroit/Mount Calvary Lutheran Church
17100 Chalmers Ave.
Detroit, MI 48205
I went to college at Concordia University, Ann Arbor, MI and while I was there I went into Detroit a number of times. I helped an intercity church do evangelism in a not so nice neighborhood and to another downtown church for worship. I attended a concert downtown and went to two or three Tigers games. All of those times I was in a group and never felt unsafe. We would do the very same thing with a group.
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Jacob Mueller
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