Why We Love the City
Rev. Aaron J. Anderson
York City
is our home. Our family came to central PA in 2004 by way of Raleigh, North
Carolina. I arrived here eager to serve as an assistant pastor at Providence
Presbyterian Church, a suburban church in Manchester Township.
During our
first two years in York we rented a ranch house in the Shiloh neighborhood in
West York. Those two years afforded us the opportunity to learn more about
York’s culture and history.
We were
quickly drawn to York City as we considered where to purchase a home. The
historic homes full of character, the multi-cultural neighborhoods, the
excitement of city revitalization, and the sense of community life our friends
Chuck and Nancy Snyder described were all influential in our decision to move
to the City.
It was in
the summer of 2006 that we moved to the historic Avenues neighborhood. My wife Gail
had just given birth to our fourth child and we jumped right in to the task of
renovating an old, two-story brick house that was full of character and
potential.
In 2009 we
helped start City Church, which has since become a family for many City dwellers.
The church launched with the goal of being a church for the Gospel and the City and our family gladly threw our passion
and energy into the exciting prospect of living and worshipping in the City.
Six years have
passed since our move into the City. The home renovations are near complete. Our
family will soon welcome its sixth child, three of whom have been born in the
City.
We discovered
that York City has been a great place to raise a family. Every caring parent
desires to give their children exposure to opportunities to grow into healthy,
balanced, contributing adult members of society and the City has been abundant
with those opportunities.
Our kids
are surrounded by a diverse group of friends. Their birthday parties, sports
teams and classrooms give them exposure to different ethnic groups, belief systems,
and economic realities. Living in a diverse City is their normal experience.
We
regularly frequent the downtown area to visit Central Market, to enjoy a meal
at one of the many restaurants or for a Saturday walk along the historic,
tree-lined, downtown streets. Revs games, parades, block parties with new
friends are icing on the cake.
Friends and
neighbors are usually out grooming their yards or relaxing on their porches as
we walk the Avenues. Many a day has ended with an evening cookout or late night
smores with friends. Our family has tasted what it means to be a part of a
community.
After six years of living in the City we can honestly say that we love living in the City.
I am a firm
believer that loving a place does not mean being naïve about its problems. We
would be naïve to ignore the many challenges the City faces. I would be lying
to say that there have not been times when I have been concerned about my
family’s safety. On several occasions I have made my share of calls to the
police to report criminal activity.
Our City
faces real problems. A high percentage of City residents struggle with poverty
with little likelihood they will emerge from it anytime soon. Single moms are
giving to birth to kids whose fathers have abandoned their parental
responsibility. The normal in some City blocks is drug trade, prostitution, violence
and fear.
The school
district faces an annual funding challenge and the poorest children in York
County are annually faced with the probability of cuts to more programs and
services. Far too many properties are blighted and in need of redevelopment.
Property values are sagging and property taxes continue to escalate.
There are
times that I have held out hope that the County might pull together to share
resources that would improve the lives of our most destitute. At other times I
have been close to abandoning the hope that City and County could partner
together. Still, I am convinced that generosity is no stranger to York County.
Our family
will continue to pray and work for the revitalization and prosperity of the
City. A City where opportunity abounds for educated professionals only is
unacceptable. Opportunity must flourish for all people regardless of class, race
or any other factor. Imagine an integrated City where professionals and
dwellers regularly mingle together with their County neighbors as one community.
I am
absolutely convinced that York City is a place that God loves. God once rebuked
the Old Testament prophet Jonah for his lack of concern for his neighboring city
of Nineveh. “Should I not be concerned about that great city?” God retorted to
Jonah. Should God not also be concerned about the 44,000 residents of York
City?
If God
loves this City how can my family not also love this City? Our love for this
City is not based solely on what we consume here but more so on the opportunity
to serve and love the same people that God loves.
Our
decision to live in the City has been shaped by the incarnation of Jesus. The
Son of God became flesh. He refused to sit back, gaze at our messy human
predicament, shake his head and walk away in disgust. Instead Jesus became one
of us, entered our world by way of a poor family to enjoy rich relationships with
hurting and oppressed people. He offered his life to ransom us from hopelessness
and despair. God loves York City with all its brokenness and potential.
We choose
to live in the City because God loves it and we do too. We have no messianic
delusions of becoming saviors of the City. Our limitations are all too obvious.
We do cling though to the high calling of being good neighbors, solid
contributors to the common good and a gentle witness of the love of God in this
City we call home.
