{"id":6213,"date":"2023-12-04T12:33:41","date_gmt":"2023-12-04T17:33:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disciplescef.org\/blog\/?p=6213"},"modified":"2023-12-04T12:33:41","modified_gmt":"2023-12-04T17:33:41","slug":"serving-gods-mission-hills-los-angeles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disciplescef.org\/blog\/serving-gods-mission-hills-los-angeles\/","title":{"rendered":"Serving God\u2019s mission in the hills of Los Angeles"},"content":{"rendered":"

Proximity to Los Angeles\u2019 notoriously noxious air pollution intensifies San Fernando, Calif.\u2019s effort to maintain its reputation as an agriculture center. But a tiny Disciples congregation may turn the tide.<\/p>\n

Focused on eco-spirituality since 2016, Mission Hills Christian Church<\/a> (MHCC) enlisted local partners and Disciples ministries like Disciples Church Extension Fund<\/a> (DCEF) to become an environmental leader in the community. Coupled with an openness to people of any economic status, the congregation has found new life in a new mission.<\/p>\n

\"\"

MHCC member Dwain Hicks at Spring Planting Day 2023.<\/p><\/div>\n

Mission Hills began adopting the new focus after calling Pastor Ryan Pryor, who saw the untapped potential for the property on two acres \u2014 despite the congregation’s lack of environmentally friendly practices at the time.<\/p>\n

Under his leadership, the congregation began to align its values with Micah 6:8\u2019s call to \u201cdo justice.\u201d Partnering with Green Chalice<\/a>, they connected faith, spiritual practice, and creation consciousness as a call to address systemic injustice.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201c\u2026Climate change is not (just) a personal responsibility, but a systemic injustice that requires systemic economic and global energy transformation, by eliminating fossil fuels, war, and more,\u201d says Pastor Ryan.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In addition to simple changes, like implementing recycling in the church building with RecycLA, Mission Hills supported other environmental causes. They sent supplies to support the Dakota Access Pipeline protestors \u2014 a 1,200-mile stretch of oil pipeline set to run under the primary water source for the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, Lake Oahe.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Church member Wayne Karatsu at Spring Planting Day 2022.<\/p><\/div>\n

Inspired by the 2017 General Assembly resolution<\/a> to reach carbon neutrality by 2030, the congregation\u2019s Green Team created a two-year plan to change their church and its operations. While Pastor Ryan incorporated climate care into the worship experience, they started the first organic garden in Mission Hills, which is 100% free to the public, installed energy-efficient interior and exterior lights, and invited climate leaders and activists to host workshops.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe serve a working-class community in the San Fernando Valley that is under-resourced when it comes to green spaces,\u201d Pastor Ryan says, noting that being able to share resources with the community is a source of pride for the congregation.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

By 2018, Mission Hills set out to add solar panels to the facility. They installed a new 101-panel, 34-kilowatt solar system on the education building and part of the sanctuary. A DCEF green loan<\/a> made the investment affordable. The tenacity of a dedicated DCEF Building and Capital Services Advisor made it possible.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cGetting the solar panels installed was time intensive,\u201d Pastor Ryan says. \u201cFrom the beginning of this process, it took three years from selecting quotes from solar installers to powering up the panels. Churches looking to install these panels must be prepared to have someone on call committed to the project for a long time before and after installing the solar panels.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

That person was DCEF Advisor Rosario Ibarra, who was happy to work with the congregation on securing their loan.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cPartnering with a congregation eager to share God\u2019s love in addressing climate change issues and using the church grounds to provide food and build community was refreshing,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"\"Since 2020, the solar panels have produced\u00a085.5-megawatt hours. Solar energy generated from the panels offsets the church\u2019s energy consumption and significantly lowers carbon emissions. Over the past three years, the panels prevented about\u00a0133,963 pounds of carbon from being emitted by the church\u2019s energy use, Pastor Ryan says.<\/p>\n

When MHCC\u2019s panels make more energy than the church consumes, monthly electric bills show the credit, and excess power supplies the grid, rather than drawing from it.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cSolar panels are great. We save a lot of money thanks to them,\u201d Pastor Ryan concludes. \u201cThe solar panels are a visual reminder of our environmental and spiritual commitment to caring for the Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

While a solar system is cost-effective in the long term, making environmental efforts is much more than saving money for congregations like Mission Hills Christian Church. It\u2019s about expressing their values through their daily practices \u2013 and creating a better and more just world for all.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"

Mission Hills holds a community garden workshop.<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Proximity to Los Angeles\u2019 notoriously noxious air pollution intensifies San Fernando, Calif.\u2019s effort to maintain its reputation as an agriculture center. But a tiny Disciples congregation may turn the tide. Focused on eco-spirituality since 2016, Mission Hills Christian Church (MHCC) enlisted local partners and Disciples ministries like Disciples Church Extension Fund (DCEF) to become an […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":6214,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,2,5],"tags":[133,131,134,124,130,132],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nServing God\u2019s mission in the hills of Los Angeles - Disciples Church Extension Fund<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In 2017, Mission Hills embarked on a journey to prioritize environmental justice and eco-spirituality. 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