Just wanted to share some stories with you. (Just finished the Art of Neighboring, by Jay Pathak and loved it)

My husband and I got married at 18 and attended Biola University together 1974-1978. We lived off-campus in a small apartment building. But God had already told me to love my neighbors, and I sought to make friends with all of them – about 16 apartments. I started having baby showers inviting all the neighbors to mix together even though it was inter-racial. In fact, during this time, my huisband witnessed a shooting at our next-door neighbor’s door at midnight and he had to be a witness in court. After that, I had a baby shower for that girl to try to encourage the neighbors to love on them, and they were Mexicans. I remember many of these people and am actually friends with a few of those families still. We got a heart for India there, and had some Indian neighbors also at that time in that building.

We led youth groups and then pastored in North LA for a few years, had a couple babies, and I tried to keep loving neighbors by going to parks and making friends. I am still friends with a lady who I prayed for in a park in 1985. Her baby had kidney reflux, and my baby also had that, so we had a lot in common and she was lonely. I began a friendship with her and visited her when she had her next baby also. I believe John Wimber encouraged us back then to take our babies, go to the park, and love people.

In 1986, we moved to Florida to plant vineyards in the SE region. First, we lived in a condo complex and I prayed God would show me who He had his hand on. He directed me to an odd couple, who was actually rejected by the condo association. They suspected them of dealing drugs, and sent around a petition to kick them out, even though there was no evidence of drugs. I was deeply moved and went over to meet them. I told them I felt it was wrong to sign the petition, and cried on their doorstep. They invited me in, and we began a friendship that continues today. We helped them move to a new place, when they found out Rick was a pastor, they asked if we could do their wedding. We had a big wedding with NA and AA friends outside in a tent. It was amazing. this couple was living together, and the guy had just gotten out of jail. He was in NA, and had accepted Jesus in jail. We invited them to the vineyard, and about two years later, they came. That day, we prayed for the wife for arthritis, and she was immediately healed. They became part of that group and Scott became a worship leader there. They still love Jesus, and we are in touch with them still.

In 1987, we moved to another community in South Florida and somehow, it seemed most of the neighborhood was in AA. No kidding – not sure why – but people approached us asking us to teach them about a concept of God for their AA homework. We began a small group there and baptized people in the community pool. Some were delivered in the pool. Friendships were made, and we loved those people immensely. One guy was even on house arrest and played guitar everyday out back by the pond. Our kids made friends there and we were able to lead some parents to the Lord.

In 1989, we moved to Atlanta. I was determined to live in a neighborhood with a pool, because it makes it so easy to meet people that way. In one place, a family next door got divorced. I was so upset and there were actually two divorced ladies on our street. We were all good friends and our kids grew up together. The front porch was a hang out for moms and kids after school. I just hung out there with them and they thought I was strange sometimes. But one time, someone gave me a bunch of chicken, and I asked my neighbor if she needed some. She said, come and see – she opened her freezer and it was empty – she teased me about not doing Santa with my kids –
But both of those ladies went to a group at a church in order to meet a christian man for their next husband, by watching our family. Three years later, one lady said a nice godly man proposed to her and she told him, only under one condition – that Rick do the premarital counseling and the wedding! We were surprised and thrilled. Both of those ladies are happily married today and in the church. Also, their kids went to the same Christian college our kids went to, just by watching us. Even our kids had a deep impact on them growing up – singing songs and playing outside together.

The next place we moved to was a small culdesac in 1992.. my kids made friends with a neighbor first. They watched us and asked Amy our daughter to babysit. Said they never trusted anyone before, but had watched her and trusted her. She had been a world wrestler, and her husband was an alcoholic. David, my son, helped them with their computer (he was 10). Computers were all new to us. Anyway, they invited us to Hilton Head for the weekend because they thought our family would be good for them – they didn’t even know Rick was a pastor – we prayed for Sabra several times for healing – then Rick went to a Hawks game with Danny and his brothers. On the way home, Danny asked God to come into him. He did, and they have never been the same. He prophesied that night about their next baby, Nathan. Sabra started a kids hair salon, and I regularly went to pray for people for healing in the salon. They also befriended Nigerian neighbors and an Indian couple with a dry cleaners by watching us. That Indian lady was healed of a tumor when I prayed for her. We had a Purpose Driven Life study at Sabra’s house.
She invited another neighbor who was an exotic dancer, and was newly married. She also got saved and we are all friends still today. It was a powerful time.

Just wanted to share some of my best stories with you – India has definitely been harder to love neighbors with all the cultural differences, but I am still determined. In Delhi, our landlord’s family was revived in their spiritual journeys as we had devotions together every Saturday night for five years. It was exciting to see their faith renewed. Rick is going to see them tonight and they are like family to us.

Here in Bangalore, we are teaching spoken English to college kids from many nations – so they are all our neighbors – welcoming the stranger- I call it – and I have friends now from all over the world. We have seen a guy from Syria and one from Yemen come to know Jesus which is so exciting, and several from Congo and Korea too. We also have several new believers in the vineyard here.

God bless you in your journey, and my prayers are certainly with you.

Blessings,
Ellen Coffin