Tampa Epoch Kickstarter Campaign

Our Community has been proud of the work being done by Bill Sharpe and the rest of the folks with the South Tampa News. The Tampa Epoch has been providing many in our community that have lost the right to make their needs known an opportunity to sell street papers. The paper is a high quality publication, a great resource in our city and also a huge chance for our neighbors in need to make ends meet. They started a Kickstarter campaign to help with the start up costs associated with this paper and we have decided to give and make the need know to you. Please consider visiting Kickstarter and pledging to support the paper and their vendors.

The Serenity Prayer

God, Grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the Courage to change the things I can and the Wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it.

Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.

Amen.

- Reinhold Niebuhr

Jon sharing with TEDx Tampa Bay

Here is a link to the Q&A that followed the talk. (you will need to turn your speakers up)

The Tampa Epoch

After the ban on panhandling I was determined to make a homeless newspaper for the poor to sell in this city. See the city council had decided to make an exemption from this 'saftey legislation' for newspaper sales. I couldn't seem to figure out how selling newspapers made you safer than selling flowers, water, or just asking for help. Well that's why these decisions are left to the professionals downtown. I talked to many people and found lots of writers and even a printer that would help as long as I made it with a legit masthead. I had never even heard that term before. So I called a big street paper in Tennessee to ask some questions and they informed me that Bill Sharpe, who already prints papers is hard at work in Tampa and almost ready to print. I had them get me in touch with Bill and he introduced me to his paper that he was calling the Epoch. What a load off!!! Plus my paper WAS gonna suck. The Epoch is a great paper that highlights people that live on the streets stories, services and ministries in town stories and a lot more. They printed the first edition in December and from what I here they are doing pretty well with it. It has empowered many people to stay on the corners and make that money that they so desperately need. Kimberly from our home church wrote a wonderful article on our house and community in the January edition. Be sure to buy one and check it out. Even after you buy one remember that this isn't just about the paper, the men and women selling these papers may as well have signs that read 'hungry' or 'homeless'. Give generously.

Sekajipo Genes & The Jungle

Is officially performing at the February Conscious Party!!!

Here is a preview: