Back in the Arena

I am pleased to announce that I have been elected board chair of the Corinth 13 Center located at Christ and St. Ambrose Church in Philadelphia. I loved my work at Episcopal Community Services, where I served as Head Coach from 2013 to 2023. It is an honor to work with the Rev. Joseluis Memba and his team and get back to the hands-on work.  I don’t do well in retirement.

C13C stands for the Corinth 13 Center—a missional revitalization model rooted in the theological framework of 1 Corinthians 13 ("Love never fails").

In practice, C13C functions as the relational and operational "front door" for Episcopal parishes, revitalizing local congregations by transforming church buildings into active community hubs for education, family support, and radical hospitality.

The Corinth 13 Center (C13C) is more than just an educational program; it is a "Bridge Program" designed to connect our community—specifically children and parents—to the church's supportive environment through radical hospitality. While the Out-of-School program and our Summer Camp provide critical academic tutoring and a safe "Nice Space" for our youth, they are parts of a larger mission to stabilize families and foster leadership.

Our model is built on several key pillars:

  - Radical Hospitality: We ensure every physical space is welcoming and professional. We even maintain a "Coffee Culture" as a mandatory gesture of welcome to lower barriers and build trust.

  - The "Win-Build-Send" Framework: We empower our instructors to move beyond teaching and pastoral advocacy and become mentors who build authentic friendships with families, pair education with personal mentorship, and equip mature participants to lead others.

  - Community Integration: Through programs like "Big Friday," we create weekly high points for youth to have fun and pray, while our "Parents Circle" provides a mandatory space for peer support and resources for the families we serve.

  - Spiritual and Physical Support: Programs like "Bread of Life" address both the physical hunger of our neighborhood through food drives and the spiritual need for prayer and connection.

We do not see ourselves as mere building caretakers; we are missionaries commissioned to revitalize congregations and embed hope in neighborhoods. We lead with love, prioritize family resilience, practice radical hospitality daily, and measure fruitfulness by relational depth.

Ultimately, C13C is not separate from the church; it is the bridge that vitalizes our congregations and revitalizes the community by sharing God's love in a tangible way.

With the support of the Diocese and Bishop Gutierrez, the mission serves over 100 children and their families and continues to grow as we move to a second location. With government cuts to Out-of-School Time programs like C13C, provide educational enrichment, affordable childcare for working parents, and engage the entire family to become part of a faith-based community. 

This is a wonderful example of faith in action and the impact it can have on a community. For more information, go to www.c13c.org, and if you are so moved, we welcome your support with time, talent, or treasure.