Park Cities Presbyterian Church (PCA)

Meeting people where they live

By Stephanie Byrd

Published May 29, 2010 in This Week

PCPC has begun a new partnership with Apartment Life. Recently, our editor had a chance to ask Apartment Life's Uptown/Downtown Area Director, Elissa Edwards, a few questions.

What is Apartment Life?

Elissa: Apartment Life is a faith-based non-profit organization that places CARES Teams in apartment communities. The CARES Team offers business value to apartment properties by doing things that naturally flow from the Christian life: welcoming new residents, connecting with people through apartment-wide events, and caring for the staff and residents. We love it because it opens doors for meaningful relationships through community-building events!

How long have you been involved in Apartment Life?

I became a CARES Team with my roommate, Miranda, in August. We served at an apartment in Grand Prairie until February and then moved to Uptown to continue CARES there. I became the Uptown/Downtown Area Director in November and have absolutely loved it!

How do you and Miranda know each other?

Miranda and I actually grew up together in Arkansas. We were in the same church group from sixth grade until graduation. Miranda attended the University of North Texas, and I went to school at the University of Arkansas. After college we both moved to Dallas and were called to Apartment Life.

Do you get quiet time, or is it always lively in your apartment?

We get plenty of quiet time! In Grand Prairie, we had a lot of kids on our property and they loved to come over and hang out with us. In Uptown, it’s more difficult to get people out of their apartments.

What are some of your favorite things about Apartment Life?

I love the culture of this organization. It is the most encouraging thing to sit in a room with other CARES Teams and know that they are all living out their lives for the sake of the intentional relationships. There is a common thread that runs through all CARES Teams; you won’t find a group of people more kind, genuine, and fun! I love that Apartment Life allows you the freedom to connect to people in a way that is completely natural. Apartment Life encourages you to use your strengths. I’ll be honest, Miranda and I also love that we get to live rent-free!

What are some of the discouraging things about this organization?

Relationships definitely come with a cost. As you build relationships with people, you begin to see their struggles, loneliness, and how desperate they are. It can be discouraging and painful to watch someone in so much pain. However, in the midst of discouragement, we want to be faithful to provide encouragement.

How has Apartment Life made a difference to someone lately?

Personally, Miranda and I have been able to become friends with a neighbor who just moved from Ireland. She didn’t know anyone here, so it’s been a blessing to welcome her into our lives.

Do you have any funny stories about your work?

One of my favorite memories is from Grand Prairie. Miranda and I were friends with three young brothers. The oldest was 16, had never driven a car, and did not have a driver’s license. With his parents’ permission, we taught him how to drive in a nearby parking lot. With five of us crammed into my small car, he nearly killed us all doing donuts, peeling out, and slamming on the brakes! It was mortifying during the experience, but it’s one of our favorite memories looking back.

How do residents of your apartment complex relate to you and Miranda?

We have found it very easy to relate to many different types of people. It takes a little practice, but when people know you are the CARES Team, they are eager to talk to you. We genuinely want to get to know people, so with those intentions it’s natural to ask questions and find a common ground. Residents naturally relate to us because they know we care and are willing to listen.

Can you describe some of the other teams who work with Apartment Life?

Single teams are made up of guys and girls in their 20s all the way up to their 40s. There are young married teams, teams with children of all ages, and teams whose children are now adults and living on their own. We have a placement coordinator who works to match teams and apartment communities with a similar demographic.

How can PCPC members help you in this organization?

In order to grasp the importance of helping, you must understand everyone can do something!

Right now, we need CARES Teams from PCPC in the Uptown/Downtown area. It would be a pleasure to talk with anyone about how to become a team! You can apply with no commitment at http://caresteam.org.

We also have a new PCPC team, Austin and Elisabeth Jordan, starting in June, and possibly a few more teams starting this summer. It’s crucial to encourage and support them. If you or your Sunday Morning Community would like to adopt a CARES Team, you can receive their requests, updates, and monthly event calendars.

Do we have to live in an apartment complex to help out with Apartment Life?

No! We always need volunteers at events. If members are there to help make sure the event is running smoothly, the team has the freedom to focus on talking with residents.

Please contact me if you’d like to support a current team; I can send you their calendar and give you their contact information.

How can we get updates about the organization?

We hold a monthly CARES Team meeting at PCPC for the current teams, usually on the third Thursday of every month. The monthly meeting is a time where the teams in Uptown and Downtown get together to share ideas and tell about what is going on in their property. Contact me by e-mail or by phone, 501-730-2528, if you’d like to know about either of these opportunities!