In 2013 David Janzen in one of his Nurturing Communities missives reported on his visits with several Texas communities. Steven Hebbard, a young, “energetic and creative community organizer,” had taken him outside of Austin and showed him plans for a a new, model community for more than 200 formerly homeless people and volunteers. The next year Steven and his wife Bethany were the first ones to move on to the land.
This last April, Nancy and I drove to the outskirts of Austin for a Good Friday lunch with Bethany, Steve, and their three-month-old daughter Pearl. As we drove into the general area, I understood why David had called the acreage “scrub land.” In 2013 only eyes full of faith could have imagined replacing the tumbleweeds that were blowing across the dry, bleak landscape with a thriving, diverse community of people.
A view of Community First Village.
A few minutes further down the road Community First Village, now in 2019, appeared as a garden spot. Steven met us in the parking lot and walked us up a path through a beehive maze of tiny trailers and people at work on gardens, growing seedlings, and small construction projects. Everyone paused to greet us. When we got to the Hebbard home, another very tiny trailer, he had to excuse himself for a short bit to wrap up some other business.
We offered to help Bethany finish lunch preparation, but actually there was room for only one person to move at a time in their very small home. We watched while she stirred a pot of rice and beans in “the kitchen” and then turned with one step to the far side of the “the living room” to fold diapers. We listened, and she began to catch us up on the phenomenal growth and development of the village.
Community First Village was the vision of Alan Graham, founder and CEO of Mobile Loaves and Fishes. His story of moving from riches to a 400 sq. ft. tiny home in the village has been told in a number of places, including an article (check the link) that has run in a number of newspapers across the country.
The plan is impressive and beautiful. Even more impressive and beautiful is the reality of 170 formerly homeless Austinites living in tiny homes made affordable through jobs they now have on the campus of Community First. Living side-by-side with them are dozens of “missionals,” singles and families who have been attracted to the community as an alternative to urban or suburban Austin living.
After lunch the five of us climbed in a golf cart and took a tour to see the campus including parks, a prayer labyrinth, several well-equipped outdoor kitchens, laundromats, a meeting hall, and on and on.
Most impressive for Nancy and me is Bethany’s and Steven’s commitment to continue pursuing Jesus’ call in their life to live and share in community. Steven has resigned his position and Bethany has gone to part-time position with Mobile Loaves and Fishes.
Later this year they will be moving to a farm south of Austin with another couple. Together they will be creating a different kind of Community First vision with the poor, centered in the prayers and rhythms of their Anglican tradition. They will pursue organic food production, sustainable energy use, common work, and an apprenticeship program in theology, ecology, and Christian homemaking as they work alongside homeless street youth, newly arrived immigrants, and any others that God brings.