Some years ago we adopted an Acts 1:8 as our guiding verse for missions. (Acts 1:8 NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
We have always been very missions minded, even from the beginning of the church. But we have struggled with the Jerusalem part. We have tried a variety of things to bring the Gospel to the community. We have helped when we could, helping both members of the church and members of the larger community.
In the larger world, the Judea outward we have supported missionaries all over the world, planted churches in Africa and Delaware and Reading; are working in Kazakhstan and Mexico and Jamaica. All good things. But (you knew there would be one.)
Are we as a church really owning the ministries we are involved in or are we just sending money? We have been blessed to give substantially to missions not only tithing the budget but through faith promises and the budget seeing about $200,000 committed to that work every year. We are giving but are we praying? Are we involved? I believe as we approach this year’s Global Outreach Conference, we will be discussing the possibility of partnering with Randy Ruth and his team in Shimkent, Kazakhstan in an ongoing neighborhood project. The possibilities are exciting but only if the Lord moves among us to raise a team of interested folks. If we are not going to really engage then we shouldn't do it.
We have a team of workers in Reading helping Carlos. We have sent some teams to Jamaica and have a team leaving today for Scotland (pray!). We are doing many things but sometimes we are still shooting over the heads of the people in our Jerusalem. Here’s where I (we) could use some help. Some of you know school board members. Ask them what a church could do to help. Some of you know country commissioners or township officials, ask them the same thing. Ask your neighbors how they think a church could help in the community. We are called to be Christ in our Jerusalem. He put our particular church here for a reason. We’ve done VBS (Kidz Kamp), Soccer, we are planning more marriage conferences, but those are events. Pray about how we can truly, as a church, be Christ in the community. Pray about how you can be Christ to your neighbor.
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There are families within the church and in the community with Autism, ADD, ADHD, Mental retardation, Cerebral Palsy and the list goes on.....where there is nothing in place for them within the church.
Are they not a part of mission? Why or why not?
Good observation Barb. Certainly those you mentioned and others could and probably should be part of the mission. For more years than I have been at the church we have ministered to the deaf. In the last year we have been in the very early planning stages of ministry to those with Autism and ADD/ADHD. So far I believe it is still in the planning/talking stage.
As far as any particular group being outside the possible scope of mission I do not believe there would be any. However, not every church is going to be able to minister to every particular group. Sometimes too few come, sometimes the ministry volunteers are not available or are already being used in other ministries. In our case, however, I do believe we have the potential to do far more than we are doing.
My neighbor is president of the town council. An ordinance was recently enacted to fine folks for things like, not keeping their sidewalks in good shape, not mowing their lawns or using their lawns as a salvage yard, and not keeping up with repairs. It's possible that some folks are able and can afford it and just don't do it; but there are others who don't because they can't, either because of their own bad choices or because they're just older and/or poor. Town councils would know who these people are and we could offer to come alongside and help. I know several members of our small group have servant hearts and have expressed the desire to do this kind of ministry as a group. We've already worked together on one another's homes--why not reach out with no strings attached to the greater community? How many other towns are in the same kind of need?
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