Yesterday I attended the One Thousand Leaders Initiative graduation luncheon and received my certificate that includes this statement: "This graduate partner has agreed to provide leadership in their own community by implementing their community improvement plan." Not only have I not implemented my plan, I do not yet have a plan. And I had to confess that in front of my peers as each graduate shared what they are doing to better their community. Now I wasn't the only graduate still in the "thinking stage," but one graduate, since our class ended in May, has already started a wellness foundation. Of course, she was the first one to jump up to share her success story. Honestly, I have been thinking of some options, but I keep coming back to the conclusion that I don't think I could pour my heart into some project that isn't somehow gospel-related. So how do I implement a gospel-related community improvement program? The Lord has laid a burden on my heart for the neighborhood in which our church is located. This quiet older neighborhood of Midland has seen congregations come and go as the building has changed hands many times through the years. How many of those congregations took a real interest in the reaching out to these people? They see us come to worship weekly, but do they know who we are, or that we have the good news of the gospel? I'm praying that our congregation will be able to minister in some way to these people, whether it be through a children's Bible club, service-related initiatives, or simple neighborhood evangelism. I'm sure there are other good ideas to be considered that would allow us to share God's love and grace, thereby making an eternal difference in the community.
Don't know if this will help. The PCA church we attended was located in a residential neighborhood. Our church sponsored a neighborhood free breakfast every once in a while to let the people they were appreciated for putting up with a church and all it's activities and to also let them know they were were welcome to come worship with us. The meals were always well attended and seemed to be appreciated by the neighbors. This gave opportunity to find out about the neighbors and if there was anything we could do to meet a need.
ReplyDeleteIt might be a springboard for other projects and ideas.
grannyof9
I like that idea very much. As they say, some of the best ideas are borrowed.
ReplyDeleteJeannette,
ReplyDeleteI have it on very good information that the director of the CareGiving Network is resigning. Would you be interested in pursuing something with that organization?
Dave Sarafolean
I would be interested in that possibility. I need to learn more about their services though.
ReplyDelete