I'd like to post an excerpt of an email I got recently from one of our small groups. I believe that they are modeling for us the future of what "church" will look like. There is a (healthy) movement away from program and event driven churches to a more organic approach that starts with genuine community in smaller groups in the church and then spreads by them living out their faith together in the neighborhoods around them. Notice how this group focuses on needs right where they live and how it isn't a one-time thing. They serve in one way and expectantly move on together to another opportunity to serve. Here's the group's testimony:
As you may remember our small group requested help for a fifteen year old young man who is autistic. He has been going to Saddle Up (a horseback riding facility for mentally and physically challenged youngsters just down the road from our house). His family believes that this has helped bring [their son] out in a way that nothing else has. The family is going through financial hardships…[and they] were about to have to withdraw [their son] from the program. On the very day that the mother was calling Saddle Up to take him out of the program, the bookkeeper told her “you are not going to believe this. A church just sent us a check for one full year’s tuition.” The mother told me this while sobbing. . . . This family is deeply touched by our caring and our small group is thrilled with the outcome. Our latest project is to buy new tennis shoes and socks for the needy students at Allan Powell’s school. He gave us the sizes for twelve students which he says are in dire need. We will get new tennis shoes and socks to them this week and we asked him to add others as the need arises. Our small group has always been a great connection, but never as much as when we started knowing the rewards of service.
May we all grow into this vision of the life of faith!
2 comments:
I think it is great that they focused on such specific and immediate needs. Isn't that what Christ modeled? As Christians, we often use the excuse that we don't want to intrude on such personal issues. What an example of the body of Christ "intruding" to intervene and make a difference.
Hope you are able to swing by Lubbock this summer for something! :)
Genuine community takes time doesn't it my friend?
My temptation is to disqualify myself for past mistakes because of the crush of guilt I carry.
If the chief of sinners can allow God to work the redemption he worked through him then I know there is hope for another sinner.
I seem to remember a man named Jesus took the crushing weight of the world's sin upon Himself, and in a six hour period saved humanity.
There's always hope.
Thanks for the reminder.
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