Won't you be my neighbor?

Want to learn to be more effective at connecting with your community? Of course you do. That’s why you’re reading this newsletter. We decided to ask the experts in the field – our Equipping to Share presenters, of course – some of the best ways to identify and meet needs of your community. Here’s what they suggest:

“Find ways to become involved that do not seem like witness opportunities. We have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich ministry. In Ponca, there is a free evening meal four nights a week available to anyone. Mostly poor and indigent come. We wanted a way to provide something over the weekend. A dietician suggested PB&J. We have made over 25,000 PB&J sandwiches. Each goes out with a scripture, changed weekly, label attached.” - Jack Rawlins; Ponca City, Oklahoma

“Don't get stuck, thinking the needs of your community are a deficit your congregation must fulfill. Your best outreach may simply be developing fun and interesting relationships through activities with your congregation's neighbors. The light of Jesus will shine from you to them without saying a word. If your church is in a golf community, form a golf club. Tennis? Racquetball? Gardening? Start a tennis club, and so on. Invite your neighbors to do together what you both love. Consider how the church building and congregational members can be an asset by participating in community events.” – Linda Stewart; St. Louis, Missouri

“In order to find out the needs of your community, look around and ask, "Do the members of my congregation come from the immediate community?" If so, then start asking your members (especially your non-active ones) what's going on in the community. Are there charities, drives, endeavors going on that should be part of your church plan? If you ask the question, and the answer is no, then you really need to take a hard look at who is living around your church.

“For instance, a church I presented to was mostly made up of older members who had, at one time, lived in the surrounding community, but then moved out to the surrounding suburbs. Now almost none of them lived in the community - it was made up of a lot of single mom families. So even though the church community enjoyed Senior bible studies, they started doing things like community baby showers and free day care for church picnics to reach out to their community. Are you as a church body willing to do that? Are you a service station for others or a self-service station for your members?” – Deb Erdmann; Milwaukee, Wisconsin

“First, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY for God's perspective, His eyes, and His heart for your community. Pray also for others to be brought to you that are praying the same prayer. And, be careful what you pray for: He WILL answer in ways you never imagined!

“Secondly, start intentionally engaging in your community: serve with a social service agency that you haven't served with before. Build a relationship with the director of the agency and those who are receiving the services. Hangout at a local coffee shop/restaurant regularly. Go to a Chamber of Commerce meeting. You will learn about your community in ways you couldn’t expect.

“Third, thru all of the above, soak in His Word. He will lead and guide you to serve with the spiritual gifts He has given to you! God is already at work in your community. Seek where that is and join Him! Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Traci Kohls; Minneapolis, MN



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Running on fumes

You want to help people, but you’re feeling dried up. You’re exhausted from doing the “right” thing. Sound familiar? Chasing perfection results in burn out. Ever conscious of doing the “right thing,” we must recognize that self-righteousness often follows suit. Since we are meant to be the righteousness of Christ, we need to take a second look at our intentions. Are we volunteering to serve Christ or are we finding self-worth measured by the amount of volunteering we do?

If you’ve ever thought to yourself: “If they don’t have me, they won’t have anything,” you may be setting yourself up to be burnt out: physically, emotionally and even spiritually. When you try to be all things to all people, you will find yourself under extreme pressure that you cannot withstand. When this occurs we, as human beings, have done something wrong: We have placed the title of provider and hero on ourselves instead of on God. But, He has already come in and saved the day. You can rest.

By thinking: “If I don’t help them, nobody will” or “If I don’t serve here, nobody will” or “They won’t be effective if I don’t help,” you have put yourself in big shoes only God can fill. The assumption here is that we possess all it takes to do His job for Him. But, He doesn’t need us to do His job for Him. No one can fill these enormous shoes but Him: I mean, they stretch for eternity, in every place at all times!

The truth is, not one of us has the unconditional love, time and finances to fill this role. And, no matter how hard any of us tries, enough will never be enough. It will just leave us feeling like a failure when we realize that we weren’t able to be everywhere at once with the resources needed, as well as a warm smile that so suitably compliments serving.

Let’s take a breather and consider: Why am I serving? Do I really feel called to serve here or am I trying to prove that I’m righteous enough to do it, despite my ability or call? This may go for members of your community or members of your own family. None of us is to play the martyr. God is able to do all things without us! Amazing, huh? Humbling.

Ultimately, the point that I’d like to drive home is: When we don’t stop to ask God if He wants our help here, what ends up happening is, we don’t have the energy left to fulfill the tasks He has assigned us personally. If you are depleted of energy, unable to fill the calling you have, I encourage you to reassess your life and volunteer work. Ask God for direction. He can always readjust our course and point us in the right direction. And, isn’t He so loving and gracious about it?

We have a direct connect to God to find out what assignment is ours and what assignment is for someone else. If we obey Him, we will find ourselves more effective and peaceful than we’ve been before. If He says rest, rest. Don’t say: “But no, look how awesome I am” as you run yourself into the ground with exhaustion. What, then, have you really accomplished?

God knows His hurting, those in need and those whose need we can match with our personal resources. Let’s let God be God. Just as we wouldn’t walk into our director’s office and proclaim ourselves the new Assistant Director, we shouldn’t tell God what position we’re accepting in His church or in this life He has breathed into us. That is not a call for us to make. When we don’t listen to Him, we end up with a bunch of grumpy volunteers with nothing left to give. If we don’t have peace and love, how we propose sharing it with others? You can't give what you don't have.

If you resonate with this description of flat out exhaustion, lay it at the foot of the cross. Say, “God, I can’t be my own boss anymore. I want to do what’s right; but I want to do what’s right by you.” And, let’s listen to what He has to say. It’s amazing how quickly He’ll provide rest for our minds, bodies and souls. It’s never too late.


Provided by Sarah Guldalian, Editor


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Quote of the Day

“God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” – C.S. Lewis


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Tips for Sharing

Recognize needs you are able to fill and needs, which are not viable. You may be unable to provide a home or a job. But, can you provide dinner?

Don’t get technical. You don’t need a hardhat, clipboard and checklist for outreach. It’s relational: for humans, not robots. Have a heart. Be there because you care. If you don’t, do something else.

Focus on the people you’re serving, not the members of your church who didn’t show up to help.


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Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for putting compassion in our hearts so we can love those who you love. Only you know the needs of your children and how you will meet them. Show us where you would have us participate and when you want us to be still. Give us the wisdom and obedience to save our energy and resources for your provided assignments. Teach us to keep our eyes fixed on you, as our guide and our provider, the source from which we are able to help others at all. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of your kingdom work. What a privilege it is to be called your child. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.


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Web Resources

Are you a young adult who wants to strengthen your witness? Or, do you know a young adult who might? Check out REACH, a special track offered at this year's LLL Convention in Lexington, Kentucky, specifically designed for young adults. As a speaker there, I'd personally love to invite you! Find out more at www.lhm.org/reach/default.htm.


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I am free! Are you?


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