What’s a hand-up verses a hand-out? Recently our team experienced this first-hand. Compassion ministry loves people at the point where they exist in life and seeks to build trust and a testimony of Jesus with them. I’m thrilled to be part of a non-traditional evangelism outreach ministry. Thankfully, ladies on the outreach team are in contact with single moms throughout the month forming amazing redemptive relationships with these single mom families.
Recently a single mom from a violence shelter called our ladies’ team leader. She had never attended an oil change outreach event. She holds down a job, attends college, and raises two boys. During their conversation she rejoiced she was able to move into a place of her own after living one year in a domestic violence shelter. But, she mentioned she did not have a table and chairs and wanted to have a Thanksgiving meal with her boys.
The following evening our ladies’ team leader received a call from a lady in our Sunday School class and asked if she knew of anyone needing a table, chairs, and buffet. They miraculously received a new set and wanted to bless someone with her previous set. The provision for this single mom was met! God is Amazing with small details in the lives of these single moms.
Our church blessed this family as well with a Thanksgiving meal which she was able to enjoy with her two boys, sitting at her new table. When our ladies’ team leader and her husband delivered the food they experienced a blessed time of prayer with this precious family. This single mom has been very open and receptive to the Lord and our church family becoming a greater part of her family’s life.
Showing posts with label Kindness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kindness. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Church Family
I am a privileged man, i.e. "not subject to the usual rules or penalties because of some special circumstance". What's the special circumstance? I'm talking about being a family member of an extravagant, caring church. Yes, I'm talking about Central Assembly. I love being in a family. Families accept, love, embrace, care, listen, dialogue, teach, sympathize, and congratulate. I've been the lucky recipient of all the above at Central Assembly.
But my main reason for making this claim does not hinge on what I've received, although I consider myself extremely blessed; it's what the family does for others who have not made up the life at Central in the past. That's how I'm privileged. Actually, it's incredible. Every week there are tens, if not hundreds of people living outside the physical walls of their church building who are given food, encouraged in their battle against life-controlling hang-ups, personally mentored, helped with chores around their neighborhood home, given a free oil-change as a single mom, prayed with, and hugged!
In Steve Sjogren's book, Conspiracy of Kindness, (1993, 2003) he writes that "God is looking for people who are willing to participate in acts of love and kindness to those outside of their present circle. He is looking for people who believe that a humble demonstration of love plants seeds of eternity in the hearts of others that will blossom into faith in Christ. The strategy of this conspiracy operates on the premise that God is passionately in love with unbelievers. As dynamic seeds of kindness are planted in their hearts, the Holy Spirit will pursue them. We are the sowers of those seeds of love. God is the farmer who oversees the entire process."
So is this a "special circumstance" as initially claimed? Fortunately, in the life of American churches, it's becoming the norm. I want to be part of this great wake-up Christian movement.
But my main reason for making this claim does not hinge on what I've received, although I consider myself extremely blessed; it's what the family does for others who have not made up the life at Central in the past. That's how I'm privileged. Actually, it's incredible. Every week there are tens, if not hundreds of people living outside the physical walls of their church building who are given food, encouraged in their battle against life-controlling hang-ups, personally mentored, helped with chores around their neighborhood home, given a free oil-change as a single mom, prayed with, and hugged!
In Steve Sjogren's book, Conspiracy of Kindness, (1993, 2003) he writes that "God is looking for people who are willing to participate in acts of love and kindness to those outside of their present circle. He is looking for people who believe that a humble demonstration of love plants seeds of eternity in the hearts of others that will blossom into faith in Christ. The strategy of this conspiracy operates on the premise that God is passionately in love with unbelievers. As dynamic seeds of kindness are planted in their hearts, the Holy Spirit will pursue them. We are the sowers of those seeds of love. God is the farmer who oversees the entire process."
So is this a "special circumstance" as initially claimed? Fortunately, in the life of American churches, it's becoming the norm. I want to be part of this great wake-up Christian movement.
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