Guest Post: The Church and the Community

[Today’s post is the 5th in our “The Church and…” series. The author today is Joey Sparks. Joey is the youth minister for the Midway church of Christ near Jasper, Alabama. He started his work there in 2003. Joey is married to Amanda and they have one pet: a dog named Lucy. Joey graduated from Freed-Hardeman in 2005 with a degree in Biblical languages and a minor in history. He is currently pursuing an M. Div. from Amridge. You will want to visit Joey’s blog by clicking here.]

4 Body Parts the Church Must Use to Reach the Community

I’m thinking that the word “community” was created by the Department of Redundancy Department. It’s a compound word made up of “common” and “unity.” Seriously, the existence of communities ensures that everyone in our towns, workplaces, schools, and little league teams, shares something in “common” with one or more members of the local church.

Local church members are actively and constantly interacting with people who have spiritual, physical, emotional, and social needs. Thus exists the perfect situation to utilize the work and resources of the Lord’s church to meet these needs.

Acts 6:1-7 provides some helpful qualities that should describe the church’s work and presence in local communities. The apostles choose seven men to help distribute food to the neglected Grecian widows. Though the situation may not be parallel in every case, it highlights some important qualities we must have to reach out to the community.

Need-Oriented Eyes. First, the disciples respond to a need. The need was brought to the apostles’ attention through a complaint. In this case, the complaint represented an actual need, not personal preference. The Greek widows are starving while the Jewish widows are fed.

Thousands of people with needs live in the communities surrounding our congregations. When we serve the community, we must serve to meet needs of people. As I plan service events for our young people, I sometimes forget to plan what’s best for the needs of those we’re serving. We’re here to serve them, not to make it easy on us as the church.

Authentic Heart. The apostles respond not out of spite or to get the Greeks “off their backs.” By suggesting that waiting on the tables would interfere with their works of teaching and praying, they legitimize the need of the widows and the continuing work of distributing food. The apostles didn’t seek recognition for their efforts in feeding the widows; nor did they push to be lauded for their solution. Their heart was wrapped in the mission of saving souls. Serving the widows was part of that larger mission.

Whether performed by the church, her leaders, or members, the community easily recognizes sincere (and therefore insincere) service. Publicity can be used wisely and in a way that pleases God, but we must make sure our goals of service are honest, sincere, and authentic. The glory belongs to God, not our local church or our leaders.

Carefully-Selected Hands. The apostles’ solution was to pick seven men from “among you.” Not only were these men Christians, but they had a Greek background. They were also to be “full of the Spirit and wisdom.” They needed more hands to work, but not just any hands. They needed the right hands.

Members are the local church’s biggest resource for making an impact in their communities. The needs we must meet are people’s needs; thus the solutions to them are found in the hearts and hands of people. Programs don’t solve problems, people do. As displayed in Acts 6, the right people solve problems and meet needs.

Divinely-Led Feet. The apostles were committed to fulfilling their purpose: prayer and ministry of the Word. The solution in this instance was the result of their spiritual focus and perspective. Their statements don’t slight the distribution of food, but affirm the inclusion of the Lord in His own work.

Churches and their leaders must be led in all decisions with continual prayer and study. Reaching out to the communities around them must involve these spiritual disciplines and the attitudes from which they arise.

Following this incident, the word of the Lord spread and people became Christians. As we pray for guidance and direction in our communities, we need to remember that the Lord has promised the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). Though authentic service may not lead to conversions on every occasion (Jesus washed Judas’ feet in John 13), if we have the eyes, hearts, hands, and feet God desires, our communities will see Him and glorify Him (Matthew 5:16).

Some things we’ve done over the past several years to reach out to the community:

• School Supplies Giveaway
• Young people buy Christmas gifts for children at the local domestic violence shelter (we call it Christmas Round-Up)
• Made custom teddy-bear shirts (that say “Love BEARS all things”) for widows and those who’ve lost loved ones
• Painted or carved pumpkins and delivered them to area nursing homes
• Cleaned cages, mowed grass, etc. at local humane society
• Play Wii Bowling at assisted living center
• Performed puppet shows at nursing homes, senior centers, and daycares

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As a closing note, Joey mentioned to me that the website Sermon Central recently published a list of “94 Community Servant Evagelism Ideas for Your Church.” Check out that list here.