The age-old question asked of Jesus, which led him to give us one of the best-known of parables (the Good Samaritan) was at the forefront of our discussions four years or so ago, when I (Graham) had the privilege to lead an Outreach Strategy team for Faith Christian Fellowship. We concluded at that time, that although the whole world was in a sense neighbor to us, we should be actively involved in serving our immediate community. The general summary was "Awareness of the world, activism in our country and state, and action in our immediate community". Our calling of Layne as co-pastor with Mike had a lot to do with this conclusion - we knew we needed someone with the calling, passion and vision to lead us out of the walls of our church buildings.
Now, four years on, with Layne's leadership and help we have created several links to the community, and particularly to the Monument Boulevard area. But the question still lingers - what is the "immediate community" that we should be most actively serving? The Community Relationships Team of FCF is reading a book on Community Development (published by the Christian Reformed Church, our denomination) called "Communities First". It is raising some significant questions for us and we'd like to share some of our dialogue. Here's the first.
Community development at its fullest means working from within a community, discovering its gifts, assets, leaders and possibilities, and empowering and enabling people in the community to create a real sense of hope, future, belonging and identity. We have been seeing the Monument Community as the area of greatest local need, which on a chronic level may be true. But with very few exceptions none of us live, work or even worship there. Can we truly be a catalyst for development there, or should we focus closer to church?
Comments welcomed!
1 comment:
Graham,
Thanks for getting the Church going on this blog.
As a member of the Community Relationships Team (CRT), you know that the discussions and definitions that you mention in your Aug. 27 post, Who is Our Neighbor, are leading the CRT to prayerfully discern two significant decisions: 1) How are working toward community development in our Church’s local neighborhood*, and 2) How do we continue to commit to mercy ministry at both Monument Futures and the Monument Crisis Center.
Who is our neighbor is a question Jesus answers with: everyone. It’s a huge call, especially when we see the reality of our lives and the question verbalized by people in our Church: “We really don’t know how or that we should be serving our neighbor in the world.” Communities First puts it like this, it stings but is true: “In Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus says, “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Unfortunately, today’s church is naïve and under-skilled to do the second: She is not equipped to love her neighbor as herself” (Communities First, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, 7).
The words may rub salt in a wound (especially to Church folk), but there is hope. God is with us as we learn to cooperate with his good news that includes peace and justice in the world. As a Church we’re committed to helping each other grow and see that that Jesus’ good news includes serving the poor and loving all our communities: our Church neighbors; our neighbors who live near Monument Boulevard; and our neighbors who live near our homes, or who work, play and socialize with us.
To learn more about how we are trying to respond to Jesus and love our neighbors: check out, Communities First from the Church library; speak to a CRT member (Layne, Graham, Bill or Joan) and/or join in on this blog conversation with your thoughts and questions.
*As a Church we’ve defined out Church neighborhood as the geographical rectangle bounded by: Bancroft to Oak Grove (including the Countrywood Condominiums) and Minert to Treat.
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