People want to make a difference,
corporations often want to be known for being philanthropic as much as for
their product, and churches, while continuing to preach Jesus, want to be
relevant. Relevant to the people they are trying to reach for Jesus, relevant
in their local community, known for loving the least of these.
Probably anyone, any corporation,
or any church, if asked how they were doing in that regard would speak highly
of themselves. But others might not have the same impression. So, Stephen Viars’
book Loving Your Community: Proven Practices for Community-Based Outreach
Ministry (Baker Books, 2020) seems especially useful and relevant for those
churches wanting to be seen as relevant. Don’t hear what I’m not saying: just
because some of these programs worked for Faith Church in Lafayette doesn’t
mean that they will work for your church of Anytown, USA.
But there are some great examples
here of what can be done when there is a true heart for believers into your church
to listen to a praise band, a sermon, and an altar call, oh, and let’s not forget
0hte offering. No, Faith Church invites the community to tell them what is needed,
and then looks for a way to meet those needs. While meeting the needs, they
look for other ways to share Jesus.
And it seems to be working for
them. Viars documents some of the methods that have worked for them, simple
things like opening the facility for use by groups and organizations that meet
when there is no church activity happening
or offering classes that help people rise above the level where they
seem to be stuck, and making sure that others are included in everything that
the church does. Or how about a residential treatment program that happens to
be Christ based.
There are lots of needs in every community
and this book does a great job of sharing how you can discover some of those
needs, and then perhaps find a way to color outside the lines, to think outside
the box, and find a way to meet one of those needs in a way that also gives
hope to the hopeless and provides opportunities to share the love of Jesus.
I participate in the publisher’s
bloggers program, and received a copy of this book for that purpose. I was
asked to provide an honest review.
5/5
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