Known by Our Love
by Kathy Nickerson
Sharing Some Starbucks
If the world is going to know us (Christ-followers) by our love, then we probably have to take that love outside the church sanctuary now and then. The folks from Mankato did that when they treated their Swedish guest to the best of Starbucks on a visit last winter.
But, how are we showing love in our local communities? A recent e4 session challenged us to look for ways to serve with other churches in our our towns. I know several of you are doing that: Casper is holding a joint youth event, Murray hosts a community prayer meeting on Saturday nights, and Kirksville has started an after-school program for local children. The list goes on.
Let’s take a minute to provoke one another to good works. In the comments section, tell us about something happening in your city that is bringing together people of varied perspectives and walks of faith. Let’s figure out how to really show the world who we are by our love.
For the past year or so, Christ’s Family Church in Omaha, has joined with the Vineyard Church in having a praise and worship night called Simply Worship. We meet once a quarter at the Vineyard Church on a Sunday night and worship together. Both worship teams have enjoyed getting to know one another, and work together beautifully, to lead us into the Presence of God. Not only have we enjoyed these times of worship, but we have made precious, new friends.
Once a month, 7 people from our young adult group, join with workers from other churches to serve men who are poor or homeless, at an outreach center in downtown Omaha called Open Door Mission. They help set up, serve the food and clean up, as well as interact with men who have come for the meal.
This past fall CFC joined with many churches all across Omaha for an outreach called Step Out. Each church was asked to pick a service organization to help. Our church chose a Food Bank called Mission For All Nations — an outreach to the Hispanic population in south Omaha. Our project was to “Stuff A Truck”. This was done by asking people who were shopping at HyVee to fill a bag with groceries and donate it to Mission For All Nations. In four days we were delighted to have “stuffed the truck”. Our people loved interacting with people throughout the weekend, and were thrilled to be able to “Stuff A Truck” for this ministry. We will be participating with Step Out again this year.
Following the Step Out weekend, a team of people from CFC went to Mission For All Nations and worked to sort and organize clothing that was to be given to the people coming to the Mission.
Ryan and Charity Long were interviewed on a local Hispanic Christian Radio Station regarding worship. During the interview they offered to help Hispanic Churches with worship. As a result, Ryan & Charity, and several others from our worship team have helped lead worship in various Hispanic Churches in South Omaha.
Each year, early in December, we set up a free gift wrapping table at a local K Mart. It’s a great time to meet people and interact while they wait for their packages to be wrapped. It’s been a lot of fun working together at this outreach!
The teens from Christ’s Family Church School participate once a month in an outreach associated with the Omaha Home Schooling Association called Teen Serve. Our teens have met many young people who are passionate for Jesus and who desire to show their passion through serving others. Some of their projects have included working in elderly people’s homes and yards, organizing and mailing information for a ministry called Abide Ministries, organizing and stocking food for Mission For All Nations, helping at the Hope Center, which is an outreach to inner city kids, helping at Nursing Homes by playing games and doing arts and crafts with the residents, clearing a biking trail for the city of Omaha, and working on the upkeep of the grounds of other churches.
A month ago our youth joined with youth groups all across the metro in what was called 168. It was 168 hours of continuous prayer (24 hours of prayer for 7 days) by the youth of Omaha for their generation. Youth groups signed up for blocks of time to pray throughout the days and nights. Space in a warehouse was donated and decorated with maps of the world and of Omaha. Security guards were on duty to let the groups in and out during the night watches. The event began and ended with all the youth groups gathering to worship together. It was moving to see passionate young people worshiping God from all various church backgrounds!
We are currently interacting with a low-income apartment complex, managed by Mercy Housing, an outreach of the Sisters of Mercy of Omaha located near us. We are beginning to meet with the Resident Services Manager to find ways in which our church might assist the residents.
Thanks Cheri! This is a great report!
It is amazing what we discover when we ask people in our Churches “What do you really feel angry about?” or ” What is in your heart?”
Very often the two things are the same!
That is how we got Pregnancy Crisis Centres underway in UK. We were the first in the Nation and out of this have come 165 throughout our land and masny overseas. The lady, Joanna Thompson who pioneered this anfd was the National c-ordinator died last year BUT she has left an army of “Ordinary Women” , as she humourously called them to carry on this great work.
they have even initiated a ational Telephonr
e Helpline that helps women who have not got a centre near to their home.
As I read Cathy’s article and Cherie’s heartwarming response I began to wonder just what other Redemption Treasures will yet be unearthed in our exciting family of Churches?
Bring it on Lord!
Dave Richards
Thanks for your encouragement, Dave. I have been so inspired your stories about how “ordinary” people in your churches are being activated into ministries that are in their hearts.