When Jesus gave his disciples the Great Commission, he said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…and remember, I am with you until the end of the age. (Matt 28: 19-20)
Those words are not just a call to bring people into this church, it is also a call to GO OUT- to carry the presence, compassion, hope, and love of Christ into the world around us.
Our church has been seeking to live out that calling through the many ways we reach beyond our church walls and serve our community. Outreach is one of the ways our church puts our faith into action. When we open the Thrift Shop and Barn doors to provide clothing, household goods, furniture, and equipment, we are providing more than a good bargain, we are expressing Christian care.
Through our support of the food programs like our Red Wagon, DYECH cards for the food bank, our direct help to the Homeless Prevention program and DYECH card purchases, as well as supporting the Duffy Van project, they demonstrate new ways we are seeking to fulfill the Commission as we put Jesus’ teaching into practice: caring for people, not with words but with tangible acts of love.
The outreach to our most senior members and shut-ins does not always mean going far. Recent reports of great events in these programs make the Commission come to reality locally.
Hospitality is itself a form of outreach and we should all seek ways to meet and welcome those newer faces venturing into the church community. This simple action helps to open doors for them to encounter a community shaped by Christ’s love.
In what ways are you a part of this Commission? The church is not a place where we just gather. It is a people who are sent! – Tom Kerr