April 5, 2021
Apr 11 | Application
Matthew's dinner companions came from different economic levels, but they shared one thing in common: They were all social outcasts.
Articles for tag: Neighbors
August 15, 2020
Once Upon a Pandemic
By Anna Brink Once upon a time, there was a worldwide pandemic. While the world’s leaders worked hard to keep people healthy, the government asked everyone to stay in their homes. One woman was doing just that, while also watching the news and praying. During the first week at home, she heard a knock at the door. From a window, she saw who it was: Anxiety. She wasn’t surprised to see him. He knocked often. She sighed, then opened the door. “Hello, I’m here! Let me in, won’t you? This pandemic is crazy, right? We have so much to process
August 22, 2019
SPOTLIGHT: Woodstock Christian Church, Woodstock, Ga.
By Justin Horey When Kirby Lloyd accepted the call to serve as senior minister at Woodstock (Georgia) Christian Church in 2017, he didn’t intend to make sweeping changes. In fact, Lloyd didn’t even displace the minister who preceded him. Instead, Lynn Eynon, who had served as Woodstock’s senior minister for more than three decades, remained on staff as the minister of pastoral care. Instead of launching a variety of new ministries upon arriving, Lloyd encouraged Woodstock Christian to do a better job of promoting what it was already doing. Like many smaller Southern churches, Woodstock offers a food pantry, a
January 29, 2019
Learning the Ministry of Receiving
By Daniel Schantz The best thing about teaching in a Christian college was that someone always needed me for something. “Professor, help! I need ideas! I’m teaching junior high boys in camp!” “Dan, you’re up for devotions in the faculty meeting tomorrow.” “Hey, Schantzy, you’re the car guy around here. . . . Is it normal for a transmission to smell like burnt pepperoni?” Now I have retired to a subdivision outside of town, where I have suddenly gone from being needed to being needy. The 10 families who live out here are rather independent. Only my wife needs me
November 14, 2015
Thanksgiving Discussion Starters
By Michael C. Mack As Thanksgiving approaches and on the day itself, people will naturally be thinking about thankfulness. Pray for people you will see throughout the week. As you talk with friends, coworkers, or neighbors, or as you get together with family, watch for natural opportunities to ask these simple questions: “¢ What are you most thankful for? “¢ Whom are you most thankful for? “¢ When do you tend to be the most thankful for what you have? “¢ Other than at Thanksgiving, do you think you are generally a thankful person? Why or why not? Next, be
September 19, 2014
The Strategic Ministry of “˜Neighboring”
By Michael C. Mack In 2009, Dave Runyon gathered a group of 20 lead ministers in the Denver area to think, dream, and pray about how their churches might join forces to serve their community. The ministers asked the local mayor a simple question: “How can we as churches best work together to serve our city?” The mayor”s response has inspired passion and a movement. “The majority of issues our community is facing would be eliminated or drastically reduced if we could just figure out a way to become a community of great neighbors,” the mayor said. Runyon and Jay
September 1, 2014
Five Steps for Leading a Neighborhood Prayer Walk
By Jon Weiner 1. Keep your eyes open as you walk! 2. Keep the eyes of your heart open for your neighbors” needs. 3. Keep moving””it may seem creepy to stand in front of a house praying! 4. Observe: What do you see that may provide clues for how you can pray for people? 5. Ask God to open doors to meet and connect with neighbors. Jon Weiner serves as neighborhood groups pastor at Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, Kentucky
The Christian”s Ritual of Remembrance
By Mark A. Taylor Last Saturday, The Wall Street Journal posted a headline above a picture of a grade-school boy decorating a soldier”s grave in Virginia: “With Memorial Day Approaching, Rituals of Remembrance Begin.” But the American Automobile Association estimated more than 36 million Americans would be traveling over the holiday weekend. A spokesman suggested this year”s unrelenting winter created a pent-up longing to experience warm temperatures in wide-open spaces. And I”m wondering how many of these sun-starved campers, fliers, and interstate sojourners took time for a “ritual of remembrance.” Only a minority, most likely, but I”ll not bore you
April 16, 2014
A Brand-New Life
By Mark A. Taylor I bumped into our backyard neighbor at the grocery store, and the conversation went from the price of groceries to the weather to “How are your kids?” And then she told me, “We”ve been going to church.” She had visited our church once, several years ago, but she had never come back. And I always felt she was embarrassed by that. But now she was smiling. “The girls love it, and the first Sunday my 13-year-old daughter asked if she could go back that night to youth group.” Then her expression became more earnest. “It”s really
February 3, 2011
Clear the Snow, Clear the Snow . . .
“February in Cleveland means snow,” says Momentum Christian Church (Garfield Heights, OH), “and snow means annual competition for Mo Groups!” This month Momentum encourages its small groups to clear snow from as many driveways in the community as possible; the activity blesses neighbors, builds friendships within the small group, AND offers bragging rights for the winning group. Stay warm up there, guys . . .
