“Encouragement” Part 2: Step out into your Community!

Good morning! Such a beautiful April, Springy morning…my heart couldn’t be happier. And it’s Thursday. Which means tomorrow is Friday. And I can live with that. 🙂 One thing I love is: weekends. Garrett is home. We get things done and caught up around the house. And chat over coffee. Not just one cup, but sometimes two. And HE makes breakfast Saturday mornings. Have I ever expressed how much I love him?! 😉

And since today is Thursday….this means one thing for me. Something that pretty much takes up most of my day.

Blanket day for the Homeless Shelter.

And since this post is about Encouraging our community, what better day to write my thoughts on the matter? 🙂

For a few years, Garrett and I were blessed to minister in a growing church in our little town. We loved it. We thrived on serving others. And we were often so encouraged in return. We strove to do our very best for the people we had come to love as “our people”. But…in spite of all this, once in awhile we’d feel there was something, well…missing. Yes, we did all we could with the Holy Spirit’s direction. And guidance. And as much as time allowed. Garrett had a 70 hour week job. Plus preaching and ministering…well that  took all energy that was left. If not even more at times. Then there was chaos in the church. So how does one “find” time to reach out into a community when this is your lifestyle? Filled to the brim with commitments etc.?

And now since many things have changed in our lives…our little church is quite smaller. (And also we have noticed a huge difference when there’s peace in church life) there is now much more time for others! Yes, the work load is still heavy, the church responsibilities are heavy, but almost like magic, we find there’s SO much more time for the community! And we praise God for this! This is what the Christian’s life is to be like. Filled with peace and JOY, filling us up until it spills out to others. Until it affects those we meet. And one thing is for sure: when you are open to God’s leading (no, not everyone may understand this at times) doors will swing open like you have never seen before!

We have been blessed to get to know our community in the past year, in ways we’ve never seen in the past 10 years we’ve lived here. What a shame! When the focus of a church is not on itself, God can use it’s members to reach out, make a difference and spread His Word. This has been His command to all Christians for a long time. It is nothing new.

So how can we encourage our communities? Here’s a list of ideas. Just to get started:  (I’m sure there are MANY ways other than this list!)

1. First of all, PRAY. Pray for your town. For the mayor. For the people. For the churches. And for the darkness to flee. Ask God to show you ways to reach out. Then do His Holy Spirit’s bidding. Listen for His calling. And watch for opportunities.

2. Volunteer some free time you may have. This goes a long way into making a difference! This is a wonderful way to support and encourage other organizations. Not just your own agendas.

3. Visit with other Christians from your community. Have coffee with them. Pray with them when they struggle with needs. Bless them. And speak words of LIFE into their souls. {My husband has been friends with a man from town for over 10 years. They do coffee weekly. As they sip coffee together, they chat about God and life. Being his friend has encouraged him when he could have divorced. When his first child began college. And he felt he might “lose” him. etc. Just being there for him, was what he needed.}

4. Invite others to your church services. Sometimes even just an invite goes a long way to make them feel welcomed and loved. Seek God’s guidance in this and reach out as opportunities arise. Even a tiny church can do this. Your singing and services don’t have to be perfect. When God is present, encouragement and conviction will take place.

5. Converse with your neighbors. Sing for them- think, Christmas Caroling! Our neighbors talk about it ALL year long. They feel the encouragement lasting for months after! And they’d be so disappointed if we skip a year. This is esp. essential to elderly neighbors. Take them a plate of cookies throughout the year. Put something in their mailboxes. One of my neighbor ladies’ children walk home from their school bus daily. Right past my front door. This is the perfect time for me to send a plate along with them. And it gives them an afternoon/after school snack to boot! 🙂

6. When you go shopping, SMILE! Bring sunshine to other people’s hearts and lives. Take note, when someone shares with you a tragedy or a moment of Joy. Pay attention when someone says they just lost a loved one and you see a tear slip down their cheek. Give them a hug when appropriate. Pray for them. Be loving. And be understanding.

7. Find a church group activity you can do together. How about cooking for a needy family? How about a clothing bundle for a poor family? Last year, [have to boast just a little on our church ladies here] 🙂 our ladies all got together and literally baked ALL day long for a Christmas project in town. It took many hours, a lot of effort, but let me tell you one thing. It was worth it all. Seeing the JOY on people’s faces receiving the gifts. The squeals of delight. And the love reflecting back.

8. Invite folks over for a meal. Make friends with them and bless them in this way if possible. Open your home to the banker. To the family doctor. Maybe even the mayor. If they have questions about your Faith, answer openly and honestly. Host a backyard bar-b-q for these friends you made. Share your Faith and beliefs.

9. Witness to those around you gently. Don’t be abrasive. Rude or insistent. But bold gentleness. [is there such a thing?!] 🙂 Recently, I had the “privilege” to witness to the Priest (Father Tom) at our local Catholic church. As he asked questions about why I’m dressed as I am, and what I think about the veiling. And issues on modesty to family life etc. I felt God’s presence with me. Guiding, giving me words to speak and filling my mouth with His wisdom. It was so refreshing to feel the Holy Spirit’s guidance in the time of a need, for boldness.

This is what Father Tom told me: “I have NEVER met anyone who believes in the veiling and modesty like you do. You simply live it out. Thanks for sharing with me. Now if ONLY I could convince my wife and the church ladies in my parish to do the same. The Bible says it clearly. Thank you for sharing it with me. I’m standing in amazement, and you gave me so much to think about.”

Hmmm. Yup, just a little old Mennonite lady here. Nothing fancy. And looking “quaint”. 🙂

10. Speak kindly about your neighbors to other neighbors. Cut the gossip lines. Stick up for good people and defend their integrity when possible. And if you ruined someone else’s reputation, apologize. Make it known that you did so to cause hurt. Repair as much damage as possible. Be the person God has meant for you to be. Stand up and be strong in the Lord. Be an example first of all, before you expect others to follow.

And whatever you do, do NOT focus on differences and ill-will attitudes between you and others in your community. Just because you “think” maybe someone wasn’t nice to you or said something about you, does NOT give you privilege (as a “christian”) to retaliate. How ironic is that last sentence?!

I’ve seen it too often in the past several years. A man calls another man a liar, (when he himself is known in the community as someone dishonest and distrustful) just so he can get his own way. Or he does whatever he can to discredit a hard worker in the community so he gets a pay raise. Putting others down to raise himself up. Making fun of another Godly person, no matter how sincere that other person is. Whispering to your neighbors about how another family is supposedly “raising” their kids. Makes me sick and I’m positive God is sick too with those vile things. And all in the name of being a “christian”. THIS is what will destroy communities. And does NOT build up and encourage. These are the ways of “How to destroy a community”.

Enough negativity there. Hope you were encouraged to continue being a blessing, wherever God has you, today! Go forth and be a blessing to those you meet. Be giving and gracious. Speak words of LIFE to those you come in contact with. “And let your light so shine before men.”

Happy Thursday!