What encouraging encounters of community have you had?

[DavidJGreen]

I'm currently doing a spot of research for a book aimed at encouraging Christian community and was wondering if there was anyone willing to share a testimony of Christian community that they've had

 

[WIP]

Maybe I'm a little dense this morning but could you clarify a little more about what you mean? Maybe an example?

 

[Mike S]

I think one of the things I appreciate most about my Christian community is the volunteer in mission teams we send to areas trying to deal with natural disasters. Two examples teams to Biloxi MS after hurricane Katrina in 2005 to rebuild homes, teams to Cedar Rapids IA after 2008 floods to rebuild churches and homes.

I was on both teams, and the greatest Christian contribution we made was to talk and pray with the people effected, letting them know God hadn't abandoned them.

 

[DavidJGreen]

WIP: was wondering what your experience is of living in community, what does living in community mean to you? E.g one of the clearest examples I've had of Christian community is when a group of Christians allowed me to sofa surf at their's when I didn't really have a place to live.
Mike: that does sound like awesome signs of love, what was it like when you were doing those projects?

 

[for_his_glory]

There was a time past that my husband and I worked with the prison ministry and we would open our home to those inmates who accepted Jesus as their personal Savior and needed an address to parole to. We would feed them, clothe them and help them find jobs. Our home is always opened to anyone who needs a place to stay for awhile as long as they are trying to make it on their own.

 

[WIP]

I don't know how many have heard of this but some of us in my local church (including me) are involved with an organization called LoveINC (Love In the Name of Christ). This organization's purpose is to motivate and activate the churches in the community to provide community support.

WHAT LOVE INC IS

Love INC is:
· A Strategy to help churches come together to help their neighbors in need
· A Partnership of local churches, that links Christian volunteers and ministries to people in need
· A Movement of Christian churches working together to show God's Love to those in need
· A Model for implementing Christ-like relational ministries that transforms lives - both those being served and those who serve
· A Method for mobilizing local church congregations to live out the two great commandments of loving God and loving their neighbor
· A Network of affiliates supporting and encouraging each other
· A Collaboration between local churches and their community (agencies, ministries, government, schools) to provide effective help for the disadvantaged
· A Vehicle that helps churches, collectively and individually, fulfill their biblical mandate to reach out to their community

Love INC is the Church:
· Churches Make Love INC
· Churches Do Love INC
· Churches Relate Through Love INC
· Churches Mobilize Through Love INC
· Churches Own Love INC
· Churches ARE Love INC!

 

[for_his_glory]

WIP, that needs to be in all Churches, but so many Churches close the doors on those who are not of their membership and send those in need away from them.

Mat 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

 

[reba]

amen!

 

[WIP]

LoveINC is a national organization including Puerto Rico so if you're interested in getting a chapter started in your area check 'em out. You may find they are already around your area.

 

[hallowbonnie]

when I was going through my divorce support group at this church in texas it was so nice to know I was not alone in what I was experiencing there was a real sense of validation for all of us and finding a new normal and we were doing it together.The prayers that they printed up for us to pray at the beginning and end of every meeting were spot on and so healing.God is good Im so glad he lead me there it was my first experience with a non denominational church and i have been hooked ever since.

 

[Obadiah]

I thought i was doing good for the community and humbled myself to bring a man into my house as a solo man i am, because i have a spare room, who he is going through a long term relationship breakup, and gave his partner there house and everything in it, and left with a broken heart and knowhere to live, but then i live in a filthy community where they all think we are now gay, and i am gay for doing such a thing they know nothing even about. You think its easy for us to go the club and have a drink and game of pool. Im just trying to help a brother out. He cries near every night. He needs a brothers support.

Now THAT'S a shame that you try to help someone out like that and people just have to assume you are gay. I hope you don't let them discourage you from helping him.

 

[Mike S]

I thought i was doing good for the community and humbled myself to bring a man into my house as a solo man i am, because i have a spare room, who he is going through a long term relationship breakup, and gave his partner there house and everything in it, and left with a broken heart and knowhere to live, but then i live in a filthy community where they all think we are now gay, and i am gay for doing such a thing they know nothing even about. You think its easy for us to go the club and have a drink and game of pool. Im just trying to help a brother out. He cries near every night. He needs a brothers support.

Amen to what you're doing kiwi. The world will always think the worst of us, but you're doing God's work in being a friend to someone who's hurting.

 

[Claudya]

I thought i was doing good for the community and humbled myself to bring a man into my house as a solo man i am, because i have a spare room, who he is going through a long term relationship breakup, and gave his partner there house and everything in it, and left with a broken heart and knowhere to live, but then i live in a filthy community where they all think we are now gay, and i am gay for doing such a thing they know nothing even about. You think its easy for us to go the club and have a drink and game of pool. Im just trying to help a brother out. He cries near every night. He needs a brothers support.

Try not to care for what they think. If they call you gay tell them they are a backward bunch of homophobes.
Seriously though, they have no business judging you and your friend. Ignore them as best as you can and be assured you are doing the right thing. Some people don't judge you that easily but rather care for the truth and support you. Those are the wise ones that you should try to hang out with.
Also, let us know if you want us to pray for your friend. Start a prayer request thread if you want to. :yes

 

[reba]

Here is an extremely hard lesson about the hardest ever..the words of Jesus
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Mat 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Mat 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

 

[Claudya]

Encouraging community experiences:
One that comes to mind is that my church "adopted" a Syrian Christian refugee family. The mother of the family and their three kids arrived here first. They'd been really wealthy (both were doctors afaik) back in Syria and had to give it all up in order to get their children to safety from the war. So we welcomed them here, found an apartment big enough for the entire family and gathered furniture and household stuff for them.
So the mother and the kids were living here for a few months, and a few weeks ago their husband/ dad could finally make it out of Syria and come here to be reunited with his family. I was so happy for them when he got here that I had tears in my eyes for the entire duration of the church service. People were asking me if I'm okay
If we work together we can do so much for people in need.
Too many times churches are so busy with themselves and fail to turn outward and make a change in their town or their country or their planet.

 

[reba]

afaik?

Amen to your post Claudya amen...

OVer the years i have seen /had many blessings from God given through the churches... WMCs back then womens missionary council. would send boxes of stuff to us and others... Dad being a home missions pastor... Homemade quilts clothing sometimes even a toy... back some years i spent some time building such boxes.... When the church group saw someone was struggling the altar might fill up with bags of groceries.

 

[Claudya]

afaik?

Short for "as far as I know". I've seen many people use that abbreviation, so I thought it's kinda common knowledge. Sorry for confusing you. 2

Amen to your post Claudya amen...

OVer the years i have seen /had many blessings from God given through the churches... WMCs back then womens missionary council. would send boxes of stuff to us and others... Dad being a home missions pastor... Homemade quilts clothing sometimes even a toy... back some years i spent some time building such boxes.... When the church group saw someone was struggling the altar might fill up with bags of groceries.

Yeah that's what it should be like. What's the purpose of all the debates about correct doctrines and such if it only distracts us from practising love?

 

[reba]

Hey i am old thanks for the info....

 

[jasonc]

I thought i was doing good for the community and humbled myself to bring a man into my house as a solo man i am, because i have a spare room, who he is going through a long term relationship breakup, and gave his partner there house and everything in it, and left with a broken heart and knowhere to live, but then i live in a filthy community where they all think we are now gay, and i am gay for doing such a thing they know nothing even about. You think its easy for us to go the club and have a drink and game of pool. Im just trying to help a brother out. He cries near every night. He needs a brothers support.

its not gay,

 

[His_nee (Jeff)]

community churches that advertise and let gays join the church have lost all credibility if they ever had any. those churches that maintain 'right ruling' according to Scripture and God's abiding with us by grace in Jesus Christ are castigated by
the community media frequently (as if that's not 'loving'),
but God totally requires maintaining an uncompromising righteousness in faith, and putting out anyone who claims to be a brother but continues without repenting of known sin (even greed or covetousness, and especially sexual sins).
the ekklesia thus living, heal those who come to them, (or rather Jesus heals(saves)) just as Jesus healed all who came to Him while He walked on earth,
and it is richly rewarding to find such a group (whether just 2 or 3 or 12 or 100), and rare today.