Relational. In the early centuries of the Church, Christ’s followers, filled with compassion and kindness, served the people around them. It is estimated that the early Church grew at a rate of 40% per decade during this time. They didn’t have direct mail, large special events, banners, or the internet to get their message across. All they had were themselves.
They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved — (Acts 2:46-47 from The Message).
God entrusted His message to the Church then, and that responsibility is still ours today. While events can help us gather the masses, they can’t take the place of Christians rubbing shoulders with non-Christians.
The church that develops long-term, trusting relationships with the community is the one that has an opportunity to influence its culture. The most effective way to do that seems to be in the context of serving. In meeting the needs of others and serving alongside them, we cannot help but create relationships. Relationships are key to building bridges into the community.
So how do we go about this? Here are some following paths to journey:
- Rub shoulders. Get off the campus of the church (non-Christians don’t go to church). Get into the community and discover where the people are, what they are doing, and how they are hurting.
- Recognize that relationships take time. Serving the community once a year will not build a relationship or reputation of being a caring church. Service must be constant and daily. In time, the relationship and reputation develops.
- Partner with other churches and organizations that genuinely care about the community’s health and welfare. Ministering with assistance from the DC Baptist Convention can help strengthen your efforts through cooperation and compilation of resources and expertise.
- Develop partnerships and ministries with no strings attached. One rule of thumb is that churches should come ONLY to serve and bless, not to control.
Serving others puts us into relationships with those we serve and those with whom we are serving. Are you ready to serve?
