Help Should Be Helpful...

For many a years, the church experienced difficulty in connecting with community... mostly because of the stigma of certain life events and circumstances that contradicted the beliefs of Christianity. As a result, it ruined our ability to effectively be the hands and feet of Christ to extend love and grace to the person without giving a pass on the sin or behavior of the circumstance. To make matters worse, when people do come to faith, yet still have to live with the realities of their former lifestyle, decisions and circumstances, the church still struggled to minister to such circumstances.

The world continues to spiral, seemingly out of control, as more and more within society we see people "doing whatever is right in their own eyes". Of course it doesn't help, that I dare suggest people within the church do the same.

Yet, I was reminded again this week that communities will only be as healthy as the community of Christ is healthy. For how can an unhealthy church effectively turn their community towards right relationship with God through Jesus Christ? Furthermore, if we don't reach out to the special circumstances and challenges of life that people are facing during these increasing difficult times, then we will only see further decline.

People are facing serious strongholds and addictions.
Single parents are being overwhelmed with life as divorce runs away
Human trafficking and sex trafficking is nearing out of control levels.
Kids in foster care are at numbers beyond comprehension.
And many pastors and church aren't equipped.

Those that are, are witnessing amazing testimonies of grace. Which many more need to experience for themselves.

Let's pray, this #communitySaturday, that God would help us to better reach those in extremely difficult and challenging places in life. May He grant us wisdom in our conversations and guide us to to the tools and resources to truly help those in circumstances such as the aforementioned. Pray for opportunities to partner with other churches and organizations that are working in these areas of need. May God help the body of Christ to become a more healthy community within that church, that we may be more effective in helping the greater community live healthier lives with the purpose and calling of God upon their hearts and minds.

Effectively reaching the needs of those around us
Because of the work God has done in each of us.
For we were all once lost in our ways.
And we daily look to the Savior of our souls.
For the glory of God.

- PNC

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