Living in Your Community
“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:26-47
I had a realization on a run in my community park. I was in the middle of my second lap, about 1 and ½ miles in. I was sweaty and felt like dying, and then I saw a family from the church. Their daughter was in my ministry. I smiled and waved as I ran, and I thought to myself: “Wow, I have come a long way from just moving here 4 years ago.” When I first moved here, the only other person I knew was one of the other interns. I was living with a host family (still thankful to this day for them, they welcomed me for over 3 years! Wait for that blog post J) and I didn’t think that I would be here long, it was only supposed to be for the summer. I also didn’t think of the impact that one person could have on the community. As the years went by, I started to notice that I was slowly added to the people that I knew. I would go to the grocery store and see one or two families, but never thought of the impact my presence had here.
I would go to my coaching job at the local high school and see even more families. I started coaching cheerleading about 4 years ago. I interviewed for the job because it was what I did in high school and college but it was also something I was super passionate about. I was new in my role at CCV and I didn’t even think of the impact of being a pastor in a secular school. As the years grew so did my connection with the girls and the head coach. Each year we grew closer and started being more invested in each other lives. One year I was able to host a cheer event at CCV, it opened up the opportunity for the girls to ask questions about the church, and what we believe. It also opened a huge door for me to talk with the head coach about faith. She has since come to a few services and a few girls also regularly attend now.
I would not be able to do any of this if I had not stepped into my community to embrace it. I also didn’t simply think of the greater impact that God was going to do with my passion.
Acts say, they would meet together all the time, and they would eat and worship God together. They inserted themselves in the life of those around them. They lived, shared and believed together. The end of that verse tells us that the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. If we take the simple task of just seeking people out, making a connection and getting in our community, the Lord will work! We need to live in our community and to be an example of a Christ-follower. We need our families and students to see us living our lives, not just who we are in the church but who we are in the store, the gym, the park, etc. In addition, It is really important that you establish your home in your community and you open your home to your community. If not, you are not making as great an impact as you could be, and you are just potentially going through the motions.
Yes, I was a bit embarrassed to be seen tired and covered in sweat, make-up running down my face and breathless as I tried to smile and wave when I ran into the family in the park. But I walked into my ministry area on Sunday, and the young girl came up to me and said it was great to see me at the park! She and her parents now feel like they have a greater connection to me as a pastor but also a Christ-follower. I was recently going through our volunteer sign up cards for an upcoming event, guess who signed up for the first time? One of my cheerleader’s parents! This would not have happened if I wasn’t speaking/ being seen in the life of this girl. She wouldn’t have attended church and then in return brought her parents.
It’s not going to be easy. It will require your time and your house will be under constant surveillance from others. You will be constantly tired because you are busy… Practice, Game, Community event, etc. However, when you embrace where you are and take time to grow some roots: you will have a greater impact on your community, probably more than you will ever know.
So get out there an make sure your community knows your name!
How does your community know you? How are you out in your community?
