I just read a really cool article at Building Church Leaders website. It talked about what kind of groundwork that is needed for real/authentic community.

I have never been one to fully extend outside of my comfort zone but I remember when I was working as a Youth Director at a church in Bellflower, California , we would have a friday night service for the community. At this service we would invite them to come and listen to a message and then walk through our food closet. Most of them, to be honest, just wanted the food. To sit through a small service was nothing. But I do remember, each time, when someones life was touched. How did I know? Well they showed up on Sunday in the best clothes that they had. “How amazing”, I thought to myself. These people want more; More hope, more love, more…God.

It’s never just about serving the poor/homeless, the needy, the disenfranchised. It’s about inviting them into the community. I think we have the ability to do amazing things if we but break down our walls. We say we want to be branches or Jesus’ hands extended but we never are willing to lead people in. We keep our hands extended and thats as far it goes. Its funny to think that Salvation/Redemption is just an arms lenght away. (Crazy thought)

It challenges me to be more authentic and to share my story/God story.

How might we be able to more effective in reaching out our arms to the community?

How might we bring all people into right community?

We were born to unite with our fellow men, and to join in community with the human race.

- Cicero