The ministry of presence = showing up and simply being there. It's a powerful statement even when words aren't used. To just be there. Sometimes words are exchanged and God's word is part of that and many times not. Don't feel the need to fill in the silence with words, scripture, stories of how you understand but really you have no idea (and that's not your fault). Silence ... Read More »
31 Days: Day 15 – Urban Ministry
I found a blog through the 31 Days writing challenge that I've been following the last few weeks and I had to share it in this space. Morgan's is really the one who should be writing on outreach because she's living it daily. Like really really living it daily. Check out the video below to see what I'm talking about. It's incredible. I simply love what they are doing. Morgan ... Read More »
31 Days: Day 14 – Come To My Table – God’s Hospitality & Yours
I was introduced to Sue Donaldson author of Come To My Table just a few months ago. Our introduction was timely because hospitality was something I was struggling with. Still kind of am. This and this are just two examples of my less than stellar hospitality moves and there's more where that came from but we'll just leave it at that. Yep. What Sue helped me see through her ... Read More »
31 Days: Day 13 – I got a “C” on my outreach opportunity today at Sam’s Club.
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:5-6 Three things come to mind when I see this verse: Be alert to your responses. In line at Sam's when the lady in front of you takes 25 minutes to check out her three ... Read More »
31 Days: Day 12 – Love your neighbor (without being weird)
Today I'm so excited to share with you (and give away a copy) a book that I have loved reading over the past few weeks. How to Love your Neighbor without being weird by Amy Lively has been so much fun to read. It has made me laugh out loud and has opened my eyes to incredible things as well. Amy paints herself in the beginning as an unlikely candidate to be spreading Jesus ... Read More »
31 Days: Day 11 – Reaching out in church
Outreach doesn't have to take place outside the walls of our church or church family although that's where we normally tend to place outreach. We have plenty of opportunities within our own church walls to get outside of ourselves and focus on loving those around us. One of the first things I think about is new people visiting church. For those of us who have been churchin' it ... Read More »
31 Days: Day 10 – Human Trafficking Outreach
My eyes were first opened to the reality of human trafficking (sex slavery, modern slavery) when I attended a conference in Atlanta. A copy of "The White Umbrella" was given to everyone in attendance. For the next several weeks I read a chapter every day in carpool line and it broke my heart. It scared me and it made me overwhelmingly aware of the reality of human trafficking ... Read More »
31 Days: Day 9 – When the mundane turns divine
When you’re entrenched in churchy activities where you’re constantly surrounded by other Christians it means we need to be that much more prayerfully aware of our surroundings in the world through the little things. Our trips to the bank, the grocery store, the office at work, fill in the ___________. It means the mundane becomes the divine and sometimes when we least expect it ... Read More »