Let’s be honest: Most churches do plenty of good things for their own people. Most of the money, time and energy in local churches are invested in taking care of those who already call our church their spiritual home. We invest far less in reaching out to those who are still outside the church.

The first and wisest step you can take for innovating ways to reach new people is to explore how to take the great ministries you are already doing and offer them to people in your community who don’t have a church home. You will be amazed by how many people are longing to be connected and who will gladly jump into existing ministries at your church. You just need to make space, invite people and repurpose current ministries so that they are welcoming to those who don’t understand church language and culture.

What might happen if your church began to redesign many of its ministries so that they organically serve and connect with people in your area? Some years ago I began thinking about this idea and came up with a concept I call the “Two-Degree Rule.” Visualize a compass. By default our ministries point to “true north”—we focus our direction on those already in the church. What if we were to move that needle even two degrees? The idea is simple: Take the effective and plentiful things we do for ourselves and direct them out into our community. The results are amazing.

You will be amazed by how many people are longing to be connected and who will gladly jump into existing ministries at your church.

A medium-size Reformed church in the Midwest asked the question, “What do we do well for ourselves that we could offer to our community?” One person said, “Our church is 104 years old, and I am pretty sure we have had a meals ministry for about 104 years.”

For over a century this loving church had brought meals five days in a row to anyone who had a surgery, a new baby, or a family crisis. They offered these meals to anyone—in their church. As they discussed branching out into their community, they decided to offer this service to anyone who had a baby, a surgery, or a crisis, as long as they were not part of a church family.

Guess what happened? This century-old, inward-focused meals ministry became a powerful new outreach and the church did not have to add staff, budget or a new program. It just offered what they were already doing for themselves to their community.

A large Wesleyan church had a dynamic ministry called, Crossroads. Once a month, those who were between jobs, looking for a change in career direction, or at any kind of a vocational crossroads would meet to talk, network, pray for each other, offer support and learn biblical lessons to help them through this challenging season of life.

For all the years the Crossroads ministry existed, the church had only invited Christians from their congregation to attend. They never even considered that nonchurched people would want to come. When they heard the challenge to offer existing ministries to those who were not yet followers of Jesus, they took it seriously. Members of the Crossroads group went to a local job fair and handed out invitations to anyone who was interested in being a part of their group.

In a matter of a few months, about half the people coming to this ministry were nonchurched—and they loved it. Friendships were built, connections were made, and gospel relationships were born. God used this existing ministry to become an outreach ministry.

An elderly pastor of a small Lutheran church heard the challenge to vector church ministries out into the community and was deeply convicted. He walked up to me after hearing me teach about the Two-Degree Rule and said, “Brother, I have to tell you something. Our church has a monthly community dinner. There is just one problem.” He looked at me with deep sadness in his eyes. “We have never invited anyone from our community to our community dinner.”

It seems “community” meant people in their own church family. Then, with passion and intensity, he said, “This is going to change. From now on we will never hold another community dinner without inviting people from our community to join our church members for this dinner.” Another new outreach ministry was born.

You get the picture. Many churches spend a lot of time and money developing new outreach programs and initiatives, and there is nothing wrong with that. But I would suggest looking at what you already do for your church members and ask how you might apply these ministries to your community. You might discover that you could launch two to five new outreach ministries without removing any existing ministries, increasing your budget or adding any staff.

If you are going to apply the Two-Degree Rule, I would suggest that you keep some things in mind.

1. Promote more widely.

You can’t just list these gatherings and ministries in your church bulletin or on your website and expect people from outside of your church to show up. You will want to advertise in your community, provide an invitation that can be shared by church members on social media, and encourage your congregation to invite nonchurch friends to join them.

2. Consider your community.

Not every ministry will connect for your community, but many will. Consider the needs of your area. One church had a class that focused on personal finances and budgeting. When they opened it to their community, people flooded in because at that time many people were struggling with financial concerns and this ministry hit a felt need.

3. Watch your language.

When you expect nonbelievers to come to events at your church or gatherings with lots of Christians, be intentional about not using inside terms or “Christianese.” Just talk like normal people.

4. Pray bigger.

As you prepare for these ministries, acts of service or gatherings, pray for those who will come who are not yet followers of Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to draw these people. And pray that they will feel welcomed and come to know Jesus in the community of his people.

5. Prepare for growth.

Expect new people to come and for your church to grow. Make space for new people.

6. Build bridges.

As new people engage in the life of your church through these ministries, be sure to offer natural connections to worship services and other church activities. Once a person or family feels loved in one part of the church, they are more open to engage more deeply.

Read more from Kevin Harney »

We’ve all had the sense that we were created for something more. And that’s no accident. God actually created us to crave eternal significance with our lives, and Jesus shows us how to get it. Here’s the thing: Living in a way that has eternal significance may not look like we expect, and what Jesus teaches us about it is both less glamorous and more rewarding than we might think.

For example, Luke tells the story of Jesus attending a party in which he shook things up (to say the least) by telling his host that instead of inviting his rich friends to his feasts, he should be inviting the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. In other words, if you want God’s blessing, invest in people who can do nothing for you in return.

There are a number of ways we can apply this in our lives—such as, for instance, the literal application of inviting the “poor, crippled, blind and lame” to sit at our dining room tables. But in addition to opening up our homes, we need to ask if there are ways our jobs or skill sets can benefit the disadvantaged and poor in our own communities.

I don’t want to imply that the only worthwhile businesses are those doing non-profit or charity work. (Although, if the Spirit is leading you that way, go for it!) In order to eliminate poverty long-term, we need a combination of non-profit and for-profit businesses.

For those of you in the working world, there should always be aspects of your career you can use to bless others. The Christian’s job, in other words, has got to be about more than mere profit. If you’re a lawyer, you might dedicate a certain amount of your work pro bono. If you’re a dentist, you might engage in free community clinics. It might take a little creativity to think about ways you can apply your job for the poor. But you can. And if you’re following Christ, you must. I was encouraged by a conversation with an entrepreneur in our church who is approaching retirement. He has dedicated his services and expertise to helping get businesses off the ground in low-income areas. I know of some local business owners who work with our prison ministry to help provide jobs for some of our brothers and sisters when they are released.

Maybe you have skills that can benefit the poor overseas. In pioneer missions areas, there is an almost endless need for English teachers and builders (construction, disaster relief, etc.). Frankly, any job that makes a viable wage in the U.S. is something that can benefit the poor somewhere. The need for good lawyers, doctors and accountants in developing countries is massive, and broad experience in business leadership may be the most needed of all. Think of it this way: If it’s even crossing your mind that you can climb the ladder in your workplace, then you already have skills that could transform entire communities in the poorer parts of the world.

According to the Theology of Work project, 1.4 billion people live in poverty and another 1.1 billion in basic subsistence. Every week, 100,000 kids die of starvation and hunger-related diseases.

In light of that, Jesus’ teaching has to mean something. I’ve heard it said there is undoubtedly a connection between empty stomachs on one side of the Atlantic and empty lives on the other.

The skills and resources to end most poverty are already in the church. The next step is for you to decide how you can use what you already have and where God has already placed you to make an eternal difference and benefit those most in need.

Read more from J.D. Greear »

This article originally appeared on JDGreear.com.

What does it look like to keep ourselves accountable to joining with God on his mission in our neighborhood?

Progressing in our faith can be hard to measure, but I think it is important to think about what maturity looks like as a Christian. Then we can begin to assess our growth.

Self-accountability questions have a spiritual-formation element in that we are able to discern the way that the Spirit has been at work in our lives. The Spirit will gently challenge and affirm where necessary so that we reflect the image of Jesus. There is no need to see accountability questions as guilt-inducing or burdensome if we understand that God’s grace is our foundation.

The definition of spiritual formation, according to Jeffrey Greenman in Life in the Spirit: Spiritual Formation in Theological Perspective, is that spiritual formation is “[our] continuing response to the reality of God’s grace shaping us into the likeness of Jesus Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit, in the community of faith, for the sake of the world.”

What I love about this definition is that there is a balance between God’s work and our cooperation with an emphasis on community and missional intent. This is the purpose of spiritual practices: They transform us into people who join with God on his mission. What we can also see in this definition is that our goal as Christians is to reflect the likeness of Jesus.

Reflection Questions for Local, Contextual Engagement

Often I find that the questions we ask ourselves in terms of spiritual disciplines revolve around Bible reading, church attendance, tithing and, perhaps, evangelizing. None of those things should be discarded.

However, if we want to be a people of God who discern and join with God’s work in our local contexts, I think we can go a little deeper and craft reflection questions that lead to practices that will keep us engaged in our local contexts.

Leaders, pastors and neighborhood activists can model being missionaries in their local contexts and then encourage others to join with them on that journey. Leaders can also encourage individuals in church cell groups to ask these questions of each other so there is mutual accountability present, and so that formation happens in the context of community.

Here are six questions that I have personally found helpful in joining with God on his mission.

1. How am I loving others?

That might seem like a simple and broad question. However, if we define love as putting others before ourselves and freely sacrificing our own resources for the sake of others, it is worth asking. This helps us live a life that is not primarily about our own advantage, progress and self-preservation. Ask yourself, “Have I taken time recently to meet the needs of others even though it comes at a cost to me?”

2. How am I paying attention to “the least of these”?

It’s easy to love those who are like us but harder to take notice of and love those who are different than us. If we are privileged enough to have a life that reflects the results of a solid education, good health, strong relationships, comfortable shelter and sufficient income, then how can we show hospitality to the least of these?

The expression comes from Chapter 25 of the gospel of Matthew, in which the least of these are the hungry, the strangers, the naked, those in prison, those thirsty, and the sick. Ask yourself, “How am I paying attention to and loving the vulnerable members in my neighborhood and world?”

3. What faith conversations am I having?

Being on God’s mission means connecting with matters of faith. It means thinking about what else might exist beyond us and our world, and connecting with our Creator.

We can incorporate faith elements into our conversations when there is an opportunity. This brings a bigger perspective into our daily conversations, shifting discussions away from the mundane, which can dominate our lives. Everyday matters are important, but we so often live superficially, without ever asking the deeper questions of life. How can we weave the story of the gospel into our conversations?

4. Who am I eating with?

Sharing food around a table with others helps us to prioritize community. As we alternate between playing host and guest, we learn reciprocity and build relationships with people who we might not otherwise engage with. If we are eating with people who are always similar to us, maybe it is time to invite someone different from us to the table so that mutual learning can take place and respect for each other’s differences can grow.

5. How is God’s rule growing in my neighborhood and world?

The rule or reign of God is a vision of the world as he longs for it to be. A picture of this kind of world would be one that exhibits beauty, perfect love, truth, salvation from our self-absorption, healing of wounds and peace. Is this vision growing in our neighborhoods and contexts where we work and live? Are we joining with others who have a similar vision to flesh out the essence of this rule in our world?

6. Am I inviting people to join me?

As we work with others to grow this vision of a new society, are we inviting people to join with us? When we embody this picture of peace, reconciliation, justice and beauty, we will have opportunities to welcome others to cooperate with God’s work as we engage in it. Ask yourself, “Who am I asking to walk with me on the road toward this presently unfolding reign of God?”

What are some questions that you ask yourself, to keep your focus on living a missional life in your neighborhood?

This article was originally published on MissioAlliance.org.

“When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:

‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.’ 

“He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. ‘The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!’” (Luke 4:16-21, NLT)

Jesus came to bring good news—what’s known as the gospel. The redemptive message of God for the world. There was also a concern for a particular group of people: the poor.

This is the third and final installment in an informal series of blogs on creation care. It began with attempting a simple, concise theology of creation care. In the second blog, I focused on a single concern – rainforests – and why they matter. Here, I want to remind all of us of one of the most overlooked aspects of creation care. Namely, that the litany of nightmarish concerns tied to the environment – such as extreme heat, drought, mudslides, the rise of intense storms and hurricanes, wildfires, and the melting of glaciers – will fall disproportionately on the poorest of the poor.

If you haven’t downloaded and read “Loving the Least of These” from the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), I urge you to do so. In it, you’ll read these words:

“Although the changing environment impacts all of us, the disproportionate devastation upon the most defenseless must break God’s heart. Creation, although groaning under the fall, is still intended to bless us. However, for too many in this world, the beach isn’t about sunscreen and bodysurfing but is a daily reminder of rising tides and failed fishing. Instead of a gulp of fresh air from a lush forest, too many children take a deep breath only to gasp with the toxic air that has irritated their lungs.”

Vulnerable children in developing countries who are among the poorest of the poor are on the front lines for the devastation to come if we don’t take care of creation. The NAE report went on to outline four heartbreaking realities.

First, the poor and their children are more affected by disasters—particularly in housing and health outcomes. The reason is because they have no savings to deal with crop or home loss, their livelihoods are more likely to depend on ecosystem resources, and they have no flood or other disaster insurance.

So when Hurricane Ida and Hurricane Harvey wiped out many coastal communities, the poor in those areas could not afford to rebuild.

Then there are the health issues related to disasters.

Climate-change related health problems result from both abrupt disasters and gradual changes such as heat waves, the spread of diseases, increased parasites, air pollution, droughts, fires and floods. Poor children are more likely to have asthma that is made worse by increased heat. Heat waves kill people who lack access to air conditioning, who can’t pay to travel to cooler areas, and who can’t even open windows due to crime risk.

Here’s a second reality: the poor and their children are not able to afford the costs of prevention and survival. Or in technical terms, the costs of adaptation and mitigation.

Just think of prevention, or adaptation. People in poverty are less likely to have reserve funds to allocate to adaptation efforts. If they choose to spend money on adapting to or preparing for changes such as building cisterns, moving a settlement, or adding technology to save energy or water, they do so at the sacrifice of other necessary items such as food, education or health care.

It becomes even more volatile in a fossil-fuel based economy because food costs follow a rise in oil prices, a phenomenon illustrated this year by the global rise in food prices following the beginning of the Russia/Ukraine war.

Then there are the costs of survival, or mitigation.

Preventing greenhouse gas emissions means changing the way the economy is structured. New technologies are first available to the wealthy and only later become available to poorer people. Purchasing low emissions buses and vans for public transportation and investing in other alternative energy infrastructure costs money that poorer communities just do not have.

Here’s a third reality: The poor and their children are more likely to be displaced. Disasters, resource limitation and conflict can cause massive displacement of people within and between countries.

Sea level rise through the melting of the glaciers is causing the relocation of countless coastal groups and islanders. We are already seeing coastal Alaskans forced to leave their homes as the sea takes over their land, and Pacific Islanders relocating as their islands simply disappear. Coastal groups and islanders are often among the poorest of the poor and, when displaced, have no place else to go and no other means to survive.

Here’s one last reality: The poor and their children are more likely to be affected by ensuing conflicts. Even the most cursory study of world history shows that a lack of resources leads to violent conflicts over territory and goods, with the poor often the victims of the conflict.

Those who are Christ followers would be wise to remember such things. After all, those who plan on entering the Kingdom of God supposedly have one thing in common:

“I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room, 

“I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.”
(Matthew 25:35-36, Msg)

Read more from James Emery White »

This article originally appeared on ChurchAndCulture.org and is reposted here by permission.

I’ve entered that time in my life where friends are dealing with parents who are aging. Other friends are dealing with truly difficult seasons of parenting. Some friends are adjusting to the reality that infertility is a major part of their story. Another friend is still accepting the diagnosis she never thought she’d hear, putting her in a club she never intended to join. One friend of mine is wondering if her heart will function normally again. Another friend is sitting in a counselor’s office every week with her wayward son, wondering how they got there and if they will ever get back to “normal.” It feels as though I looked up from my life one day only to realize that so many beloved friends are struggling and suffering.

I feel deeply when my people are hurting. I cry with them and for them. My heart aches when their hearts ache. I rejoice when they rejoice. I fear the unknown right alongside them. It’s a beautiful gift, and it’s also a heart-wrenching gift. The pain can often be so real that it seems like my own pain.

I’ve learned a few things while walking through these difficult seasons with my friends, and I’m here to encourage you as you walk alongside your own friends. There are a couple of truths for all of us to understand before we move on. First, we will all suffer and walk alongside friends who are suffering. We live in a broken world, and this is just how it’s going to be until Jesus comes back and fixes all of this mess. Secondly, we will screw up. We’ll say the wrong things, show up at the wrong times—and there is plenty of grace to go around for all of us.

When a friend is suffering, we want to act. Here are a few things I’ve learned that will hopefully help you as you enter into seasons of suffering with your people:

1. LISTEN MORE. TALK LESS.

There is so much truth in the Bible about hard times and suffering. We all know that God works out all things for His good. Yes, suffering does eventually produce great things in our lives. No, this world is not our home. All of those things are good and true, but I’ve learned that there is a time and a place to speak and a time and a place to listen. The biggest discouragement I have heard from friends is that other well-meaning friends have hurt them more than helped them in their times of hardship by speaking before listening.

Not speaking the truth is never an option, but so many well-meaning Christians forget to listen first.

2. CHECK IN ON THEM.

Life moves so fast that sometimes we think that the suffering others endure is in the past and that it’s not an issue anymore. But friends of mine who have been through the fire feel so loved when someone checks in on their pain—when someone reaches out on the anniversary of the death, diagnosis or heartbreak—even years later. Continuing to walk through the rebuilding of friends’ lives is sometimes harder than being there for their immediate needs. Be that friend who remembers to ask how others truly are, and be willing to hear the good and the bad.

3. HELP WITH THE LITTLE THINGS.

Many times in the midst of tragedy some of the most mundane things become difficult. Tragedy or suffering strikes and victims have one thing on their minds—get through the day alive and start all over again tomorrow. All kinds of everyday tasks become extremely difficult, like grocery shopping, mowing the lawn, taking the kids to the movies, getting the trash to the curb, etc.

Those who are in the midst of suffering are focused on survival. A beautiful way to show your love for these friends is to do some of the mundane tasks for them.

Instead of texting your friend and asking them what they need, text “I’m bringing dinner tonight. I’ll leave it in a cooler on the front porch.” In the midst of hard times, it can be difficult to express something that you need, so take the guesswork out.

Helping our friends through difficult times is an honor. What a joy that God would allow us to walk alongside friends as they hurt and to love them the way that God has loved us. As you walk this journey with your friends, allow God to show you how you can love them the way that he has loved you—intentionally, excellently, selflessly and joyfully.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” —John 15:12–13

Read more from Jamie Ivey »

This article originally appeared on LifeWayVoices.com and is reposted here by permission.

1. You Will Enjoy It.

Serving God by serving kids is fun. Kids say some of the most hilarious things. They often want to learn and tend to respect the leader who is offering them instruction. And let’s be honest; children tend have more fun than most big people. Being in a kid’s ministry gives you an opportunity to be surrounded by the optimism and creativity and joy that kids bring.

2. You Will Have an Impact.

Those who serve kids are choosing to invest in others during their most impressionable years. While kids are impressionable, they are not innocent. None of us are. The Bible says we are sinful from the time we were conceived. All of us need the grace of Jesus to change us, and those who serve in kid’s ministry are helping kids encounter God’s grace. If you serve in kid’s ministry you can make an eternal impact by giving kids a tangible expression of God’s love. As a kid’s ministry leader, your consistent presence in the life of kids sends a strong signal of God’s consistent and faithful love.

3. You Will Be Reminded of the Nature of the Faith.

Jesus told a crowd one day that unless we become like children we will not enter his kingdom. There is a major difference between a childish faith and a childlike faith; God affirms the latter and rebukes the former. It is not surprising when children are childish. But they also give us glimpses of childlike faith. Not only are they trusting but also they often still have the gift of awe, a sense of wonder, which gives us a great opportunity to point them to the most awesome story of all.

4. You Will Learn to Communicate Truth More Effectively.

Theologian and professor Helmut Thielicke required all of his doctoral students to teach kid’s Sunday school while they were studying theology for their advanced degrees. He believed that if someone really understands theology then the person can articulate the truth to a child in a way the child understands. He reasoned that if his theology students could not explain the Christian faith to kids, they did not understand it well enough. Teaching and leading kids likely will help you more than it helps them. You will learn how to take the truth of God and communicate it in ways that are understandable.

If someone at your church approaches you about serving in the kid’s ministry, you are being offered a major honor. Go for it.

Read more from Eric Geiger »

Eric Geiger is the senior pastor of Mariners Church in Irvine, California, and the former vice president of the Church Resource Division at LifeWay Christian Resources. This article originally appeared on EricGeiger.com.

1. Vision cast to your guest services team.

So often, people that serve on a church’s guest services team feel unimportant. They think they are not good enough to sing on stage, lead a small group or are not tech-savvy enough to serve on the production team. It’s vital that your leadership over communicate that this is not the B-team. This is not a place to serve for people that have no talent. This is a vital ministry and is a front door to your church. People make up their mind whether or not they will return in the first 10 minutes. First impressions matter.

2. Pray with your team before your first service.

Never, ever forget the God-factor when you serve in ministry. We are but vessels. We need the Holy Spirit of God to love, lead and serve through us. Pray each week with your team that they would be the hands and feet of Christ. Pray for God to break down walls of fear, skepticism and distractions. Pray that the lost would come to Christ and that the hurting would find healing and hope.

3. Remember it’s always someone’s first Sunday.

I really can’t stress this enough. No matter the size of your congregation, chances are, someone is entering your doors for the first time. The larger your church is, the more this is true. Churches of 200 can expect at least 5 to 8 guests a week. Larger churches welcome even more into their midst. When you gather with your guest services team to pray before your first service, remind your team of this simple truth. Focus them on their mission to welcome all who enter with love and to be a servant.

4. Free up your hands.

One of my pet peeves is when I see people on the guest services team that have a coffee or cell phone in their hand. This is a red flag for me. I want my team shaking hands, hugging regular members, holding open doors and pointing to where people need to go (or even escorting them there.) If your team member is distracted by looking at their cell phone, it is one of the rudest and worst first impressions you can give a newcomer.

5. Focus on your guests and not your team.

A lot of times when I visit a church or even attend my local church, I’ll notice team members in conversation with each other and talking while guests pass by them. Again, this is a red flag and a big no-no. Another pet peeve of mine is parking lot attendants standing next to each other and talking. Parking lot attendants should be spread out and not bunched up together talking. Door holders, ushers and greeters should be focused on their role and not engaged in conversation with friends. Make eye contact with all who enter, smile and welcome them.

First impressions matter, so take them seriously and do all you can to remove distractions and barriers for your guests. Love and serve others like you would want to be loved and served.

Finally, give all the glory to God. It is he who uses us as jars of clay and melts cold hearts. The cool thing is we get to be a part of that supernatural process.

I hope you’ll implement these tips and have an amazing summer.

Read more from Greg Atkinson »

This article originally appeared on GregAtkinson.com.

Another tragedy has struck our nation, this time at a high school in Parkland, Florida, and it’s one of the nation’s deadliest attacks at a high school. My heart dropped when I heard the news—another community, and more families, wrecked by violence. I reached out to Pastor Eddie Bevill of Parkridge Church, which originally met at that school, to learn how churches are responding.

Tell me a little bit about the background of the church, specifically related to that facility.

My wife and I founded Parkridge Church in 1992, and we met in the facility for about seven years, until we were able to purchase land and build our first building, and we are now currently located about a mile or less from that school and still have a strong relationship there.

We have several families who have students who go there because it is our local high school. We also have a few employees. I know for one, the band director is a member of our church, and maybe some others as well. As far as I know, they are all safe and not harmed. But information is still a little sketchy on all the names. But as far as we know, we’ve heard from all of them, and they seem to be basically OK.

How are you and other pastors in the community responding to minister to the community?

T.J. McCormick is the pastor of Coastal Community Church and they happen to lead a first priority club group meeting there. And when all this went down, they actually had a couple of their staff on the campus. And so I was getting texts from T.J. He was sharing that they have some people there, and they weren’t letting anybody else in at that point, because by then law enforcement had come. So they’ve had some firsthand interaction already.

I’ve had contact from more pastors. I was in a group of close to 20 or more pastors and ministers in the area—especially in northwest Broward County, which is where we are—and it was just everybody wanting to roll up their sleeves and help in any way that they could.

We had some parents of students—our property is close enough and the way the roads were blocked—we actually had parents of students parking on our property and getting out and walking toward the school, about a mile. So they were able to make the walk over there to see if they could find their kids. We were able to minister to some of them and pray with them and encourage them. But it is going to be an ongoing thing, as you can imagine, for weeks and months to come.

You mentioned praying for them, ministering to them. Tell me a little bit more about that. I guess, in a sense, pastors turn into chaplains at moments like this. So what kind of things are you doing?

Yeah, well, it’s all so fresh, and everything was locked down. Even at our church—we have a school that goes through 8th grade and a preschool—we were in full lockdown mode, as were all the schools in the general area. In fact, where the suspect was arrested was literally within blocks of our church.

So it all happened right here. I think we’re going to [start hearing] more of how we are being the actual hands and feet of Christ in reaching out and touching them the best we can. Right now I think we are still in shock. As the dust starts settling, I think we’ll see more and more of that.

Tell me about the [February 15th] vigil and prayer meeting.

I’m part of a group in our county. It’s called Church United. It’s a cross-denominational group, all different kinds of Christian denominations. It’s just an opportunity for us as churches to try to be a blessing to our county and to try to raise the awareness of the work of the church—even though we express ourselves in different ways—from the charismatic to the more liturgical and reformed, to fundamentalist Baptists, etc. We are all over the board, but we have some things in common, that we want to be a blessing to our community.

So over the course of the last couple of years this ministry, all volunteer, has sort of sprung up. Calvary Chapel here in Ft. Lauderdale has had a big role in helping to form it. But numerous other churches have been a part of that as well.

We’ve been a part of it for about a year now, and I’ve just recently joined the leadership team. So they reached out to me because of our proximity, because of our relationship to the school, and said Church United would like to do an event.

Our facilities are not huge, but we do have a large piece of land, so we [had] an outdoor event. One of the Broward County school board members who is a believer [shared and prayed] as a part of it.

Several pastors [including me, prayed]. A group of ministers of music and worship pastors from two or three different churches [were] there to help lead in some music. And more than anything, we [wanted] to create a place where people in the community feel like they can come and pray and be encouraged, and hear about Christ, and not live in despair. That’s really what we are trying to offer.

How can we pray for the Parkland, Broward and Palm Beach County areas?

I think whenever these kinds of events happen, as we all know, there is one of two reactions that tends to happen among people. There is either a softening of the heart and they run toward God, or a hardening of the heart and they run away from God. So I’m praying for the former, and not the latter.

I’m praying that our churches—our church specifically, and other Bible-believing churches in our area—that we will point people to Jesus. I mean, he’s the only hope we have. He’s the only thing that provides a future. He’s the only one who can bring peace where there is nothing but lostness and struggle and anger and fury and confusion, etc.

And so I just really hope that that will be what comes out of [this].

And that the families, specifically of those who have died, would find hope in the midst of what must be the most excruciating pain you can ever imagine. That’s really my heart and our hope.

We just want to see Christ in the forefront of all of this.

Read more from Ed Stetzer »

Ed Stetzer, an Outreach magazine contributing editor, holds the Billy Graham distinguished chair of church, mission and evangelism at Wheaton College and the Wheaton Grad School, where he also oversees the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism.

Of course, I know them as Carol, Ewen and Vantha*—and thankfully begging/panhandling is not what defines them—but mostly just something they do to get by.

While living in slums and inner cities over the past two decades I’ve gotten to know lots of struggling friends and neighbors who ask strangers (and me) for money. Truthfully, there are no easy answers or guaranteed solutions—just painful lessons and a lot of grace needed

“Hey buddy! Hey BUDDY!”

I remember walking down Hastings Street in Vancouver’s notorious Downtown Eastside late one afternoon. A guy was sitting on the corner with his upturned hat. He smiled at me as I came near, “Hey buddy! Can you spare some change?” 

I stopped, “How about a sandwich? My place is right around the corner.”

“Let’s go!” he grinned, and in one swift motion grabbed his cap and threw it back on his head. Then he leapt to his feet. He enjoyed a meal with my extended family that evening. It was his first time eating inside around a normal dinner table in many years. 

We’re not all in a position to invite folks into our home (and that’s an issue we could think more about). But even so, I’ve found it helpful to develop a few personal guidelines to inform how I respond in that moment when faced with someone asking for money at a traffic light or street corner. I thought I’d share them with you.

So, here are my “Lessons Learned the Hard Way”—10 tips for responding to that upturned baseball cap.

1. Traffic lights are different than street corners.

Since I believe that the ideal response to poverty is relational, I recognize that someone who stands at a traffic light, with only seconds to interact with each passing car, is not in a space where a genuine conversation can take place. I’ll probably say hi and smile, but there is no real opportunity to engage. In contrast, a street corner or sidewalk offers more opportunity to at least have a chat with someone if time permits. 

In Acts 3, Peter and John encounter a beggar outside the temple. The first thing they do is look the guy in the eyes and recognize his humanity (Acts 3:4). That’s a great start in any interaction.

2. A slice of pizza may be better than cash in some places.

I don’t usually give people money in areas where addiction is a major issue. I don’t want to contribute to more brokenness and captivity. I spent years working with folks in addiction (who often panhandled), so admittedly my perspective is a little skewed, but my rule of thumb is not to give money to strangers in these places. That said, I don’t just ignore them! I offer to buy people a slice of pizza or help in some other way—a bus ticket (physically bought by me), a can of coke, a bottle of wine (kidding!) As a big guy living with others, I often felt prompted to invite people home for a meal. That’s not possible for everyone of course. But just a chat over a cup of McDonald’s coffee is often appreciated. 

In Acts 3, Peter and John had no money to offer, “Silver and gold I do not have …” (Acts 3:6) but they offered something much more significant. Our society pivots immediately to money when faced with a problem. Perhaps there is a better way?

3. Consider that each city and context is different. 

This might seem inconsistent, but I do very often give money to people begging in Asia. The places I frequent: Jakarta, Kolkata, Bangkok, Phnom Penh—are filled with folks who are not struggling with addiction so much as chronic systemic poverty. There is no government safety net, perhaps no family backup—and so many are forced to beg. I usually try to ask a little of their story and figure out how they came to be in this situation. Then, very often I find myself helping them out with some cash or extra food.

4. Give it up for the old grannies.

I’m a big sucker for the old man or elderly woman who is forced to beg in a dirty Asian market in the twilight years of their life. I don’t see a whole lot of alternatives. Superannuation? Doesn’t exist. Old folks homes? Pwah! Retraining? Work? Not so easy for someone over 70, who may have already lived a destitute, war-torn life. At this stage, I’m mainly just thinking, “How can I help Grandma have a better day?” Yes, I know there may be syndicates or crime rings (or just unscrupulous relatives) using Grandad to earn an income. But I usually just err on the side of generosity, unless it’s obvious that something nefarious is going on.

5. Gotta respect those efforts to work.

I sometimes apply the same thinking to blind or severely disabled folks—though I’m more hopeful about work possibilities for them. Honestly, if I see someone blind walking around playing an instrument badly, or a disabled war veteran selling crappy old flowers or photocopied books, I’m gonna dig deep. I didn’t really need that trinket you’re hawking, but the dignity you gain from being able to make a living is well worth the money.

6. Don’t give cash to kids. Just don’t do it.

This may sound heartless but after years of living and working with children in slums who are sent out to beg, I have come to understand that it’s usually not helpful to give money to kids on the street. Very often, giving money to kids is like paying their families to keep them out of school. So, I avoid adding to the incentive their family has to use the children in this way. Instead, I will buy them some food, talk to them, see if I can engage with their family somehow. I also want to make sure they know where they can get help if they need it, and make sure they are not in any danger. It takes more time and energy, but ultimately it will be better for that vulnerable child.

7. Recognize that begging is a symptom of bigger issues.

No one begs for fun. No one. Some folks might get used to it, hardened to the dirty looks and immune to the indignity. But over time I’ve come to recognize that panhandling or begging is really just a symptom of much deeper issues. So, however I might respond in that moment, on that street corner, at those traffic lights—I recognize that I am likely not addressing those deeper issues of poverty, injustice, addiction or mental illness. I’ve learned to resist the urge to find a solution right there on the spot, because there simply is no quick solution.

In Acts 3, Peter and John knew that silver and gold were not the answer for the paralyzed man. Instead they offered something much more significant—dignity, healing and fellowship. These are generally not going to be quick fixes, as much as we would wish they were. Real change takes time and commitment, and sometimes—a miracle.

I once spent two weeks sleeping rough in Canada. I thought those luscious locks would earn me some love. I was wrong.

8. Ask yourself: What is most loving in this moment?

Though it’s hard and I often fail, I want to commit to asking not what is most convenient, quick or low-cost, but what is most loving? It is true we are not called to judge, but if we are truly seeking the best for a person, we have to make an instantaneous “judgment call” about whether that money will be used for crack cocaine. I personally don’t think that enabling someone to shoot-up heroin can be a loving act. So what is the most loving response I can make towards this person at this moment in time? Perhaps it will be a kind word or shared Big Mac meal. Perhaps the Spirit will inspire something creative in the course of a conversation. Pray that God will give you eyes to see people the way He does, and then the courage to act accordingly.

I love how in Acts 3, Peter takes the man by the hand (Acts 3:7). There is something so humanizing, and healing about human touch. In that situation it was a simple, loving gesture that started something miraculous.

9. Accept that outside of relationship, there is little you can personally do to help.

My inner-messiah complex struggles with the reality that I can’t save the world—or even this one person. I am finally learning that I am not God. The best I can do as a finite human being, is recognize and respond to the humanity of the other person—with kindness and respect. But though we can’t be in relationship with everyone, we can almost always give people the dignity of asking their name (and telling them ours!) and inquiring where they come from.

Peter and John invited the beggar into fellowship in the temple—a place he had been excluded from until this point (Acts 3:8). This is one of the overlooked aspects of this miracle and demonstrates the power of radical hospitality.

10. Be intentional about interruptions.

If we’re honest, one of the biggest obstacles to engagement with people on the margins, is the tyranny of time. In one fascinating (and slightly hilarious) research study, seminarians were asked to prepare a sermon on the Good Samaritan. They were then instructed to go to another building. Some were told they were running late. On the way, they each encountered a man slumped in a doorway. Despite the topic of the sermon, those who were told to hurry, were much less likely to help. All our good theology and intentions can go out the window, when we’re in a big hurry. 

In Acts 3, Peter and John were on an important mission—they were going to the temple to preach. Yet they were attentive enough to the Spirit, to stop. They knew that sometimes the interruptions are the ministry. May that phrase resonate in your mind at just the right moment.

Truly, this is an agonizingly difficult area and good people have different ways of responding to “The Ask” and the pitiful raised eyebrows. There is no one right answer or guaranteed response to what is actually a tragic failure of society to care for our most vulnerable and hurting.

However, if we are guided by kindness, recognizing that each person is made in the image of God, we can remain open to the Spirit. And in any given moment He may lead you to respond differently to what I have suggested above. And that’s OK.

My prayer for you is that you would have eyes to see each person as someone that is a beloved child of God. Remembering that Jesus himself said, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me in” (Matt. 25:35). 

How do you respond to panhandlers or beggars and what advice do you have share with others?

* Names changed of course

Read more from Craig Greenfield »

This article originally appeared on CraigGreenfield.com and is reposted here by permission.

The language revealed the heart of the church and it was challenging to me. As tourists, we were there in NYC to consume from NYC. We were there to watch plays, eat from great restaurants and enjoy adventures NYC offers. It was our vacation and not our home, so our consumption was the point of the trip, but the prayer increased my conviction for how I should live in the community where the Lord has placed me.

Here are three thoughts on caring for your community and not merely consuming from it.

1. Our Posture Should Be One of Caring and Not Consumption.

The Lord has determined the time and place where we live (Acts 17:26).Of all the times and all the places in the world we could live, the Lord has placed us right where we are.

We are to represent him as ambassadors of his kingdom (2 Cor. 5:20) and we are to be salt and light where we live (Matt. 5:13–16). Salt both preserves and adds flavor. Rather than merely consuming from our community, we are to contribute to our community. We are to preserve it and add flavor to it—make it better.

Christians should make their workplaces better not worse, their neighborhoods better not worse, and their cities better not worse. As believers in Christ, we must care for our communities not merely consume the good things from them.

2. Caring, Not Consuming, Is What Causes Us to Love Where We Live.

Living as a tourist in your own community causes you to love what your community offers and not your community itself. When you serve where you live, your heart for where you live will expand. You will find yourself praying for your community more, enjoying your community more and being filled with a greater love for the people around you.

3. Caring for a Community Does Include Consuming From It.

The above is not to say we should not consume from our community. In fact, one way we care for it is to consume from it.

Practically speaking, consuming from my community supports the businesses and the leaders. Consuming from my community also helps my family and me enjoy it, know it and speak in a relevant way to it. You can’t learn the language of your community if you don’t consume from it. If you import all your consumption from outside via your Prime account, you will miss opportunities to see the beauty of your local community.

Enjoying local activities, food, arts and sports helps you connect with your community. Enjoy the good of your community with an eye on caring for it. Consuming from your community should be done with a view of caring for the community where the Lord has placed you.

Read more from Eric Geiger »

This article originally appeared on EricGeiger.com.