Why are there so many people hurting?
Why are there a limited number of churches reaching out?
Why are there so few churches in the area we want to plant a church?
Why does less than 10% of the population here attend church?
Why do the politics of the area dictate who can and cannot start a church?Why us?
Many more "why" questions pop up, but, instead of focusing purely on the why's, we have decided we would focus more on the "what".
"What" does God want us to do about it?
We have become convinced that our first inclination of serving first and building the church later is absolutely the way God wants us to do this. We have found out that the local governments are so in need of tax money that they are not really allowing new churches or non profits to operate as such. The State and Federal governments have no problem with "tax exempt status", it's the local governments that are not recognizing it. They want the property and sales tax revenues from businesses that would otherwise fill the locations where new churches would be opened. So unless a new church purchases an existing church building, the chance of getting a tax free status from the city/county is slim to none. This is where our political grass roots movement experience is going to come in handy.
Through simple acts of kindness we can win the hearts of the people and the ones that like the people, but don't like us, will be more willing to respond to the wishes of the people. Jesus was able to teach in the synagogues while the religious leaders sat by steaming, because the people loved Jesus. The religious leaders however, feared the people and so were unable to lay a hand on him. So, we plan to win over the hearts of the community by serving the community. Once we have won their hearts, navigating the political field will be much easier.
We are planning our first public feeding this Saturday, feeding freshly made biscuits and gravy. We also plan to start the "Work for Food" program which I believe is the key to winning the hearts of the community. Please pray we find favor with the community.
So, "WHAT" about you? How can this approach affect you and your neighborhood? What small acts of kindness can you do to win over your neighbors hearts? If you can win their hearts, you can affect your community for Jesus.
If you would like more information on the feeding and the work for food program or would like to help sponsor the program, please email me jeffjkauffman@gmail.com and I will gladly share the details.
Jeff, most people your trying to reach today do not even know what the phrase church means. It isn't a building, that is for sure. And even the people that have attended church, that are following Jesus, many are cominng out of the existing "Churches" today. Because some of them do not understand that the building is not the church, the people in any building or meeting on the street, talking about the love of Jesus Christ in unity are the church.
ReplyDeleteSo you are trying to use a phrase to build something that perhaps is not going to work with many of us out here. Myself included. Even though I know what is in your heart to do. I go on a forum where people have come out of the established churches of today. Because of the mess they attend when they do go to them. And many do go still, for the purpose of ministering Jesus Christ to them. Instead of a building. What you want to do is to bring others that do not know Jesus to get to know HIM. And you do that by what your beginning to do right now. And once you find a place to feed them, use that to minister to them as the Lord leads. And until God opens those doors, minister to them about the love of Christ the way that some others have done first as well, right there on the street. Or in the places where you and Wendy go yourself. Isn't that what the early church and Jesus Christ Himself did?
Anyway, you asked, me and I said what I really do believe. LOL Your not going to be able to do what your talking about in some building that has the name church tacked onto it. And that seems to be what you are saying right
now.
All of our problems is that we have been so brain washed into what church should be, that it takes the Lord to bring us out of that fog finally. Seeing that church is when two or three or more are gathered in HIS name.
Love you guys much.
Your ole Granny grump.