Finding Our Place in the Valley
Good morning,
For a while now we've been talking about Life on Mission. We've spent time discussing our One, opening our lives to others, recognizing Gospel opportunities, and seeing the needs God has placed right in front of us.
Last week, we talked about moving beyond simply completing a service project and beginning to build ongoing relationships with the people we serve.
This week, I want us to get a little more practical. Where can our Missional Communities begin serving throughout the Valley?
One of the things I love about living here is that we have some incredible people and organizations who are already doing important work in our communities. There are ministries helping families, organizations caring for vulnerable young people, facilities serving our elderly neighbors, and people working every day to meet needs that many of us may never even realize exist. And I think there's a tremendous opportunity for our MC's to come alongside them.
In Jeremiah 29:7, God tells His people to pursue the well-being of the city where He has placed them and to pray for it. That passage was originally written to God's people living in exile in Babylon, so be sure to understand that context. But there's something worth considering as we think about our own communities. God's people were called to care about the place where they lived. And we should too.
We have the privilege of living in the Valley. This is where God has placed our families, our jobs, our neighborhoods, and our church. We want to be people who genuinely care about the well-being of those around us. So what might that look like?
Maybe our MC has a heart for young families. HeartReach Center here in Wasilla provides pregnancy and parenting support, education, and practical resources for families. What if we connected with them to find out how we could help? Maybe it's collecting needed baby supplies, helping with a facility project, supporting an event, or discovering ways to serve consistently.
Maybe our MC has a heart for teenagers and young adults. MY House works with young people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. They provide practical assistance, meals, support, and opportunities for young people to begin building a more stable future. What would it look like to ask their team where volunteers or resources could make a meaningful difference?
Or maybe our MC could begin building relationships with seniors throughout our Valley.
Think about the residents living in senior care facilities. Some have family nearby, but others may have very few visitors. What if a few people from our MC began visiting regularly, playing games, sharing stories, helping with approved activities, or simply sitting down and listening? I imagine there are some pretty incredible stories we could hear from people who have spent decades living in Alaska. And honestly, they could probably teach this family how to survive the darkness. :)
There are food banks, organizations helping families experiencing homelessness, recovery ministries, schools, and community programs that could benefit from people who are willing to give their time and talents.
But here's what I really want us to consider.
Every MC doesn't have to serve in the same place.
We have different people, gifts, schedules, and passions represented throughout our church. That's one of the beautiful things about the body of Christ. God has given us different gifts, and those gifts can be used together for His glory.
What if we began looking at the gifts represented in our MCs and asking how God might use those gifts to bless our Valley?
And I want us to remember what we talked about last week. We're looking for opportunities to build relationships.
If we begin serving with an organization, let's get to know the people who work there. Let's learn about the people they serve. Let's ask how we can support their work rather than arriving with our own agenda.
Some opportunities may involve regular volunteer commitments, training, or background checks. Others may involve gathering resources, helping with events, or supporting a particular need. That's okay. We want to be helpful partners who respect the work these organizations are already doing. And as we serve, we want our lives to reflect the Gospel.
We can demonstrate the compassion of Jesus through our actions, build genuine relationships, and remain ready to share the hope we have in Christ when opportunities arise.
So here's my challenge for this week.
At your next MC gathering, spend some time discussing three questions:
Make a phone call. Send an email. Learn about an organization. Ask what they need.
We don't have to figure everything out this week. We simply want to begin exploring where God might be opening doors.
And please keep me in the loop! I'd love to hear what organizations your MC is considering and how we can help encourage and support you.
Imagine what could happen if our Missional Communities began developing relationships with organizations and people throughout the Valley. Different groups serving in different places, all united around the same mission.
Glorifying God.
Proclaiming Jesus.
Making disciples.
We're a family of servant missionaries, and God has given us a pretty incredible place to live out that calling.
Have a great week! Grab another cup of coffee and start dreaming about how God might use your MC to bless our Valley.
For a while now we've been talking about Life on Mission. We've spent time discussing our One, opening our lives to others, recognizing Gospel opportunities, and seeing the needs God has placed right in front of us.
Last week, we talked about moving beyond simply completing a service project and beginning to build ongoing relationships with the people we serve.
This week, I want us to get a little more practical. Where can our Missional Communities begin serving throughout the Valley?
One of the things I love about living here is that we have some incredible people and organizations who are already doing important work in our communities. There are ministries helping families, organizations caring for vulnerable young people, facilities serving our elderly neighbors, and people working every day to meet needs that many of us may never even realize exist. And I think there's a tremendous opportunity for our MC's to come alongside them.
In Jeremiah 29:7, God tells His people to pursue the well-being of the city where He has placed them and to pray for it. That passage was originally written to God's people living in exile in Babylon, so be sure to understand that context. But there's something worth considering as we think about our own communities. God's people were called to care about the place where they lived. And we should too.
We have the privilege of living in the Valley. This is where God has placed our families, our jobs, our neighborhoods, and our church. We want to be people who genuinely care about the well-being of those around us. So what might that look like?
Maybe our MC has a heart for young families. HeartReach Center here in Wasilla provides pregnancy and parenting support, education, and practical resources for families. What if we connected with them to find out how we could help? Maybe it's collecting needed baby supplies, helping with a facility project, supporting an event, or discovering ways to serve consistently.
Maybe our MC has a heart for teenagers and young adults. MY House works with young people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. They provide practical assistance, meals, support, and opportunities for young people to begin building a more stable future. What would it look like to ask their team where volunteers or resources could make a meaningful difference?
Or maybe our MC could begin building relationships with seniors throughout our Valley.
Think about the residents living in senior care facilities. Some have family nearby, but others may have very few visitors. What if a few people from our MC began visiting regularly, playing games, sharing stories, helping with approved activities, or simply sitting down and listening? I imagine there are some pretty incredible stories we could hear from people who have spent decades living in Alaska. And honestly, they could probably teach this family how to survive the darkness. :)
There are food banks, organizations helping families experiencing homelessness, recovery ministries, schools, and community programs that could benefit from people who are willing to give their time and talents.
But here's what I really want us to consider.
Every MC doesn't have to serve in the same place.
We have different people, gifts, schedules, and passions represented throughout our church. That's one of the beautiful things about the body of Christ. God has given us different gifts, and those gifts can be used together for His glory.
What if we began looking at the gifts represented in our MCs and asking how God might use those gifts to bless our Valley?
And I want us to remember what we talked about last week. We're looking for opportunities to build relationships.
If we begin serving with an organization, let's get to know the people who work there. Let's learn about the people they serve. Let's ask how we can support their work rather than arriving with our own agenda.
Some opportunities may involve regular volunteer commitments, training, or background checks. Others may involve gathering resources, helping with events, or supporting a particular need. That's okay. We want to be helpful partners who respect the work these organizations are already doing. And as we serve, we want our lives to reflect the Gospel.
We can demonstrate the compassion of Jesus through our actions, build genuine relationships, and remain ready to share the hope we have in Christ when opportunities arise.
So here's my challenge for this week.
At your next MC gathering, spend some time discussing three questions:
- What needs in our Valley stir our hearts?
- What gifts, skills, and resources has God placed within our MC?
- Is there an organization or group of people we could begin serving consistently?
Make a phone call. Send an email. Learn about an organization. Ask what they need.
We don't have to figure everything out this week. We simply want to begin exploring where God might be opening doors.
And please keep me in the loop! I'd love to hear what organizations your MC is considering and how we can help encourage and support you.
Imagine what could happen if our Missional Communities began developing relationships with organizations and people throughout the Valley. Different groups serving in different places, all united around the same mission.
Glorifying God.
Proclaiming Jesus.
Making disciples.
We're a family of servant missionaries, and God has given us a pretty incredible place to live out that calling.
Have a great week! Grab another cup of coffee and start dreaming about how God might use your MC to bless our Valley.
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