I often get asked what we are trying to accomplish through the mercy ministry here at Sojourn.  Author Steve Corbett helped bring clarity to our goals for Seed:

Our goals are NOT:

• To make the materially poor into middle-to-upper-class North Americans
• To make sure that the materially poor have enough money
• To complete projects and produce products for people

Rather, our goals ARE:

• To restore people, through the power of the gospel, to a full expression of who God created us to be – a release from the bondage to sin into a right relationship with God.
• To demonstrate what a just, loving, peaceful relationship is as we point our neighbors to Christ.
• To equip or develop our neighbors to fulfill their callings of glorifying God by working and supporting themselves and their families with the fruit of that work.
• To genuinely care for those in our neighborhoods and invite them to share in our lives, even if and especially when it takes sacrifice.

Relationships and Processes, Not Projects and Products

Our goal is to see people restored to being what God created them to be:  people who understand that they are created in the image of God with the gifts, abilities, and capacity to make decisions and to effect change in the world around them; and people who steward their lives, communities, resources, and relationships in order to bring glory to God.

These things tend to happen in highly relational, process-focused ministries more than in impersonal, product-focused ministries.

In other words, biblical mercy includes relationships combined with the proclamation/application of God’s word with deeds that demonstrate God’s provision and compassion.  These relationships take time and do not happen over night.

How are you doing?  How are you extending mercy to your neighbors?  Is your community group focused on a service project or are you focused on the relationships you are forming with the people you are serving?

Seed is an equipping ministry to help you and your group serve others.  Contact mercy@sojournchurch.com to speak with someone who can help you establish redemptive relationships as you serve individuals and families in Louisville.

My wife and I have been living on our street for two years now.  We know our neighbors fairly well, but there is always hesitancy on our neighbors’ part to enter into community with us.  We invite them over often, but are often rejected.  Sometimes, we don’t even think that our presence is felt.  We bake cookies, collect our neighbors’ mail when they are out of town,  and watch over their homes at night in case of intruders.  We demonstrate our care for them in so many other ways, too.  However, when we begin to speak gospel truth, everything and everyone seems to shut down and we get rejected.  We know that it is not us personally they are rejecting, but God (Luke 10:16).   So, it is only by faith that we continue to love and demonstrate God’s care for our neighbors, who are made in his image.

Well, a few nights ago, my neighbor saw me walking down the street and he chased me down.  It was late at night and dark, so I thought I was about to get mugged.  It turns out that Jim (not his real name) had tears running down his cheeks by the time he reached me.

Before I tell more, it is worth noting that Jim is not a believer.  He has an addiction problem that brings much grief into his life.  He lives with a girlfriend who he stole from another man.  And he has recently lost is job for reasons I do not know.  I’ve called Jim to Christ on several occasions in several different ways.  The answer is always the same…”I know, I know, but maybe some other time…”

I’d like to tell you that this time was different.  But, I’m not sure I can.  He came rushing to me with tears because his girlfriend was going into surgery the next day.  He was coming to terms with her mortality and was unable to cope with the idea of losing her.  He pleaded with me to pray for her.  And so I did.  And I also prayed for salvation for both of them.

After my prayer, he gave a huge sigh of relief, thanked me three times and went his way.  Jim remains in his sin.  He remains under the wrath of his Creator (John 3:36).  He has once again rejected his only hope.  Though I prayed and made clear that our only hope is in Christ, Jim rejected Jesus once again.  It breaks my heart to see men enslaved to sin – men I care so deeply about.  Perhaps God will use that encounter to deepen my relationship with Jim and perhaps the next time I call Jim to repentance God’s Spirit will bring him to a confession in Jesus. There are no helpless cases.  So, by faith, I’ll continue my witness.

What is remarkable is that Jim knows that I am a man of peace and a man of God.  It is clear to him by the way I have lived before him that there is something remarkably different.  He has told me this.  Yet, when I tell him that it is Christ in me, I can almost literally see Satan snatch the seed I just sowed.

What about you?  Do your neighbors see you as a person of peace?  Do they come to you in their hour of grief and need?  I hope so.  If not, Seed is here to equip you to get to know your neighbors, minister to them, and call them into God’s community through faith in Christ.

Deacon Mark Minnery challenged all seed leaders with these five questions this past Feed & Seed luncheon.  See how well you do when answering the question “are you a good neighbor?”

1. Do you know the name of your neighbor on either side of your home or apartment?  Where do they work?  What do they do in their spare time?  Are they a part of a church body?
2. When was the last time you had someone from your street or complex into your home?  Have you shared a meal together?
3. Do your neighbors contact you when they are out of sugar or need help with a load of laundry when their dryer dies?
4. Who do your neighbors contact when they have tragedy in their lives?  Do they call you when there has been a lost job, a wrecked car or even a death in the family?
5. Can you call yourself a pastor in your neighborhood?  Do you show the self-sacrificing love of Christ Jesus to your neighbors?

We were reminded that we as Christians are to have a humble, self-sacrificing attitude.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!  Philippians 2:3-8

What is Neighboring?

Mark gave us his working definition: Neighboring is simply loving our neighbors by inviting them into our lives and thinking of them before ourselves.  We sacrifice our desires for God’s will and give our neighbors time we may not want to give them.  They may not respond with love in return.  They might even persecute you for showing them Christ’s love, but this is what God’s Word instructs us to do!

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.  John 13:34-35

What is the purpose of neighboring?

1. To invite people into Gospel community.
2. It gives the body the chance to be the body.  We don’t go to church; we are the body of believers, that is, the church.
3. It gives us an opportunity to die to self and our self-centered lives.  We stop building our kingdoms and queendoms and begin to think of others.  Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.  1 Cor. 10:24

What are some practical ways to practice neighboring?

1. Pray for your neighbors.  Think about their needs and contact them. (i.e. prayer walks)
2. Wave to your neighbors when passing by.  Be friendly even when you don’t want to love them, let alone like them.  A wave and a smile go a long way!
3. Introduce yourself to your neighbors.  If you have lived next door for 5, 10 or even 20 years and don’t know them, repent.  Take them cookies, knock on their door and ask for forgiveness (for not having taken the time to get to know them.)
4. Give your neighbors a card with your contact information and tell them to call if they are in need of assistance or during an emergency.
5. Offer them practical help.

• “If you need any help with your leaves next week, please do not hesitate to call me. I am open most Saturdays.”

• “Call me next time you’re out of town.  I would be more then happy to water your plants and bring in your mail”

What are some other ways we can practice neighboring?

Deacon Mark Minnery can be reached at mark@sptsolutions.com.  Every 2nd Sunday, from 12:45pm till 2:30pm at the 930, Sojourner’s interested in mercy ministry gather for lunch and community.  Be sure to join us next month as we discuss seed, evangelism and social engagement.

Scripture calls us to seek the peace of the city and to love our neighbors.  The spirit in which we do these things should be one of celebration.  Because of the Gospel, we have every reason to celebrate.  So, on October 17, it is our joy to host our 3rd annual Fall Festival at the Germantown campus.  We are expecting 1,500 neighbors, many who will never darken the door of a church.

Food -
Main Dish (1-4pm):  BBQ, smoked chicken, Burgers, brats, Hotdogs, Corn Dogs
Side Dishes:  rice, potato salad, baked beans, chips
Desserts: Brownies, Oreos
Drinks:  water, lemonade, tea, hot coco, coffee
Fair Favorites (Noon-6pm):  rootbeer floats, popcorn, nachos, cotton candy
Cakewalk – Sojourn and neighborhood to bring 300+ cakes

Décor -
Hay bales, pumpkins, baloons, corn stalks, ribbon on the fence, sidewalk chalk

Games/ activities -
Corn Hole (6 sets)
Face Paint, Bobbing for Apples, Ring Toss, Bean Bag Toss, Bottle Toss, Pin the tail on the ?, Safety Town Tricycle Race, Pumpkin decorating
Strong Man Competition

Entertainment -
Bands
Affordable Art
Fire Truck
Police Horses
Kids Bounce
Blow up Rock Climbing Wall
Petting Zoo
Puppeteers
Ping Pong
Removable Tattoos
Face Painting
Obstacle Course

Neighborhood Stuff -
Neighborhood Network Sign Up
Booths for GPNA, VOA, and perhaps a few others

This is a great next step for many of you who want to serve or get involved.  It is also a great way to display the unity Sojourn has within its multiple campuses.  God has forgiven our sin and given us life through his Son, therefore let us with joy display this life by serving and showing our our city what life is like under the reign and rule of such a gracious God!

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