Zion Church had a reputation...
Illustration
Object:
Zion Church had a reputation of supporting missionaries in several countries around the
world. Each spring they would hold a three-day "Missionary Conference." At the
conference missionaries on furlong would come to speak, sharing the latest news from
the mission field. They would come with many pictures as well as items from the country
that they served. They would also thank the congregation for their support.
Pete noticed that the number of people attending the Missionary Conference seemed less each year. He began asking if people were losing their interest in oversea missions. As you might expect his questions angered a good number of people. They told him that their church had held mission conference for over thirty years, "They've always had one." Just the thought of not holding a conference was upsetting for many in the congregation. Pete backed down. The church would continue holding its annual event.
Over the course of the next several months, Pete focused on getting to know his neighbors. He always wondered why people living in the same neighborhood as the church would never attend. One day, he discovered the reason. A neighbor shared his experience of losing his job a decade ago. At the time his children were young, his wife did not work, and they had no income for several months until he found a new job. They went to the church seeking assistance. They even attended a couple of worship services. His overall impression of the church was that no one cared about them. No one offered any help. The pastor told them that there was no money budgeted for such assistance.
As the neighbor shared his frustration, the disappointment came pouring out. "How can the church support missionaries and not help a family living down the street?" he asked. "The people in that church do not know anything about our situation and obviously they did not want to know, either."
Jesus encountered a woman that the town's people ignored. Many looked down on her situation. Yet Jesus accepted and viewed this woman as a beloved child of God. As a result of that encounter the woman's life was forever changed.
How do we respond to the needs of our neighbors? Do we even know our neighbors?
Pete noticed that the number of people attending the Missionary Conference seemed less each year. He began asking if people were losing their interest in oversea missions. As you might expect his questions angered a good number of people. They told him that their church had held mission conference for over thirty years, "They've always had one." Just the thought of not holding a conference was upsetting for many in the congregation. Pete backed down. The church would continue holding its annual event.
Over the course of the next several months, Pete focused on getting to know his neighbors. He always wondered why people living in the same neighborhood as the church would never attend. One day, he discovered the reason. A neighbor shared his experience of losing his job a decade ago. At the time his children were young, his wife did not work, and they had no income for several months until he found a new job. They went to the church seeking assistance. They even attended a couple of worship services. His overall impression of the church was that no one cared about them. No one offered any help. The pastor told them that there was no money budgeted for such assistance.
As the neighbor shared his frustration, the disappointment came pouring out. "How can the church support missionaries and not help a family living down the street?" he asked. "The people in that church do not know anything about our situation and obviously they did not want to know, either."
Jesus encountered a woman that the town's people ignored. Many looked down on her situation. Yet Jesus accepted and viewed this woman as a beloved child of God. As a result of that encounter the woman's life was forever changed.
How do we respond to the needs of our neighbors? Do we even know our neighbors?
