Can the church please start showing up?

    Two years ago we just started "showing up" down at the Rowland Rebele Family Shelter. We had made an appointment with the director and simply asked if we could tutor the children one day a week for an hour after school. I think there was some suspicion at first regarding our motives as we are Christians and many times in Santa Cruz Christians are seen as having hidden motives to really only care about getting people "saved." We thought it would be helpful to the children to keep them up to speed on their school work and to give the parents a needed break. It soon "took off" and we moved to tutoring the kiddos 3 days a week as we built trusting relationships with the families living at the shelter and the staff.
    Our just "showing up" was making an impact. I soon found myself asking the question, "I wonder how else we could be a blessing and service to those living at the shelter?" So, I made an appointment with the director and simply asked, "What are your two or three greatest needs you think we could help out with?" This January we are going to begin to help assist them with watching the children in the evenings so the parents can attend certain workshops to help them maneuver through this season of life. We're also going to begin to take the kids on particular field trips or out for park days. All of this has grown out of us just starting to "show up."
    The latest venture coming out of our faithful volunteering at the shelter was the opportunity to serve in another capacity over this last Christmas season. High Street Community Church, Faith Community Church and Vintage Faith Church here in Santa Cruz teamed up together to mobilize our three churches to collect a list of items the shelter needed. The week before Christmas I packed up the 2,500 diapers and 100 pairs of infant pajamas along with a long list of other necessities they needed for the families. They were thankful and the items will go to good use. This wouldn't have been possible unless two years ago we had been willing as the church to start "showing up" and desiring to be a compelling force of goodness and wholeness. Isn't this what the church is supposed to be about, moving out into the community and beyond the church "walls?" Are we not supposed to be going to the places God is already at work in blessing people? The church needs to continue to be willing to"show up" in the places God is already at work and stand back amazed at how he then opens up further opportunities to bless and serve.

Comments

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Derek,
What a great reminder. It seems too simple or not enough... to just show up. Do you know what I mean. Maybe that is my background talking. Thanks for the reminder... and the challenge.