Being relevant to our city this season

Last week offering was collected for the Inner City ministry.  I personally felt that we did not do due emphasis to the importance of what took place.  Today poverty is a reality for 1 in 11 Canadians. Poverty means – hunger, interrupted schooling, unemployment, substandard housing, or even homelessness, lack of opportunities, and finally – hopelessness.

This week our Community Ministry team served food hampers, distributed clothing, offered smiles to people who are underprivileged in our community.  By personal donations of committed people we support school breakfast program in Glen Cairn elementary and Trafalgar Road Secondary schools with annual donations of $500 and $1000 respectively.

But much more needs to be done to alleviate hurt and give hope in our community.  There are children uprooted from their homes, women in shelters, homeless in night-over shelters.  This year we would like to step out in faith and do more.  London is seeing an increase in homelessness.   A recent article in the London Free Press alarmed readers about a 74-year old Marlene Barnes living in her van at a parking lot.  Her pension is not enough to rent an apartment.  Christian Community Network of London (CCNL) is informing churches that the downtown churches are experiencing increased need for meals offered to homeless.  The unofficial word on the street is that nearly 3500 people in London need shelter and food daily!

During the holiday seasons people will spend time with families, and volunteers are lacking at essential places that give hope. This year we will take 12 volunteers to feed homeless and people in need at the Ark Aid Street Mission, 696 Dundas Street East. The sign-up sheet is in the foyer.  If the Spirit moves your heart to give 3 hours on your New Years eve to serve, let us know.  This is just a beginning of the new direction for the outreach we will do in 2013.

Well known words from the Ministry of Healing page 143 describe the best Method of outreach: “Christ's method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, "Follow Me."

Notice the following paragraph: “There is need of coming close to the people by personal effort. If less time were given to sermonizing, and more time were spent in personal ministry, greater results would be seen. The poor are to be relieved, the sick cared for, the sorrowing and the bereaved comforted, the ignorant instructed, the inexperienced counseled. We are to weep with those that weep, and rejoice with those that rejoice.”

May it be your guiding principle this season, and in the year to come, serving to relieve needs of people near and far.