Giving thanks for the gift of outreach
Pausing to remember the gifts we have been given
November is a time of Thanksgiving. First Christian Church has a lot to be thankful for. This month I’m going to try and highlight some of these blessings on a daily basis.
On Sunday we held our annual congregational meeting. The intention of the meeting was begin to discuss where God is calling us in the year ahead, to figure out our ministry priorities, and the to approve a budget that reflects those priorities.
Part of the conversation focused on what gifts and talents we see being used around the church. We began by asking what vital, but often unnoticed, jobs we sometimes take for granted.
Sharing Christ’s love with our community
Several members of the congregation pointed out the fact that our church has been blessed with the gift of outreach. God has given many people in our church a passion to reach out and make a positive difference in our community.
We do this in many ways. Disciples from First Christian Church are heavily engaged in the ministry of the Stoddard County Gospel Mission. We provide Easter boxes to make sure that people have enough to eat during the holiday. Tommy Horton led our elders in getting Feeding Christ’s Children off the ground. Over the years the ministry expanded to include churches from around Dexter. Together they provide vital food for school children throughout the summer months.
Carol Russell does an amazing job leading our participation in the Southeast Missouri Share Fest. This ministry collects food, hygiene items, disaster relief, and school supplies for people here in our region, and around the world. This year Dexter’s Share Fest received over $56,000 worth of food, supplies, and other other gifts.
Our people are not the only gifts we have to offer for the service of Christ’s kingdom. Several years ago our congregation was given a house next door to the parsonage. The last time the house became vacant, the church board expressed a desire to use the property for some sort of ministry opportunity. We partnered with the Regional Healthcare Foundation’s Mother to Mother program in order to provide young single mothers with a place to live.
Sometimes the gifts that we have to offer are our relationships. First Christian Church is part of a movement of churches known as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Being part of this church body allows us to work with fellow Christians around the world in mission and ministry. Our former interim minister, Rev. Dr. Larry Colvin and his wife Debbie, are currently woking as mission coworkers with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Ghana as part of our church’s Global Ministries.
Financial gifts to the Disciples of Christ’s Week of Compassion allow us to respond to natural disasters here and around the world. When a tornado hit Joplin they helped us organize a work trip to assist with the clean up. This summer they were on the ground in the Missouri once again as another storm hit Jefferson City. They provide solidarity grants and coordination to provide logistical support for those in need.
All of these ministries are expressions of Jesus’ love for the world. As Disciples of Christ we are called to be a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. The grace of Christ is too important for us to keep it to ourselves. In short, we are called to love our neighbor as God has first loved us.
For all of these outreach ministries, and many more that I do not have the time to highlight, I am truly thankful.
What gifts have you been given?
The final part of the conversation on Sunday was an invitation for everyone else to plug in to some ministry within the church, just as our outreach teams have done. Everyone has gifts and talents to offer for the work of the kingdom. You do not have to do what they do. Your skills and experience are unique to you. The Holy Spirit might be be calling you create something they never even thought of.
I’m thankful that you have been given your particular interests and talents. I can’t wait to see what Christ is able to do through you.
