PAGE TWO - COMPASSION

Ministry friends who we informed sent checks to the utility office to pay her bill. One volunteer went out to meet the lady. She needed friendship very badly. Now someone will stay in contact with her to be sure she is properly cared for. 

Practicing Love

Face to face friendship is an effective way to convincingly show God's love. A contact that has small beginnings may lead to amazing results. 
Involve several people to resolve situations of large need. Pull in various skilled, or gifted people to do specific jobs, such as plumbing, home repairs, car repairs, letter writing, or tutoring. Time given in this way is a good form of practicing God's love. To develop a catalog of member's skills, and talents pass out an "inventory sheet." It's not inappropriate to ask "busy church members" to prayerfully re-schedule activities so they have time to help desperate strangers. Sharing knowledge and financial resources with distressed people is God's way to create heavenly justice in an unjust world. It is unlikely that God will excuse someone for not loving his neighbor just because he was "too busy." 

Establish a church ministry using individuals with a heart for service. This group might consider themselves in continual training to learn how to rightly minister to the poor, and to involve other members in various aspects. The group could determine ways to meet needy people and discuss how to best help them. Ideally, they would pray together often about current individual situations. 

Make It Easy For The Church Secretary
When Persons Call The Church For Help

Consider the calls an opportunity that God is setting up. An effective way to respond to phone calls from a needy person: 
The receptionist would never say, "yes," or "no" or get into a conversation except to get the caller's name, and telephone number. Then tell the caller that someone will be in touch. No conversation about whether help is available, no attempt to "qualify" the caller. Then she would telephone, or e-mail a ministry committee person. That person would call from her home to obtain more details, get to know the person and determine how to proceed. A friendly unhurried conversation may in itself raise the hope of a despairing person. 

Because Of The Cross, we Can Love Others.
 

See When to Love, When to Evangelize

This piece originally written in 1993, was part of a four page mailing that was sent to people who inquired about a compassionate church ministry. In 1996, it was edited into a newsletter that was mailed to friends of IHNM, Inc. and to 400 churches in central Oklahoma. 

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