Imagine the impact churches can have across North Carolina when we move out of our seats to meet needs in our own communities. Churches who have a heart to serve the unserved and see the unseen can turn their communities upside down.
I recently had the opportunity to work with a team to build a small ramp for Sam, a young man confined to a wheelchair.
This team had built many ramps together, so it took shape quickly. After we completed the project, we were able to spend time talking with Sam about the gospel and the freedom from sin that comes only through Jesus Christ.
We rolled his wheelchair out onto the deck, down the ramp and back into the house a couple of times, pointing out that the driveway sloped downhill to a busy street and that he would need to be careful not to lose control on the way down. As we packed up our tools and headed to the truck, he smiled and assured us that he would be careful.
Then we heard the sound of wheels gaining speed. We turned to see his wheelchair racing down the ramp, his hands in the air, face beaming.
At the bottom of the ramp, I jumped in front of his wheelchair and caught the armrests. I began scolding him, fearful that he could have rolled into the path of oncoming traffic. Sam interrupted me, his eyes gleaming.
“No, sir, you don’t understand,” he said. “I am 23 years old, and this is the first time in my life I have left my house without help.”
Less than a day’s work and a few dollars opened the door to freedom for a man who had been trapped.
Imagine the impact churches can have across North Carolina when we move out of our seats to meet needs in our own communities. Churches who have a heart to serve the unserved and see the unseen can turn their communities upside down.
In exactly one year, N.C. Baptists from every county will have the opportunity to do just that. On Aug. 3-10, 2024, our churches will be joining together to participate in ServeNC, a statewide emphasis where churches show the love of Christ to their communities through service projects.
Whether it’s painting a school, cleaning up a yard or building a wheelchair ramp, opportunities abound for your church to demonstrate the gospel to those in need.
There are countless ways that your church can get involved in serving your community. Here are five ideas to get you started:
- Collect school supplies for children in need. As the cost of back-to-school supplies are predicted to reach record levels this year, the beginning of a new school year is a financial burden on families in need. You can help a child in need by collecting and delivering school supplies.
- Offer free lawn mowing and landscaping services. A yard work ministry helps reduce the burden for those who are physically unable to accomplish outdoor tasks or are facing financial difficulties. You could provide this service throughout the year, as you can mow the lawn in the summer, rake leaves in the autumn, shovel snow in the winter and clean up old leaves in the spring.
- Bring homemade baked goods to public service workers. We rely on law enforcement officers, firefighters, delivery personnel and garbage collectors every day to make our lives easier, but their services often go unnoticed. Take a moment to acknowledge, affirm and appreciate the public servants who serve you. By delivering goodies and thank you notes to public employees, you can brighten up their day and share the love of Christ.
- Check and install smoke alarms in homes. Many times having a simple, functioning smoke alarm is the first step in preventing a catastrophe. Ensuring that everyone in your community has one of these potentially life-saving devices goes a long way to show your love.
- Deliver lunches to the homeless. The Bible has multiple mandates on helping the poor and hungry, and one effective way is to provide packaged meals to the homeless. Delivering a lunch may not solve homelessness, but it lets our neighbors on the streets know that they are loved and not forgotten.
What would it look like if churches across North Carolina went into their communities and showed them the light of Christ? What would it look like for your church to serve your surrounding neighborhood?
Will you and your church move out of your seats and into the streets to make Christ known on Aug. 3-10, 2024?
To learn more about ServeNC and how your church can show Christ’s love in your community, visit ServeNC.com.
