If Jesus were walking in the flesh in your community
today, where would you be? Where would you need to go in order to
find Him? Where would He be ministering? Are you and those sitting
next to you in the pew prepared to minister alongside Him?
As we pondered these questions at The Springs, we
realized that as pastors we had a responsibility to help our people
know the answers to those questions. After all, we are what we do.
Our beliefs are evidenced in our walk. This is the foundation of
Beyond the Walls Sunday.
Beyond the Walls Sunday is an opportunity to take
church into the highways and byways of your community. It is about
reaching out, serving others and building relationships with those
outside the church walls. As our Lead Pastor Barry Briggs explains,
“Being a church and ‘doing’ church is more than gathering for
worship services. By serving our neighbors, we are worshiping and
honoring the Lord.”
One of my favorite projects on Beyond the Walls Sunday
is taking goodie trays to area restaurants and giving them to
servers. I had heard a rumor that the servers hate working Sundays,
because of the Christians who get out of church and show up for
lunch. I was told that most are rude and don’t tip. When I heard
this it broke my heart and motivated me to action. By bringing
goodie trays, I hope that some will now see Christians and the church
in a different way.
For two years now, our kids and students have gone to
Metron in Cedar Springs. They play games, sing songs and visit with
the residents. The testimonies of these kids and students are
exciting to hear. We can see God softening their hearts to others
through the experience. Some even made commitments to make return
visits throughout the year.
It
is difficult for me to effectively express the myriad of ways that
God has used Beyond the Walls Sunday in those who are serving and
being served. Each year I am surprised by the work of God through
this event. In a nutshell, I can say that God has used this event to
disciple our people and to soften hearts in our community to the
church and the love of Christ through the relationships we are
building within our community.
Click Here to see a video from last year's event.
If you are interested in doing your own or seeing what the Springs is up to this year Click Here.
