We Can't Change the World, But We Can Change 'Their' World!

     In my book, Church @ Community, I talk about three ways Jesus taught us to create a church-community connection. One of these ways is reve! aled in Matthew 5:16. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Please notice how there are strategic works or works in such a way that the church can do in a community that create a response of worship to God from the community.

     Would you like to see the unbelievers in your community worshipping God? Just find that real need in your community that everyone recognizes and meet it. Remember, there will be no transformation without incarnati! on. That's why Jesus incarnated in the community....the Word became flesh or real and tangible in the context of the community. If they can't see us, they won't be us! I believe that a worshipping unbeliever is easier to convert that a ! non-worshipping unbeliever. Hello?

     Natural men do not understand the things of the Spirit. Why would we expect them to? Jesus knew that. What was His response? He came from heaven to earth to show the way....not teach the way, preach the way, beseech the way or screech the way. The natural men of Jesus' time needed Someone real and tangible to show them what God looks like, how He meets needs, how He loves, heals, delivers and saves. Jesus connected the church to the community through acts of kindness and compassion. The same is true today.

     Never underestimate the power of good works in such a way! Your audience, the community, doesn't relate to Christian clichés, traditions, themes or rhetoric but they do relate to good works in such a way. Become a participant in the community, not a judge of the community. Remember, the way you see the community is the way the community sees you! If a church sees the community as the enemy, the community will see that church as the enemy. The converse ! is true also. According to your standard of measure it will be measured unto you. Luke 6:38. That verse applies to more than just money!

     The principle of good works in such a way was clearly in evidence here in Phoenix, Arizona, this year. I was speaking at Desert Rose Bible College several years ago on the necessity of the church to incarnate in the community. One way of doing this was by forming strategic alliances and mutual collaborations with the other four spheres of community influence (business, education, government, and media/entertainment) to meet pressing needs in the community. On! e of the attendees at the class had just been approached by Jerry Gleason, the then Vice President of Hilton Hotels for the western United States, to help a family he had heard about that was in a desperate situation.
    
     The family of 12 was living in a 700 square foot shack that was very old and dilapidated. The children were sleeping in closets that were leaking and pigeon infested. The father was working two jobs just to make ends meet and hardly ever at home. However, even with all this drama, 11 of 12 children were on the honor role at their schools. The oldest boy, a Down's syndrome child, was doing well also.

     The attendee decided that he would head up a project, with our help, to build a home for this very needy family. The teaching of Nationstrategy had touched him and helped him to understand a very strategic responsibility and role of the church in the community. The report below with pictures is the result of our efforts here in Phoenix to find a need and meet it. We call this.....The Rodriquez Project.

     This project went on National Television across America appearing on the Larry Elder show. On the day that we gave the keys of this new house to the family, three local television channels were in attendance. The evening news was adorned with the wonderful story of the Rodriquez family and their new 3100 sq. ft. home. One local television station even did a special segment on the event.

     Please notice all of the companies who donated materials, time and labor to the project. We literally had church, business, government, media and education all working together for the benefit of the community. We believe that the five spheres of influence in the community were meant to complete one another, not compete with one another. All of these spheres together could do more than any one of them alone.

     The church was right in the middle of all of this! Talk about creating a positive, public relations image. Unbelievers were worshipping God. 'If this is what the church is about, I might be interested.' That's called glorifying God, community style! Good works in such a way opens minds, opens hearts and opens doors of influence in the community.

     You see, the truth is we can't change the world, but we can change their world! Just ask the Rodriquez family. Now, if each one of us started looking for a way in to the community, rather tha! n a way out of the community, we could change heaps of people’s lives. How do you transform a community? One household, one problem, one need at a time! I think we are up for the task.