Evangelism

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

HAVING WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A “GOOD NEIGHBOR”

Jesus told a story about a man who was walking on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and left him half dead. Over the years this story has been named “The Good Samaritan”. It was named after the third of three men who came by the injured man. The first two men passed on by the injured man without bothering to help. The third man stopped to help. He bandaged the man’s wounds, put him on his donkey, took him to a hotel and stayed up all night caring for him. He paid for the man’s stay until he was well enough to leave.

A Sunday School teacher was telling this story to her class. She asked the young children why they thought the third man helped, when the other two did not. A little boy piped up, “Because he had a donkey.”

If you think about it, that’s not a bad answer. As the story reads in Luke 10:30-37, particular mention is made of the animal this third man had with him, as well as the bandages and oil. Maybe that little boy is on to something profound. Clearly the third man, the Samaritan, had what was needed to help. He had the resources to be a good neighbor. He had bandages, healing ointment, an animal on which to transport the injured man, time to stay up all night and care for him and financial resources to see him through his recovery.

We have recently experience a similar thing as Zion has opened its doors to the Landisville Food Pantry Ministry. We have been in a “neighborly” relationship with the food pantry for over a year. Mostly we collected food and took it over to stock its shelves. In that initial relationship we had what it took to be a good neighbor: food!
Then some of our members got to know the director, Dee Thomas. They would come back from their visits with story after story of how they saw and experienced God through the work of the food pantry. We invited Dee to come and share her faith story with us as part of our “Blessed to be a Blessing” series.

In the early part of this year, we became a little bit more neighborly as we responded to the need for volunteers to help distribute the food and stock the shelves as food was delivered. Again, we had what it took to be good neighbors: people who could give of their time and energy.

But then the crisis occurred. The number of clients served almost doubled in a month’s time. More space was needed to hold the food being distributed. Decisions by the church leadership at the food pantry’s former home proved to be problematic. This put meeting the growing needs of the clients at risk. But once again, Zion had what it took to be a good neighbor: underused space to temporarily house the food pantry until September 1, 2008.

Once the food pantry completes its resettlement in Zion’s temporary space, the summer months will be spent in time of organizational restructuring for the food pantry. This will include a board of directors, its own non-profit status, and a growing base of community support from other churches, civic groups and businesses. Here, too, Zion has what it takes to be a good neighbor: gifted leaders and helpers who can help guide this ministry into this next phase.

Give thanks to God that he has given us the resources; we have what it takes to be a good neighbor!

Transformational Ministry Questions & Answers

WHAT IS TRANSFORMATIONAL MINISTRY (TM)?
Transformational ministry is a process for discerning God’s will, planning, taking action, and evaluating.

HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE’VE ALREADY BEEN DOING?
TM is different because it is not just another program. It is not a formula for success or change. TM is a biblically based process for teaching us a new way of being the church, which, over time, becomes organic.

WHAT ARE SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF CONGREGATIONS THAT ARE IN THE TM PROCESS?
Dynamic preaching, scripture study, and prayer are the central activities of transforming congregations. They have a clearly articulated purpose that is specific to their context. They have identified the core values that will influence decision making. Pastors and Lay Leaders work together in discipleship, decision making, and deploying God’s gifts for ministry. The congregation plans with God’s mission at the center, communicates thoroughly and evaluates regularly in order to lay plans to move forward.

HOW WILL THE TM PROCESS GET STARTED AT ZION?
The process begins with the approval of a “Covenant for Transformation.” A leadership team of 6 – 8 people plus the pastors is selected by the congregation council. The leadership team will attend a training event at Zion, May 3-6, 2007. At the event they will learn the TM process and be trained to lead and teach it to our congregation.

WHAT DOES TM MEAN FOR ME?
As a member of this congregation you will be invited to be a full participant in the TM process. Your participation may include any or all of the following: Bible study, prayer, mentoring, small group conversations to discern congregational vision, purpose, and core values, and input on developing, implementing and evaluating action plans. The “Congregation” portion of the covenant outlines more ways you are asked to participate.

How do I learn more about TM?
If you have questions about TM start by asking Pastor LaDonna (799-4773), Pastor Whitesel (799-7217), or Scott Russell.

Click here for more information on Transformational Ministry on the ELCA's website.

Jeff Thompson - Evangelism Team Leader

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