Here’s one wildly successful ministry idea that happened last week.
Living Faith Indy, a church plant in Indianapolis, loaded a trailer with a riding lawnmower, some push mowers, edgers, blowers and brooms. The group prayed, asking God’s direction for where to begin, then hauled the equipment to a nearby, neglected neighborhood near their church plant. They found a parking place, and began to go house to house, asking permission to mow each home’s lawn – for free.
As they approached each home, a different volunteer was assigned to ring the doorbell. After getting permission to work, the joyful crew meticulously groomed the yard while the volunteer lingered on the porch to chat with that neighbor.
Diana Davis
The work team included church members and a mission team from a partner church, with ages ranging from kids to senior adults. Every person had a job: a grandpa rode the riding mower, adults operated lawn equipment, kids swept.
As the church group moved from one house to the next, the entire neighborhood seemed to come alive. One neighbor played music; another brought some water to workers; children came out to help. The atmosphere was astonishing!
The neighborhood’s HOA president was thrilled to have her lawn done because her own mower had broken. The team gave her one of their used mowers as a gift, and she broke into tears.
When the church group left, the block looked fabulous, and they’d made dozens of positive contacts. They played with kids, prayed for peoples’ needs, made friends and served joyfully. They’d invited every person to Sunday worship, and many promised to come. Only eternity will reveal the final results, but that church was so energized by the response, they’re now planning for different small groups to do the same project on various streets until they cover their community.
The last words of Jesus on this earth before He ascended into heaven were these: “Go and make disciples…” Matthew 28:19a. The first word of that verse, “go”, indicates that Christians are to leave the premises, and tell others about Jesus as they go out. If we stay inside our church building, enjoying sweet fellowship and caring only for one another, we are missing a huge part of God’s command.
You can do ministry in your town. There are ministry opportunities all around you. The primary focus is to show God’s love, to engage strangers in conversation, and invite them to know Jesus. No church or small group is too small, too old, too stagnant or too busy.
Make an intentional “go” plan for your small group or church. People nearby are waiting to hear God’s Good News.
— Diana Davis is an author and minister’s wife in Pensacola, Fla. Her newest book, co-written with daughter Autumn Wall, is titled “Across the Street and Around the World” (New Hope Publishing 2016). Read more at www.dianadavis.org.