Pastor

Last summer

I traveled with a group from our church to central Mexico for a week-long

mission trip. On our first Sunday back home I shared a new passion from

the pulpit.

"I wonder,"

I explained, "what it would look like if we functioned more like

a mission and less like an Americanized 'church.'"

What did I

mean? Well, the mission we visited in Mexico functions like most I've

encountered. They focus the bulk of their time and resources on ministering

to their community. The leaders of this particular mission conducted summer

camps for native youth, provided a home for the elderly, took medical

teams into poverty-stricken villages, and conducted Vacation Bible Schools

for community children. Members of the mission's churches poured their

efforts into ministering to people outside of the church walls.

In contrast,

most American churches I've encountered (including ours, I confess) focus

the bulk of our time and resources on ourselves. We conduct programs for

ourselves. We hold classes for ourselves. We plan activities for ourselves.

We pour our efforts into ministering to ourselves.

What if that

changed? What if we functioned more like a mission, focusing the bulk

of our time and resources on ministering to our community? What would

that look like in Fayette County, Georgia?

In the last

year, the church where I minister has made significant strides in this

direction. Do you mind if I brag a little bit? I'm not bragging on myselfmost

of the ministry I'm about to describe has been initiated and carried out

number one cheerleader. And, I thought sharing these examples might encourage

others to consider how they might minister to their communities.

* Last summer

we joined a few other churches to finance and construct a Habitat for

Humanity house for a single father and his children.

* Last winter

we joined two neighboring churches to provide a basketball league for

community children.

* This spring

we hosted a "Family Health and Safety Fair" that included everyone

from the county health department and medical personnel to local firefighters

and U.S. Marshals.

* This summer

we donated an acre of our land to the Fayette Samaritans, who have built

a new building and will continue their benevolent ministry from this location.

* Last week

we sent letters to one thousand families in our neighborhood, explaining

that we plan to pray specifically for them this summer.

* In August

we will host a