IT TAKES A COMMUNITY TO REACH A COMMUNITY
I have heard it said that “It takes a community to reach a community...and when you do EVERYONE is changed.” With the Global disruption that we have all experienced the last few months, the need for an invested mission community and stable funding plan to make our way through this next Season is paramount. This has been the question/conversation we have been having as a local Committee. Question: How do we engage more adults in the community, foster greater ownership, and partnership that will lead to everyone experiencing God’s movement while helping us reach the next school, and the next kid?
My observation has been that perhaps all involvement in ‘mission’ begins transactionally. A desire to help, to contribute, to support. and to foster change. All partnership in mission shifts when it becomes transformational. When we not only see change in our world but in our own lives because we have a role to play and a niche to fill. I think that is what Jesus intended in The Greatest Commandment in the 12th chapter of the gospel of Mark.
...Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your HEART and with all your SOUL and with all your MIND and with all your STRENGTH.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. ...” When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” -Mark 12: 28-34
To me, it's simple. Love GOD (vertically). Love OTHERS (horizontally). EVERYONE changes! For the next few months, we are trying something different in the YL area where I serve as Committee Chair. We are calling it the Faithful 50 Campaign. We are committed to finding 50 households/Individuals that will engage with Young Life in four simple ways.
PRAY: Faithfully join our area by being a prayer partner - Heart
ATTEND: Commit to participating in a few key events in the local area each year. -Soul
GIVE: Give a financial gift monthly at a level of your choosing - Mind
SERVE: Be available to serve locally in some simple tangible ways when contacted. -Strength
Essentially, we want to live out the Greatest commandment of heart, soul, mind, and strength in our local area. Currently we have 200 potential names on our list over the coming weeks the vision of going from transaction to transformation begins! If your area has had similar conversations and you want to be part of the conversation- email at Kimberly Silvernale and we can learn from each other. I think the greatest proof of the existence of God is a transformed life. That has always been the business of YL. In the coming months, we will give an update on the Faithful 50 campaign in an upcoming 5 for Friday. Check out this LINK to see some of the documents we are using with our community.
If you’re interested in being part of the conversation for your own area, please reach out and let’s continue the conversation. Email me at Kimberly Silvernale.
Written by: Kimberly Silvernale