I wrote yesterday about “my hometown.” It is not the town I grew up in. I’m not sure I would even recognize it today. It is the town I live in today…Spencer, IN.
Today I want to write about another community. One that I am super proud to be a part of.
We call the community Owen Valley Christian Fellowship. OVCF for short. This community welcomed me and Jo in November of ’05 as their pastor. We hit the ground running. Shortly after I started (January) we formed our first Mission and Vision statement. It has morphed since then into several others, each defining in a clearer way who we are and why we exist. We have been through a lot: meeting in a dirty sports complex which smelled like one and looked like a grunge gremlin went through it; displaced twice by flood waters (once with me here) and meeting in the Middle school during a 4 month clean-up; a faith-strengthening year in 2009 when our attendance went from almost 200 to stabilize at 120 (Long story); moving into our own building in 2010 only to be hit 4 months later with a financial body slam. But the people pulled together and in a year and a half we renovated our entire building (except for offices) with cash. We worshiped at a local Seventh Day church during our 4 month renovation, then found ourselves almost immediately in two services. Lots of good things are happening.
But all those things are not why I love this community. I love it because of what I saw demonstrated Sunday. It has been our practice the past 6-7 years to reach out into the community to help kids (and their parents/grandparents) have a meaningful Christmas. This year we found our usual sources were not going to do anything. So we sent out emails, did FB, asked around and came up with 28 names. That is not including the 9 children several of us are helping separately. After all the dust settled last night, one card had not been picked up. ONE out of 28! And if that one is not picked up Sunday, the church will pick it up. That is the kind of stuff that makes me so honored to be the pastor of this church community.
And yes, there are buttons falling. 🙂
Is your church community helping some folks in your local community? If not, why not take it upon yourself to ask around and find one family you might be able to help?
Hi Bill (and Jo),
It was neat to hear about your church: to hear the exciting and challenging times it went through, and to see the outpouring of help for the 28 families/children for Christmas too. It is touching to see humans reach out to each other in respectful compassion and generosity. I can think of a time when a 17 year old male teen in our youth group shared with a family whose house burned down a large money bill that someone had given to him. It blew me away and impresses me each time I think of it.
Thanks, Merry Christmas! May God continue to do extravagant things in the hearts of the people in his church there.
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
Thanks Jennifer. I am convinced one of the “keys” we have found is reaching out to others. We are trying to take an outward-focused approach to ministry. Merry Christmas to your family as well.
Good for you and yours. Definitely doing your part of the Great Commission. However, I do not want to meet a grunge gremlin and I have no idea what you mean by buttons falling.
I don’t ever want to meet another grunge gremlin either (real bad lack of cleanliness) and the buttons falling are in reference to “a chest which sticks out due to pride.” Sort of like when a new father brags about his child. And thanks for recognizing us as trying to fulfill the Great Commission.
I just love what your church is doing. Gives whole new meaning to that word – community!
We live in a small mountain town. And many people are stretched financially. Our little church is constantly helping out. We have a local Help Center, and we help out with food drives. We also do things for school, at Thanksgiving, and Christmas. But, that doesn’t count the many, many times that people are reaching out to lend a hand throughout the year – financially, with labor, with mission work, childrens’ outreach, etc.
I think the Body of Christ is at its best when it’s involved in these kinds of activities. Jesus said they would know we are Christians by our love. And when is love seen more clearly than when it is reaching out?!
GOD BLESS!
Yes, one of the things we do is have a food pantry and clothes closet open monthly.
Such love and generosity in your church, Bill, who couldn’t help but be proud?
Yes, our church does a lot for our local community through many various programs; I’m fortunate to belong to such a caring, giving congregation.
Blessings!
Thanks for giving us a glimpse of your faith community. It sounds like you’ve all been through lots together. And by God’s grace those are often the things that bond us. We’ve been through a church split too. They are stories unto themselves, aren’t they. Whew! 🙂 Blessings!
Our church just finished up a “Seed Project” where we donated to four different charities (two local, one national and one international). It was awesome!