{"id":32456,"date":"2013-10-21T08:00:37","date_gmt":"2013-10-21T16:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/?p=32456"},"modified":"2013-10-20T08:48:41","modified_gmt":"2013-10-20T16:48:41","slug":"4-suggestions-be-the-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/4-suggestions-be-the-church\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Practical Suggestions for Being the Church"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you are looking for ways to be the church in your community and love others like Jesus, here are some practical suggestions of things you can do. This post is by Sam Riviera<\/a> who lives out these suggestions in his day-to-day life.<\/p>\n

Be the Church by Picking Up Trash<\/h2>\n

\"beTwice a month our group picks up trash on the streets and in the parks of an inner city neighborhood. We also try to smile and greet everyone who passes. Over the past few years this has resulted in some amazing conversations with people who hate churches and would never dream of attending one.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve already guessed that picking up trash in an inner city neighborhood is not all sweetness and roses. Some of what we pick up is really disgusting. Several mornings I have stood on what appeared to be not quite dry blood, only to read in the afternoon paper that someone had been murdered on that very spot the previous night. On the other hand, there is no place where I feel the presence of Jesus more keenly than out in the street picking up trash.<\/p>\n

Be the Church by Cleaning up the Alley<\/h2>\n

\"beTwice last summer our group cleaned one block sections of alleys. The first one was the dirtiest and most overgrown alley in that inner city neighborhood, and took us several mornings to complete. At the end of the final morning, we shared lunch together and invited the neighbors whose houses backed up to the alley. A few joined us, and a long term relationship was formed with one family.<\/p>\n

After the second alley, we decided to return to picking up trash, which is an activity in which more people are able to participate. Trash pickup also tends to engage more of the people who live on the street in conversations. An unintended and unexpected consequence of cleaning alleys was that some of the people who lived along the alleys seemed embarrassed that someone else was cleaning their dirty alley. They closed their blinds and didn\u2019t emerge until we were leaving. Once again, however, we felt the presence of Jesus out there in those dirty alleys.<\/p>\n

Be the Church by Painting Over Graffiti<\/h2>\n

\"beGraffiti is a significant problem in most inner city neighborhoods. After checking with the city, we found that many areas have a group that volunteers to paint over graffiti. However, most groups have very few volunteers and are always on the lookout for people who will help. The job requires old clothes and an hour or two of time. This is also an opportunity to engage people in the neighborhood in conversation as they walk by or when they come out of their homes to say thank you.<\/p>\n

Be the Church by Volunteering at the Recreation Department<\/h2>\n

Our group has helped the recreation department with neighborhood Halloween and Easter parties. Several of the members of our group have served on the department board. Again, these have been excellent opportunities to get to know the people who live in the neighborhood.<\/p>\n

We have also cleaned up after street and music festivals, participated in the community dinner, helped the fire station acquire needed equipment, and thanked the center city police department with a visit, thank you cards, and cookies.<\/p>\n

Have you tried some of the suggestions above or discovered other ways to be the church in your community? Tell us about it in the comments below!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Be the Church in Your Community<\/h2>\r\n\"BeWant to be the church in your community but don't know? Here are some posts which not only explain what it means to be the church in your community, but also gives concrete, practical examples of what it looks like and how to be the church whatever you do and wherever you go.\r\n\r\nRemember, you ARE the church, and wherever you go, Jesus goes with you!\r\n