This is one of the craziest ideas I’ve ever had, but here goes…
I want to serve people in need somewhere between July 11 and July 18.
Here’s the back story…
Originally, my wife and I were going to lead a team of people on a trip to Nakuru, Kenya that week to serve with our friends at the Springs of Hope Kenya orphanage. But due to the cost and difficulty arraigning flights the trip is off.
I’ve already arraigned for my parents to watch our kids for that week, and I don’t want to squander that opportunity.
Yeah, we could just relax and take a vacation. That would be the “normal” thing to do. But I think the week would be more meaningful if we were serving others.
Searching for Acts 2 Community
Along with that, I really want to see and experience communities that resemble that described in Acts 2:42-47.
I’ve blogged before about how the lifestyle of most American Christians looks nothing like Acts 2. Most people who call themselves Christians in America go to church on Sunday and never see those people again during the week. That’s not community. Others do something at church almost every day and rarely interact in a meaningful way with anyone who is not a Christian. To be honest, my life often resembles one of those two descriptions.
I want to be a part of people living in community serving their community, even if it’s just for a couple of days.
More Details
- The ministry needs to have a well documented reputation. For safety and other reasons, I need to be able to verify your ministry through reputable sources. I’ll need you to point me towards other organziations and media reports that can vouch for what you’re doing.
- The closer you are to Tampa the better. I don’t want to close the door to driving half-way across the country or jumping on a plane, but I would prefer to spend more time serving and less time traveling.
- We don’t have to spend the entire week with you. In fact, it might be cool to serve in 2 or 3 different communities.
- I’d prefer to stay with you rather than go to a hotel. That’s community.
If that sounds like a ministry you’re a part of, and if you’d be willing to give my wife and I the opportunity to serve along side you for a couple days or a week, please post a comment telling me about it. Or if you know of a community where we could serve, post a comment about it and point me towards the contact info of the person I should get in touch with.
Are you for real? I’ve never heard of anyone offering to do this as a couple in my life! I’ll tweet this one out for you. Only wish there was someone like you in Southern California where we are. Our family would love to work alongside you!
It seems crazy (and a bit scary) to me to, but we’ll see what comes of it. Thanks for the retweet. What do you do in SoCal?
I’m the Home Office Mommy working alongside my 5 year old Junior Apprentice. My husband and I have just given our first presentation together on what it was like for him to be married to me for the past 20 years and the response confirmed that we have a story that needs to be told. Also check out my bio here for more about what I do specifically for parents who work from home like I do. http://homeofficemommymagazine.com/?page_id=2
How’d you get so many followers? Are they relationships that you can cultivate and generate sales with? How is twitter working for your business? I’ve love to know your secret. See ya!!
Home Office Mommy Magazine sounds like a great venture. I work out of an office in my home, so I would probably find some of the topics you cover relevant as well.
I’ve done a lot to grow my Twitter followers as well as followers for @OurChurchDotCom, build relationships with them, and provide interesting and useful tweets. It’s too much to go into here, but I’m considering writing an ebook about it.
I love your crazy idea! Great re-use of time…shame you are not in the UK! Hope it goes well – and make sure you blog your journey with this whole thing. Can’t wait to follow it.
I know several ministries here in Charlotte. Let me know if you want to come here and I can help “introduce” you to some of my friends. They don’t have full organizations, but are people who give their time and resources to help others. One is a friend who feeds the homeless every Wednesday from donations he receives to buy the food. He was a former pro athlete, but lost everything to unpaid taxes and “sinful” living. His wife left, he was homeless, and without a dime. He encountered Christ and is now one of the most amazing people I have ever met. Another friend was cut from his job and now runs a feeding ministry just outside of Charlotte. There are others also, plus it would be great to finally meet you!
Thanks Karen. I would love to meet you and serve with some of your friends. I have a few questions which I’ll send to you privately.
Hey Paul,
Our church doesn’t have anything going on presently that you could give a week to. Perhaps a day or two, but I would commend to you Helping Up Mission in downtown Baltimore, MD. We partner with these guys and they do inner city mission work right! You could learn a lot from them and serve at the same time. You could stay in our home with us. We’d give you a car to drive down there or take you ourselves.
Helping Up Mission’s website is http://community.helpingupmission.org/ Let me know what you think!
Blessings,
Dave
Dave, thanks for the recommendation and the offer of hospitality! I lived in the Baltimore area for several years after college. Would be exciting to go back. I’ll look into Helping Up and email you if this looks a good possibility.
I’ll be studying your moves on line my friend. I thank God for someone who is willing to inspire all of us the way you are!!!! Believe well!
bummer, you are going to miss a full lake Nukuru. Its allot greener than it was last year…