[This reflection by Chris Ginter was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 22/Oct/2023]
When you walk into HBC the overwhelming emotion is love.
I remember an old song by the Beatles, “All you need is love”. This is so true. This love is so needed in the church but even more so in our community.
- What about the road where we live, and even more so the estate on which our church is built, Court Lodge Estate.
- How about smiling at the drug addict who needs prayer to free him from his disturbed childhood and abusive parents.
- How about chatting to the lonely lady who is desperate to be greeted warmly and needs friendship.
- What about the single parent who wants to share the stress of what her children are up to at school.
All the above need love, prayer and especially to know Jesus is real in our day and in our time. How can we be Jesus in our community, how do we get the message across?
We need to be where the people are, coming alongside them, to be where they are. Litter picking is one of the ways to come alongside. Only 2 or 3 people come and join in, we can prayer walk the area, just chatting to the people we bump into in the process. People and families are in desperate need financially and desperate for friendship. What about introducing them to the food bank or bringing them to colour wheel or to the toddler group?
There are so many ways, but it won’t happen by just sitting in church on Sunday. Bringing Jesus into the community is like the sun shining after a dull grey day, He warms our hearts. Jesus gives us courage to shine where there is hurt and despondency. Traditional evangelism and leaflet dropping through letter boxes is one way but doesn’t bring much fruit, I know – I’ve tried it, but do people know we are there for them?
They will know we are Christians by our love. Create in me a clean heart Oh God and renew a right spirit within me.
Every blessing, Chris Ginter
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Last week’s reflection: Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem! by Martin Shorey
Contributed by Chris Ginter; © Chris Ginter