concerned yet convinced...

I don't know if you have seen lately all the reports via our media concerning all the business' doing poorly, loss of jobs, homeless and hungry families due to the current economic crisis. First of all, we have had an ongoing economic crisis for some time now, it has simply gone somewhat undetected and reported by continual borrowing and incurring debt both internationally and nationally here in the United States. Secondly, in some cases it is probable that the media is not reporting all the facts accurately in order to exaggerate the impact in some communities.

In the midst of this news, I am reminded Biblically (a solid source of truth throughout history) that God is in control. While many are running around trying to bail out, sell out, etc, God steps up with His plan. His plan isn't new, its been around for a long time. His plan is His people!

The Church is God's plan for caring for those in need. The current real crisis is that the Church in most communities has not been equipped or prepared for such a time as this. To be honest, the wounded, hurting, hungry and poor aren't included in many church budgets, visions and mission statements. And if they are, it is seldom actualized in real tangible reproducible systems. Most churches have plenty of room for pews, staging and entry ways, but no room for the cold, weary, homeless and hungry. Many of these multi-million dollar church facilities aren't even used 75% of the week.

The Body of Christ will be stretched like never before as the needs of non-members and members alike escalate. The challenge for the Church will be how we put the needs of the community above their own comfort. I believe this is just the start of the discomfort and suffering some believers will feel who are simply use to reaching out to the needy by writing a check when a Pastor makes a plea prior to the offering being collected. Don't get me wrong, a financial gift can go a long way, but so can the shirt off your back, or the empty guest room in your house, or the square footage of a new shiny foyer. We will be tested in this way. The Church will have to "be" the Church more than planning how to do church. Mega churches will have to learn how to give away all they have built. Target groups will have to give way to empty stomachs, mission statements to missional thinking, order of service to genuine service, youth ministry to youth in ministry, mens ministry to men involved in actual ministry, etc.

To all my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.... WE ARE GOD'S PLAN to meet the needs of the growing numbers of hungry, jobless, homeless, and non-insured, inside and outside of the membership of the church, not the government. To do this, we will have to hold on loosely to all that we have. Realizing that all that we are and all that we have individually and collectively belongs to Him. There is no other plan. There is no other way. We've got to take the needed steps to progress from Me to We, then from Us to Them.... Then, and only then, will they truly see Jesus.