I had the opportunity to speak at the Gresham Chamber of Commerce yesterday on behalf of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. I'm the Bike MS "voluntary volunteer leader" this year, which has really helped me see our church from the volunteer's perspective so much better.
When you're on staff at a church, you lose touch of what it's like to have another life outside of the local church. We have this saying on staff that goes like this "Remember, our people don't think about church all week like we do. They go home after church and think about their own lives..."
The truth is, as maturing Christ followers, we are to think about the kingdom all week in everything we do, and the local church is just one tool to accomplish what we've each been called to do.
So, back to the Chamber meeting... my challenge to the business leaders was to think beyond their patrons, those they already do business with, those who meet their needs in growing their business; to think about the community as whole, and what they can do as leaders that transcends their balance sheets, and pays back in good will given and received. Basically making an impact on the community just because it's right, not because it builds their business. And ofcourse, to volunteer at the Bike MS event.
The same is true for the local church. We need to be known as lovers of people, not to grow our local church, but to grow the kingdom, because it's what God calls us to do.
What are you prepared to do this summer that pays back only in goodwill given and received?
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