This morning most ELCA congregations, including Advent Lutheran Church, celebrated God’s Work Our Hand’s Sunday. In addition, we explored the fruitful practice of risk-taking mission and service as part of an sermon series based on Robert’ Schnase’s book Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations (revised).
Sermon
My message, “God’s Work. Our Hands. Every Day.” was based on I Corinthians 12:1, 4-12, 25-27 and Matthew 25:31-40.
Risk-Taking Mission and Service
I preached from this manuscript. You can watch a recording of the livestream here (the Gospel lesson begins at 25:44 and the sermon begins at 27:34).
Excerpt
37 years ago a woman did what many here have done multiple times in their lives: she said yes when invited to be part of a church retreat. Little did she know, her decision would change not only her life, but the lives of many in her community.
The woman I’m remembering is Donagene Christian. While on this retreat with Central Lutheran Church – one of our ELCA congregations in East Dallas – God placed it on her heart that she was to feed her community. This vision was so compelling that she had to act.
Rather than becoming discouraged when her own church decided this idea was too big for them, she sought out support from other churches. And, rather than focus on a denomination, she focused on her geography.
Ultimately, she convinced 13 churches of differing sizes and theological perspectives to come together to form a new non-profit focused on feeding food insecure folks in East Dallas.
Over the years that ministry grew from serving 1 zip code to 5 and relocated from the basement of a church to its own 16,000 square foot facility. It also grew from feeding people to feeding, clothing, and empowering them.
This year, White Rock Center of Hope will help more than 7,000 neighbors in need by providing more than 800,000 pounds of food, more than 75,000 articles of clothing, and more than $100,000 in rental assistance. And, more than 300 people will participate in empowerment programs.
All of this is made possible by more than 1,000 volunteers most of whom get involved through their local churches . . .