We have nearly finished our look at the 8 Essential Qualities found in healthy churches, we have considered Empowering Leadership, Gift-Based Ministry, Passionate Spirituality, Inspiring Worship and Holistic Small Groups. Today we consider Need-Oriented Outreach and Loving Relationships.
We are not all called to be Billy Grahams or J Johns but we are all called to share the love of Jesus. This is Need-Oriented Outreach. The world is tired of being told what to do and what to believe but people never tire of being loved and Need-Oriented Outreach is expressing the love of Jesus by meeting the needs of the people in our communities. Healthy churches have all been found to be doing this in some way or another and it is demonstrated in much of what we do on Overslade and through ministries such as Hope4, Foodbank, Healing on the Streets, CAP, Street Pastors and so on.
We can all play a part in something, using our gifts and passion to express the love of Jesus. What is it that you do?
In healthy churches there is a high level of fun and laughter evident and these are outwards signs of the next quality characteristic, Loving Relationships. Authentic love endows a church with a much greater magnetic power, real love spreads a scent that few can resist. Jesus encouraged us to make sure we were in a right relationship with each other, and maybe right now he is reminding you of someone you need to say sorry to and inject a bit of laughter back into your relationship with them. He will help you to do it!
Martin Saxby
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