Missions Next Door

surfs

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The toughest mission fields are not always to be found in another country thousands of miles away.I have been been involved in mission work in rural areas of Malawi Central Africa so know that traditional side of missions.Now as a bi-vocational pastor I am establishing a new work in my urban area, working especially in a very tough social housing project 2 streets away from my home.In addition to the gangs,drugs,and violence,there are many newcomers adjusting to life in a new country.Some are from Christian backgrounds,others from different religions altogether.They face the cultural divide of children who are now more comfortable in their new culture than in that of the home country.Some are single parent homes with missing fathers or homes under the pressures of cultural adjustments leading to sons in search of acceptance being recruited into the gangs or daughters ending up as young single mothers.Other families are established ones who have grown up there locked into a cycle of poverty through bad life decisions and missed opportunities.Two years ago a growing faith group of 11 families--all from various African countries--- was established within the project community, but was destroyed through the spiritual immaturity of the leader of this group.There are people from "outside"this project community even Christians, who because of its reputation will not go in because of fear.It is sad today that many churches have written off the tough inner-city areas in favor of ministry that is perceived as being more productive in growing sub-urban areas.In other cases churches start in urban areas,grow,then move to the suburbs in buying cheaper land to build after renting for years, or to expand through larger facilities.The areas left behind now lack a local church and people there are not always in a position to travel to the large growing commuter churches that are now much further away. There is a need for ministry in both areas--sub-urban and urban--, but the inner city areas today are crying out for those who are committed to being involved in meeting the spiritual needs that are represented there.We need to pray that this mission field will not remain an often neglected one.
 

Chad Prigmore

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Wow, it sounds like you are doing the right thing! I agree so much with you regarding where Churches are being built. I'm in southern California, and there are mega Churches everywhere - but on skid row in downtown Los Angeles there are masses of homeless suffering people that need help.

My family and I started a program called The Bags of Hope Project for the homeless on skid row. We take them bags of necessities and include a Bible in each bag as well. We needed more Bibles last week because the store we get them from was all out so I called a local suburban Church to see if they could provide a few Bibles. They said they couldn't because they've had to cut back on how much they spend on missions work. From what I've read in scripture, the only things the Church SHOULD spend on is the poor and effective missions. There are more than enough fancy comfortable mega Churches - the Church needs to get back in the fight which happens on the streets with the suffering the way the first Christians did it.
 
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surfs

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God"s timing is perfect.In July while at the end of my road at a play structure with my young son I started conversation with a muscular tough looking guy--gang tattoos,ear rings -in a wheel chair--found out 6 bullets put him in that chair.He was there at that moment at the play structure with his tattooed wife and 3 young kids.He was an ex-gang member with a long record.I have kept in touch with them.They moved here from another city to get away from gangs there and unknowingly moved into the worst area here for gangs.They had gone to another local church but the priest said he was not comfortable in them being there.We have helped them with food--the wife was in tears-- and soon will help in their moving to another apartment.I made sure to tell them no strings attached in our help to them.Jesus went beyond the comfort zone to reach out to those rejected by society.We are called to do like-wise.--Pastor Terry
 
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Via Cassian

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In my experience, the group of pastors and priests who — as a group — most show the fruits of the Holy Spirit— are the pastors and priests working in the inner cities. By fruits of the Holy Spirit I mean the twelve listed by tradition: "charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity."

God bless your work.
 
+Peace
John
Florida
 
 
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