My latest column is up at Engaging Church Blog. I hope it provokes a discussion among people in ministry—paid or not—about how to serve our communities.
How is your church serving the good of your city? How are you in your ministry—pastoral, youth, small group—activating people to serve ‘til it hurts?
This summer was a lesson in the responsibility to live as a community in radical service and commitment to the common good of our community.
I pastor in one of the most beautiful places on the planet: Muskegon, Michigan. During the winter it looks like Candy Land. The Fall reminds me of a beautiful Van Gogh landscape speckled with bright blotches of yellows, oranges, and reds. And the summer, oh the summer! Our lakeshore is ranked as one of the best in the country. We’re proud of our lakeshore with its crystal-clear water, dog-friendly clean beaches, and mile-high sand dunes. You could say it’s the centerpiece of our community, which is why we wanted to use it to serve our city.
When I started pastoring there in May, I thought it might be fun to serve the community with a family-friendly movie night. I have fond memories of enjoying such an outdoor experience on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. when I lived there, so I thought it could be fun to do something similar for Muskegon. Then I ran across Kerry.
