Grace Enacted

This little “experiment” called Grace – A Community of Faith continues to be one of the best things of which I’ve ever been a part. We’ve managed to meet together on the Lord’s Day for four weeks now, and every gathering has been a blessing to me – and I think the others who have been there.

Today was an exceptional demonstration of why I was willing to be a part of this experiment. We met briefly and sang a few songs, looked briefly at a crucial biblical text that spoke to what we were about to do, participated together in the Lord’s Supper, and were out the door! Out the door not to rush home or head to a restaurant – but out the door to serve the Newnan/Coweta community in the name of Christ.

Two of our group had made arrangements for us to go to One Roof, a ministry supported by churches in Coweta County that is doing some amazing work in the name of Christ. Derenda, the ministry leader, gave us a quick tour of the place and passionately told us about the kinds of ministry they do and the outreach they have all over the county.  She also told us about some of the difficult moments when they have to say no to those in need. Among the things that stood out to me in her tour was that they were out of diapers and nearly out of breakfast foods.

Our group brought toiletries – deodorant, tooth paste, tooth brushes, and other similar things – because we were told how low their supplies for those items were. Friday afternoon, they ran out of tooth paste – the last two clients didn’t get any – but thankfully that won’t happen Monday morning!

We spent several hours separating and arranging a huge pile of food donated through a recent food drive in Coweta County. That isn’t a particularly glamorous task – but it is an important one. Volunteers on Monday and for the next several months will have easy access to food that can help people in need have a decent meal. I’m pretty confident that’s the kind of thing Jesus had in mind when, after washing the disciples feet (John 13), He pointed out that what He had just done for them was a paradigm for kingdom people.

Two things stand out to me tonight as I think about today’s experience. One of them is what a great resource Coweta County has in One Roof. They have figured out ways to do much with little and are doing it well. Derenda’s prayer at the end of our service time today reminded me of the mission of the church “to the least of these” in ways that encourage and challenge.

The second thing that stands out is what a great experience it is to be a part of a group that is so willing to step outside of the normal way of doing things and find a way to be Jesus to the world. I’m not in any way discounting the importance of the church being together in fellowship to worship, to learn, to pray, to give, to . . . But I am convinced that few things have done more for my own spirit than what I saw today.

If you’re interested in the experiment, all I can say is we would welcome your presence!