Who are our neighbors?

In our work with pastors and churches, Plowpoint teaches that God’s calling or purpose for us as individuals and congregations is defined by the intersection of our neighbors’ needs with our unique ability to respond (see Stepping in the Stream). And in finding that intersection, we begin with the question: “Who are our neighbors?”

A few weeks ago as Christians, we celebrated the Ascension of Jesus when we remember his final words to us in Acts 1 when he says before ascending to heaven: When the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 (New Living Translation)

According to Jesus in Acts, the “neighbors” to whom we are sent are BOTH here AND there, BOTH near AND far. When we work with churches, we often ask the “trick” question: “Are our neighbors inside or outside the walls?” But like so many of the other “either/or” traps of our world, either choice of serving only inside OR outside the walls would not be a godly choice. Therefore, instead of the “either/or,” God is calling us to the “BOTH/AND” – to serve BOTH our neighbors inside our walls (tending to the needs of our own members and constituents) AND our neighbors outside our walls (responding to the needs of our community and our world).

Our calling in the ministry of Plowpoint is no different. We, too, are called to serve those BOTH within our “home” state, denomination, and nation AND those beyond these “borders.” For the past five years, Plowpoint has served hundreds of churches and thousands of pastors and other church leaders in seven different denominations, dozens of states across the United States, and beginning this week in Liberia. We are truly excited about the ever-widening circles in which Jesus is calling us to serve as his witnesses. For we know that whenever we encounter “new neighbors,” we, like the traveler on the road to Samaria, will be the ones who receive the true ministry and are blessed (see Luke 10:25-37).

Please join us in prayer for our travels to Liberia from May 25^th to June 22^nd and our shared ministry with the Church there. And pray that God will continue to bless our work and ministry among pastors and churches here through our faithful and gifted staff in Plowpoint. Thanks be to God for all of you who make our ministry BOTH “here” AND “there” possible!