Cultural Awareness Week 2015 by The Salvation Army

BEYOND:

Crossing Boundaries, Extending Borders, Embracing Others With the Gospel Cultural Awareness Week 2015 Resources

Captain Enrique Azuaje Captain Nancy Azuaje Shontae Dorris Alfredo Martinez Karen Young

Multicultural Ministries Department Secretary Director of Hispanic Women’s Programs Administrative Assistant Hispanic Ministries Consultant Multicultural Ministries Specialist

Table of Contents

BEYOND: Crossing Boundaries, Extending Borders, Embracing Others with the Gospel WORSHIP

Hospitality in Worship: A Reflection of God’s Gracious Character

Resources

Worship Program Outline

Worship Service Program Sample

Additional Worship Resources Call to Worship

11 16

16 23

Songs

Dramas

“Making the Call (Crossing Boundaries)”

“Like A Good Neighbor (Embracing Others)”

“Reaching Out (Extending Borders)” Sermon Outline

Full Sermon: “The Gospel of Christ Beyond Boundaries”

Condensed Sermon: “The Gospel of Christ Beyond Boundaries”

Power Point

29 39

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WOMEN’S MINISTRIES RESOURCES Program

Purpose

77 77

Suggested Program

Activity 2: My Secret Friend of Prayer

Activity 1: Praying for Our Needs Devotional

“Beyond Our Limits”

YOUTH RESOURCES

Devotional—“Beyond Facebook”

Devotional—“Accepting Others Beyond Our Differences”

KIDS RESOURCES Coloring Pages

EMPLOYEE ACTIVITIES Introduction

“Ways to Use PINTEREST in Your Workplace” Immigrant Stories

Panel Discussion

93 94 97

“The Stranger”

Wordle

Wordle Activities

Pay It Forward

“30 Ways to Pay It Forward”

What’s In A Name

102 106

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MULTICULTURAL OUTREACH

108

Outreach – Evangelism Activities

109

1. The Boundaries of Our Commitment— Public Servant Outreach (Crossing Boundaries)

113

“How to Hold Your Own Prayer and Popsicle Event” 2. There’s Room at the Table—Matthew BBQ Celebration (Extending Our Borders)

3. You Are Welcome At This Table (Embracing Others) 4. Cultural Art Exhibit

110

115

117

119

5. Learn A Folk Dance

119

7. Appreciate Diversity Month Briefing

120

9. Diversity Roundtable

121

6. Music From Around the World 8. Cultural Values Conversations

10. Hold An Appreciate Diversity Month Block Party 11. Honor Diverse Families 12. Around the World

119

120 121

121 122

13. Country / State Flags

122

14. Cultural Bulletin Board

122

15. Cultural Minimuseum

123

16. Cultural Speakers

123

17. History and Heritage Months

123

18. Words of Respect

124

19. Common Foods

125

20. Global Potluck

125

22. Community Cultural Event Planning

126

24. Celebrate An Ethnic Holiday

127

21. Immigrants’ Stories

23. International Literacy Day: Sept. 8 25. Gift Exchange

125

126 127

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MEN’S MINISTRIES RESOURCES Fellowship

128

Friend Night

129

Host Another Men’s Ministry Group

129

Movie Night

129

Sports Event

130

Embracing Cultural Differences

130

Education

Understanding Immigrants

Worship

Devotional: “Living Together with Each Other”

Articles for Discussion

“Reaching People Across Cultural Barriers”

130 131 132

“Tune to Men’s Needs”

132

Spaghetti Fund Raising Event

132

Chili Contest

132

Service

Sandwiches for the Homeless

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Posters

132

Available in Lao, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Filipino, and English

PowerPoint Slide template

BEYOND: Crossing Boundaries, Extending Borders, Embracing Others “Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you...” II Corinthians 10:15-16

CROSSING BOUNDARIES

What picture comes to your mind when you think about boundaries? What do you see? Is it a welcome sign that says you’ve just left one state and entered another? Or, is it a barbwire fence with a “no trespassing” sign? Do boundaries limit or invite?

Boundaries, by definition, mark the limits of an area. They are often an intentional and necessary separator. They may be visible or invisible. But, boundaries can create unnecessary barriers, such as those between different ethnic, generational, or socio-economic people groups. However, with intentionality, understanding, and prayerfulness, these barriers can be overcome. While potentially uncomfortable, crossing boundaries can be an adventure.

Every day and in different ways we interact with culturally diverse neighbors, co-workers, and friends. We encounter cultural boundaries and cross them intentionally or by necessity. Those we encounter may differ from us in style of communication, how they worship or dress, their celebrations, nationality, customs, beliefs, and values. The world is at our 7

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doorstep. And we have opportunities to learn about and to share in respectful and loving ways with those we encounter.

While it’s impossible to become an expert on every culture we might encounter, it’s worth deepening our awareness of the people in our communities and how we can serve and minister to them in ways that are culturally sensitive and appropriate. Crossing boundaries challenge us to look at our surroundings with fresh eyes and to see our communities and the people who live in them.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

Who are the people that live in my community?

Who are my neighbors?

How might we build relationships?

In what ways is God calling me to serve them?

EXTENDING BORDERS

“You have enlarged the nation, Lord; you have enlarged the nation. You have gained glory for yourself; you have extended all the borders of the land.” Isaiah 26:15

When we extend our borders, we open space for differences and the gifts that those differences bring – gifts to be appreciated and celebrated.

David Livermore, in Cultural Intelligence, says that cultural competence is engaging those who are different in ways that are loving and respectful, but do not compromise the self. When we extend borders, we prepare spaces of welcome. We offer hospitality. We become aware of the barriers that may prevent others from coming inside and feeling safe. And we seek ways to overcome those barriers. We welcome the stranger, the new-comer into a community of loving, living, and learning together. 8

BEYOND: CROSSING BOUNDARIES, EXTENDING BORDERS, EMBRACING OTHERS

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

How do we invite others into our lives?

How do we make spaces for others to share their lives with us? What are the ways in which we offer hospitality?

EMBRACING OTHERS

Ever been the newcomer in the workplace, the new family at church, the new kid on the block? Remember what that felt like? Perhaps you wanted tea but were offered coffee. Maybe people couldn't pronounce your name correctly. Perhaps you dressed up for church but everyone else wore blue jeans. Maybe everyone had an accent, but they thought you talked funny. Things justweren't the same as the place from which you came, and you wondered if it would ever feel familiar. Remember what it felt like when a friend came along to help you navigate this new place?

When we embrace others, we invite them to come inside, to be a part of us. There are no Intruders. We place another chair at the table. We widen our circle. We make space for differences.

Jesus provides the challenge for a radical way of living life in these verses from his hillside message: â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you love only someone who loves you, will God praise you for that? Even sinners love people who love them. If you are kind only to someone who is kind to you, will God be pleased with you for that? Even sinners are kind to people who are kind to them.â&#x20AC;? Luke 6:32-34

These verses continue to challenge the people of God living in a culturally diverse reality. We are called to go BEYOND the ways we might typically respond to others and to live in life-giving and life-transforming ways.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

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Are we willing to place another chair at the table? Who will we invite to share that space?

What are the barriers that get in the way of our building crosscultural community?

What can we do to overcome the barriers so that others will feel welcomed and safe?

What are we missing by not having our neighbors as a part of our fellowship?

BEYOND

In his book Cross-Cultural Servanthood, Duane Elmer, uses this analogy in the context of how we learn cross-culturally: “Synergy means “with energy,” added or multiplied energy. Have you ever done something with another person and were amazed at what you accomplished? You could never have accomplished it by yourself—even with twice the time. This is synergy. Remember hearing a band or orchestra warming up before the concert? Each member is independently playing notes or chords, creating noise. But when the conductor raises the baton, together they create glorious music. This is synergy. Synergy is further illustrated by the following, which I got out of a farm journal: One horse can pull 6,000 to 7,000 pounds

Two horses can pull about 18,000 pounds

Two horses train to pull together can pull 25,000 pounds

When synergy happens between two or more people, the results can be amazing, exhilarating, productive and awesome.” (CrossCultural Servanthood, pg 104)

Worship HOSPITALITY IN WORSHIP: A REFLECTION OF GOD'S GRACIOUS CHARACTER by Cindy Holtrop

I did not become passionate about hospitality until I realized that it had to be rooted in grace. Not until my desire to reflect Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hospitality to me, in no longer calling me a stranger, but in calling me a friend, did the hospitality I extend to others become linked to grace. When that happened, then hospitality became more than technique and more than a task.

Martha Stewart did not first invent hospitality. And she does not have the final word on it. Hospitality first of all flows from grace and is the believerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grateful response to the gift of grace. Christine Pohl, the author of Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition, says, "Hospitality is not so much a task as a way of living our lives and of sharing ourselves."

What does the ministry of hospitality look like in our congregations and in our worship services? The ministry of Christian hospitality has received more serious attention in recent years because denominational lines have become more permeable, denominational loyalty has waned, and the church has become more determined to seek the lost. When people who are strangers to the church and to grace come to worship, seeking the grace of God and gracious people, churches begin to ask: Why do people return? What do we do to welcome them? Hospitable acts like someone shaking your hand at the door, acknowledging your presence, offering to show you where the restrooms are, or where the nursery is for 11

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your children, make a difference in people’s sense of welcome and belonging. Hospitality often makes the difference in wanting to return to a place you’ve never been before.

A lack of hospitality is like a cold draft in a room on a gray day. It leaves you chilled, not warmed, empty rather than nurtured, hungry rather than nourished. Hospitality in and around worship begins in the church parking lot with parking spaces reserved for visitors. Hospitality continues with appropriate signage in the building, so people know where they are going and can find what they need. If you are not expecting guests, then these kinds of things are not important. In one small church, the greeter was handing out children’s bulletins. A visiting family with three young children arrived. Startled, the greeter said, "Oh, I’m sorry. We made only enough bulletins for our children." If you are expecting guests, then you look for ways you can anticipate them and their needs.

Generous, authentic and warm hospitality is life-giving to all who worship with you. And though the gestures are often small, they are still important because they give a significant message to people: You are valued. You are a person of God and we welcome you in the name of Christ. We want to do “Hospitality is rooted in the word hospital, which comes from two Greek words meaning “loving the stranger.” It evolved to mean “house for strangers” and later came to be known as a place of healing. Eventually, hospitality meant connecting with strangers in such a way that healing took place. Therefore, when we show openness toward people who are different from us, welcome them into our presence and make them feel safe, the relationship becomes a place of healing. As we welcome people just as they are and invite them to join us just as we are, it becomes a sacred event reflecting what Jesus did for us—providing us with a healing relationship. – Duane Elmer, Cross-Cultural Servanthood, pg. 43 12

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everything we can to make you feel at home, so that you will be at home with God, and experience the presence of Christ here. Henry Nouwen says "hospitality means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place."

Congregations practice hospitality and commit to it. They are intentional about it, until it becomes the norm for the way in which they live as the people of God, and the way in which they do ministry. To do something inhospitable would be unthinkable to them. Where hospitality is a virtue in a congregation, you will find other virtues such as mercy, love, compassion and forgiveness. These then become woven into a congregationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life, and part of their grateful, lived-out response to Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grace.

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s look at a few practical examples of how a church might practice hospitality in worship:

1. One church did not have an immediate need for an elevator in their building. They also knew that if someone had a need for it, they would not be able to use their building. So in anticipation of welcoming and in preparation of someone coming who might need an elevator, they remodeled their building.

2. Several deacons who regularly came forward to receive the offering of the people, dressed more casually so that someone who might not wear a suit, either male or female, would feel comfortable in this church. 3. One church decided to examine all of its assumptions about Christian community. How did their worship help them to "be church?" as Marva Dawn says. What factors might make them appear to be a friendly church, and yet not be warm and embracing. Perhaps a stranger might attend for a year, become known to some people, and still remain friendless, without being intentionally drawn into the body. 13

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What did they need to do to extend deeper hospitality so that it was more closely linked to grace, and so that it was not a technique or a task?

4. One church made a practice of welcoming new members with the children present in the front of the church. The children, along with the rest of the congregation, learned the new membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; names and the pastor prayed for the new members. The children and everyone else learned that each person is important in this faith community. They are known by name and they are prayed for. 5. Anxious about how to seat latecomers, one church shut the glass doors to the sanctuary before the service began. They realized they needed to make their practice of seating latecomers more gracious and hospitable.

6. People who had different views and interests in worship came to the worship committee with their concerns: The worship committee prayed together for the Spiritâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wisdom and discernment in their discussion as a committee and with the members of the congregation. The committee committed to withholding judgment as they met with these people. They realized that prejudging would pre-empt understanding. They could still listen with discernment. Hospitality means suspending judgment so that you can hear and understand another perspective.

When there is a river of grace and restoration that flows through a congregation, the hospitable congregation is committed to the needs of people, especially those who are vulnerable and in need of hospitality. Israel was committed to and commanded by God to offer hospitality first of all to 14

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those who were widowed, the poor, the orphans, and the stranger. There are many others that we could add to this list. In the New Testament we are commanded to practice hospitality to each other.

The hospitable congregation is willing to go beyond its comfort zones. A white congregation and an African American congregation have built a relationship with each other. The two pastors are deeply committed to it and regularly meet together. Their hospitality to each other spills over into the life of their congregations. When the two choirs practice and sing together, they do something deliberately and intentionally hospitable that may seem artificial and uncomfortable at first. When their choirs sing together, they sit, one white person, one black person, one white person, one black person so that they would intentionally talk to each other. It may seem artificial, but it may help them open up to deeper hospitality to one another. Hospitality reduces the strangeness between people. Probably the place where we need to practice hospitality most within our respective roles is in how we talk about worship and how we talk with each other about worship. Listen for cues about that this weekend. What are the gracious words we can say to each other, and sometimes about each other and about different styles of worship.

When we extend hospitality to one another, the temperature of strangeness, loneliness and alienation between people is lowered. We were once aliens. We were strangers to grace. And now we have been brought close to God through Christ and he now calls us friends. For that reason, we offer hospitality to each other, and we create a welcome space for guests so they meet God and God in us. The hospitality we show is a reflection of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gracious character. Retrieved from http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/ resource-library/ hospitality-in-worship-a-reflection-of-god-sgracious-character/ May 29, 2014. 15

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WORSHIP RESOURCES

The following worship resources may be used for your Sunday or midweek meeting during Cultural Awareness Week. For Territorial and Divisional Headquarters, it could be used for your chapel service. Please feel free to adapt it according to the length of your service.

WORSHIP PROGRAM OUTLINE • Call to worship • Invocation • Song

• Testimony • Song

• Prayer of Confession

• Video

• Reading or Drama

• Song

• Scripture Reading • Sermon

• Final Song

• Benediction

WORSHIP SERVICE PROGRAM SAMPLE CALL TO WORSHIP

One: We gather to worship God,

All: who creates us and loves us;

One: who gifts us with diversity and makes us for community;

All: who gives Jesus Christ to show us how to live; 16

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One: who inspires children, youth, young adults and people of all ages,

All: to seek justice, share power, and live together in love and equality;

One: who invites us to join the struggle for wholeness and wellbeing for all, All: and whose presence, grace and love sustain us in our living.

One: We gather to worship God.

All: To God be all glory, honor and praise!

(Becoming the Beloved Community Resource Packet, Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Inc. Louisville, Kentucky) INVOCATION

God, our Creator, we worship and praise you for who you are. We come to you with thanksgiving for the richness of your diversity. God, you created us with diversity, and yet you created us with tender love. As we celebrate our diversity, help us Lord, to understand your divine purpose in making us different. Empower us to be instruments of unity and peace. May your Holy Spirit guide us so we fully understand that your peace is a gift from you to the church and the world. In the midst of diversity, help us remember that in Christ we are one. Help us also remember that your glory fades away where there is favoritism and discrimination. Help us remember that our identity is in Christ rather than in our differences. Lord God, we are your people, your different and diverse people, we ask your blessing upon our community, our church and our families. In Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

(Mennonite Church of Canada, Worship Resources â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Many Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sunday, May 5, 2013) 17

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SONG – “Come People of the Risen King” by Keith & Kristyn Getty

http://www.gettymusic.com/hymns-comepeople.aspx

TESTIMONY (Invite a person of a different race or culture to share how he or she has been embrace by your Corps) SONG – “Every One Belongs” by John van de Laar

http://sacredise.com/index.php?option=com_content&vie w=article&id=308:everyonebelongs&catid=13:egbl-pages PRAYER OF CONFESSION

“Extending the Invitation” by John van de Laar

Leader: Lord Jesus, it’s a shameful thing when you’ve set invitations to all who will come and we stand at the door and turn people away it’s shameful how we find ways to justify, in Your Name, the lines we draw between us, the exclusions and suspicions, the greed and power-plays, that harm the least, and protect our special interests.

All:

And so we pray: Lift us above our pettiness and self-protection, and use us as Your agents of justice and mercy; May Your grace open our doors, stretch out our arms and turn our attention to the excluded, rejected and neglected ones. May Your wisdom teach our minds, open our hearts and challenge our apathy to find solutions to the conflicts and self-created threats in our world. May Your love release our energies, ignite our abilities and inspire our action to heal those who carry the scars 18

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VIDEO

of abuse, war and disease, to comfort those who grieve the loss of loved ones or opportunities, to restore the ones who have failed or fallen, to nurture the life that breaks out in every person and every part of our planet. And make us heralds of Your kingdom who extend Your invitation to all who will listen. Amen.

READING by Scott Hawkins

Reader 1: Lord, it’s all changing. It’s happening so fast. It’s different, so different.

Reader 2: We know you said, “Go into all nations,” but this is different. Lord, you didn’t say you were going to send all the nations to us, did you? It was easy to send in our mission dollars so missionaries could go over there. But Lord, people from those nations are coming here into our towns. They are changing our schools. They are changing our grocery stores. They are changing our neighborhoods, and now they are joining us in our churches! Reader 3: They’re different from us. They look different. They speak a different language. They think about different things. 19

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Or are we the ones who are different? PAUSE

Reader 1: Lord, help us take off our self-centered glasses. Help us see other people from your perspective. Whether we are yellow or black, brown or white, remind us again that we’re all welcome and loved by you. Reader 2: Open our eyes to see your cross and then hear your words again.

Reader 4: Children, I forgive you for your selfishness, for your prejudice, for your lack of concern, for your human weaknesses. I love you and will always love you as much as I love all those people moving into your lives.

Reader 3: Fill my heart with your kindness and compassion, Lord. Let me see people with your eyes. Let me receive them as you receive them. May I serve and touch others as you touch me.

Scripture Reading from Isaiah 56:1-8 (NVI): This is what the LORD says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed. 2 Blessed is the one who does this—the person who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps their hands from doing any evil.” 3 Let no foreigner who is bound to the LORD say, “The LORD will surely exclude me from his people.” And let no eunuch complain, “I am only a dry tree.” 20

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4 For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant— 5 to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever. 6 And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant— 7 these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” 8 The Sovereign LORD declares—he who gathers the exiles of Israel: “I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.” Reader 1: Now it makes sense. People say that the world is shrinking. The nations are not just “over there.” I look and I see them, your creation, here on my doorstep— in my classes, in my group. Reader 2: If the schools can open their doors to all, if the grocery stores can open their shelves to all, if neighborhoods are opening their doors to all, then how much more will we open the doors of your church to accept one another!

All readers: For in Christ we are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. 21

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SONG “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” by Susan Boyle (solo) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGHOtR-v4yQ SCRIPTURE READING – 2 Corinthians 10:12-18 SERMON – “The Gospel of Christ Beyond Boundaries” FINAL SONG – “We Are Witnesses for Jesus” TSA Songbook #832 BENEDICTION

Our Father in heaven, as we get ready to leave this place of worship, we thank you for Jesus Christ, who is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. We are no longer strangers to each other. Regardless of any kind of diversity or difference, we are your many people. The world will know that you are in us, and that we are in you, as we love each other with pure hearts. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.

(Mennonite Church of Canada, Worship Resources – Many People’s Sunday, May 5, 2013)

WORSHIP

ADDITIONAL WORSHIP RESOURCES CALL TO WORSHIP

Psalm 117 1 Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. 2 For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.

SONGS:

“All Are Welcome” by Marty Haugen http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?p pn=MN0097548&ref=google “In Christ There Is No East or West” TSA Songbook #826

“Every Nation under Heaven” HC #194

“This Is My Song” (A Hymn for Peace) by Lloyd Stone https://prometheusli.com/musings/a_song_of_peace.htm “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” TSA Songbook #56. You may want to show the YouTube video clip of the story behind this hymn): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_UhtYhhDFI “Raise Up and Army” HC #39 “O, Church Arise” HC #202

“Don’t Laugh at Me” by Mark Wills http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/markwills/ dontlaughatme.html

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DRAMAS:

“Making the Call” (Crossing Boundaries) “Reaching Out” (Extending Borders)

“Like a Good Neighbor” (Embracing Others)

WORSHIP

MAKING THE CALL (Crossing Boundaries) by Martyn Scott Thomas

Topic: God’s call, Evangelism Scripture: Leviticus 19:18

Synopsis: A husband and wife try to work up the courage to invite a neighbor to church. Characters: Ronald Riley, Kathy Riley

Props/Costumes: Two chairs, a table and a phone (could be a cell phone). Casual dress. Setting: The Riley’s living room. Running time: 4 minutes

[Kathy is seated. Ronald is standing looking out the window at his neighbor.] Ronald: [disgusted] I don’t believe it. He’s at it again.

Kathy: [puzzled] Who’s at what again?

Ronald: Doug. He’s taking his garbage out.

Kathy: I would think that that’s a good thing.

Ronald: [looking at her, explaining] But he doesn’t cover his trash cans.

Kathy: And . . .

Ronald: And if he has food in there, that means the raccoons will have a field day. Kathy: So the raccoons eat his garbage; big deal.

Ronald: [getting a little agitated] It is a big deal. They don’t just eat his garbage. They tip his cans over and spread it all over my yard. 25

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Kathy: Is it really that difficult to pick up a little garbage?

Ronald: It’s a lot harder than putting lids on your trash cans. Kathy: Really, Ron. Don’t be such a baby.

Ronald: Me? A baby? Listen, I’m not the one who whines every time the leaves from our apple tree fall on his side of the fence.

Kathy: Well, you could trim it back a little. It does hang over.

Ronald: I don’t hear him complaining when he picks the apples off of it. Kathy: And I didn’t hear you complaining when Shirley brought over the pie she made with them.

Ronald: It wasn’t that good. I could only eat three pieces. Kathy: Poor baby.

Ronald: And don’t even get me started on his dogs.

Kathy: What’s wrong with his dogs? He keeps them in his yard. Besides, they’re cute.

Ronald: Cute? How is constant barking, cute? And I wouldn’t even call it barking. It’s more like yipping. [imitating the dogs] Yip! Yip! Yip!

Kathy: I thought you were going to try and get along with Doug. Ronald: Yeah, well . . .

Kathy: And I thought we were going to invite them to church with us. Ronald: That was your idea, not mine.

Kathy: Um, it was our idea, remember? We prayed for a 26

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week about our neighbors and Doug and Shirley were the ones who kept coming to mind.

Ronald: Only because he kept bugging me. He’s still never returned my hedge clippers. Kathy: That’s because they’re his hedge clippers. You borrowed them and didn’t return them for over a year. Ronald: [changing the subject] Yip! Yip! Yip!

Kathy: Stop it! I’m serious, the two of you need to put your pettiness aside and act like grown-ups. Ronald: I will when he does.

Kathy: That’s exactly what I’m talking about. [sternly] Ronald Riley, we’ve prayed about this and we’re going to invite them to church with us. Ronald: Fine. As soon as Christmas rolls around again.

Kathy: No. We’ll invite them this week. Now pick up the phone and give them a call. Ronald: Can’t we just throw some more apples in their yard? Kathy: Ronald . . .

Ronald: Okay. [picks up phone and dials] Yeah, Doug? This is Ron Riley from next door. [pause] No, I don’t need to borrow anything . . . [looks at Kathy and shrugs] we just wanted to invite you and Shirley to come to church with us this Sunday. Kathy: Well . . .

Ronald: [shushes her] No, it’s nothing special, it’s just that we thought you guys might enjoy some good Bible teaching . . . [retreating] not that we think you’re heathens or anything like that, I just thought that you’d . . . 27

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Kathy: Well . . .

Ronald: [shushes her] Yeah, well I see. No it’s no problem at all. [pause] Yeah, we’ll talk to you later. Kathy: Well?

Ronald: I don’t believe it.

Kathy: What? What did he say?

Ronald: He said they’d come. Now what do we do? [Blackout]

WORSHIP

REACHING OUT (Extending Borders) by Martyn Scott Thomas

Topic: Love; Do Good

Scripture: Luke 6:27-28

Synopsis: Two people discuss a community outreach program while ignoring the need right in front of them.

Characters: Penny – the organizer of a church outreach program, very outgoing. Sarah – her friend and reluctant helper.

Gus – a homeless man, dirty and disheveled. (Non speaking)

Props/Costumes: A bench or chairs to simulate a bus stop. Casual dress, including jackets for Penny and Sarah. A few dollar bills for Sarah. Ragged, dirty clothes and a piece of cardboard for Gus. A “Bus stop” graphic could be projected on an overhead screen. Setting: A city bus stop.

Running Time: 4 minutes. [Gus is sleeping on the ground, covered with a piece of cardboard. Penny and Sarah enter, stepping around and almost tripping over Gus.] Penny: [continuing a conversation, oblivious to Gus] . . . and you know, Sarah, we have one of the most giving congregations. Nearly everyone participates with our Helping Hand ministry. Sarah: I know, Penny. You tell me all the time. I just don’t think I’m the type of person to do that sort of thing. I’m not good around old people. 29

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Penny: Oh, it’s not just old people. We give a helping hand to all ages.

Sarah: [hesitantly] Well, I’m not good around young people . . . or middle-aged people, either. And I’m awful with babies.

Penny: That’s okay. We’ll team you up with an existing group. You can just watch what everyone else is doing and jump in when you’re ready. Sarah: But I don’t want to just stand around. I feel like I’ll be in the way. Penny: Nonsense. I’m sure you’ll feel right at home in no time. It really is a rewarding ministry. [Gus groans and readjusts his cardboard.]

Sarah: [glances down at Gus, then turns to Penny quickly] I hope that bus comes soon. So what types of things do you do?

Penny: Well, Helping Hands is all about helping. We visit nursing homes and read to the residents. We deliver canned goods to food pantries. We help serve holiday meals.

Sarah: But, I’m sure you have plenty of help all ready. You said that almost everyone from the church participates. [Gus groans again, a little louder.]

Penny: [ignoring Gus, looking for bus] They do, but we can always use more help. And I know you’d be perfect for this sort of thing. Sarah: I’m not sure what you’re seeing, because I’m just not that kind of person. I’m fine just keeping to myself.

Penny: Listen, when I first started coming to church, I kept to myself, too. 30

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Sarah: You? Really?

Penny: And then someone invited me to help serve Thanksgiving dinner, and well, look at me now. Sarah: But, that’s you. I’m not like you at all.

[Gus groans again and rolls over, readjusting his cardboard.]

Penny: [stepping away from Gus, getting antsy] Usually the bus is right on schedule. I don’t know what’s keeping it.

Sarah: I’m still pretty new at church. I mean, I’m just starting to attend a small group. Penny: See, you’re on your way.

Sarah: But, that’s at the Mitchell’s house. It’s definitely not a nursing home.

Penny: Listen, the next opportunity for Helping Hands is at the 5K run next Saturday. We’re handing out bottles of water at the finish line. You can handle passing out water, can’t you?

Sarah: Can’t I just buy the water, instead? Penny: Sarah, this is a great first step.

Sarah: I just don’t think I have what it takes to work one on one.

Penny: But it won’t be one on one. There will be plenty of us and lots of runners.

Sarah: But what if someone asks me something about what we’re doing? Penny: You’ll be fine.

[Gus groans again.]

Penny: Listen, I think we can catch a taxi around the corner. I don’t think the bus is coming. [grabs Sarah’s hand and 31

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heads off]

[Sarah waits a moment and then re-enters, takes off her coat and lays it on Gus, then pulls out a few dollar bills and stuffs them into Gusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hand.] Sarah: [exiting, calling to Penny] Hey, wait up!

[Blackout]

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LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR (Embracing Others) by Martyn Scott Thomas

Topic: Love for others

Scripture: Luke 10:29b-37 (NLT)

Synopsis: Two people narrate and discuss the story of the Good Samaritan.

Characters: Reader 1, Reader 2

Props/Costumes: Two music stands Setting: Bare stage.

Running Time: 4 minutes.

[The readers should have scripts on music stands and face the congregation, narrating the story.] Reader 1: “And who is my neighbor?”

Reader 2: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, Reader 1: and he was attacked by bandits.

Reader 2: They stripped him of his clothes, Reader 1: beat him up,

Reader 2: and left him half dead beside the road.” Reader 1: [to Reader 2] That wasn’t very nice.

Reader 2: [to Reader 1] Well, they were bandits. Reader 1: I guess you’re right.

Reader 2: Can we continue?

Reader 1: [to Congregation] “By chance a priest came along. 33

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Reader 2: [to Reader 1] Oh, good.

Reader 1: [to Congregation] But when he saw the man lying there, Reader 2: [to Reader 1] Wait, did you say, “but?”

Reader 1: [to Congregation] he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. Reader 2: [to Reader 1] I think you read that wrong.

Reader 1: [to Reader 2] No, I’m pretty sure I read it right. Reader 2: But he was a priest.

Reader 1: I know, but maybe he was busy.

Reader 2: But he should’ve helped.

Reader 1: But he didn’t.

Reader 2: But he should have.

Reader 1: I’m just reading what’s here. Reader 2: Okay. Please continue.

Reader 1: [to Congregation] A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there,

Reader 2: [to Reader 1] Please tell me he helped.

Reader 1: [to Congregation] but he also passed by on the other side. Reader 2: [to Reader 1] Not again. Reader 1: [to Reader 2] Sorry.

Reader 2: Wasn’t the man who was attacked a Jew?

Reader 1: Yes, he was.

Reader 2: So weren’t the priest and the Temple assistant his neighbors? 34

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Reader 1: Yes, they were.

Reader 2: Then they should’ve helped him.

Reader 1: I agree. But as I said before, they didn’t.

Reader 2: Then who’s going to help him? Reader 1: Well, let’s keep reading.

Reader 2: Okay. I hope someone comes along soon.

Reader 1: [to Congregation] “Then a despised Samaritan came along, Reader 2: [to Player 1] Define “despised.”

Reader 1: [to Player 2] Well, the Jews pretty much hated the Samaritans. Reader 2: Hated?

Reader 1: Bitter enemies.

Reader 2: Oh, this isn’t good.

Reader 1: [to Congregation] and when he saw the man, [pause] he felt compassion for him.

Reader 2: [to Reader 1] Wait, what?

Reader 1: [to Reader 2] It says, “he felt compassion for him.” Reader 2: How is that possible? Reader 1: What do you mean?

Reader 2: You said the Jews hated the Samaritans. Reader 1: They did.

Reader 2: You said they were bitter enemies. Reader 1: They were.

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Reader 2: Well, let’s keep reading. Maybe “compassion” meant something else back then.

Reader 1: [to Congregation] Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them.

Reader 2: [to Congregation] Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, Reader 1: where he took care of him.

Reader 2: The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him,

Reader 1: ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, Reader 2: I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’

Reader 1: [to Reader 2] “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Reader 2: [to Reader 1] Well, the last one, of course. Reader 1: Right.

Reader 2: But I don’t get it.

Reader 1: What’s to get. The neighbor is the one that helped.

Reader 2: I know, but the one that helped really wasn’t the man’s neighbor. Reader 1: Sure he was.

Reader 2: But the man was a Jew. The priest and the Temple assistant were his neighbors. Reader 1: Apparently in name only.

Reader 2: And the man who helped was a Samaritan; his bitter enemy. 36

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Reader 1: I guess that is kind of strange.

Reader 2: So does that mean that anybody can be my neighbor? Reader 1: I guess it does.

Reader 2: Even if they’re my bitter enemy? Reader 1: I guess so.

Reader 2: What if they’re not like me?

Reader 1: They can still be your neighbor.

Reader 2: What if they speak a different language than me?

Reader 1: Neighbor.

Reader 2: Different color? Reader 1: Neighbor.

Reader 2: What if they eat different foods? Reader 1: Neighbor.

Reader 2: Short? Skinny? Glasses?

Reader 1: Neighbor. Neighbor. Neighbor.

Reader 2: And they’re going to help me?

Reader 1: More importantly, you need to help them. Reader 2: Wait, what?

Reader 1: You need to help them.

Reader 2: All of them?

Reader 1: Yep.

Reader 2: Like we’re all one big family? Reader 1: Ideally.

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Reader 2: That could be hard. Reader 1: Very hard.

Reader 2: Then why?

Reader 1: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Reader 2: That’s a lot of love.

Reader 1: I know.

Reader 2: I don’t know if I can do that. Reader 1: You can.

Reader 2: Are you sure?

Reader 1: Yes, I am. And I’ll help.

Reader 2: Thanks. So are we done?

Reader 1: No, we have to finish the story. Reader 2: What’s left?

Reader 1: [points to script] Reader 2: Oh, yeah.

Readers: [to Congregation, together] “Now go and do the same.” [Blackout]

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• SERMON: The Gospel of Christ beyond boundaries • BIBLICAL TEXT: 2 Corinthians 10:12-18

• PROPOSAL: A call for a sincere commitment to preach the Gospel of Christ.

• QUESTION: What should we do, as Christians, when we face opposition and obstacles to preach the Gospel of Christ?

• TRANSITION: In 2 Corinthians 10:12-18 we find three actions to preach the Gospel of Christ beyond the boundaries

SERMON OUTLINE A. ILLUSTRATION

a. “Go for souls and go for the worst.” General William Booth

INTRODUCTION

a. Opposition to preach the Gospel of Christ beyond

b. Human comparisons to disqualify others

c. Boast of work others performed

d. The spiritual success of the church is to “go beyond” the ordinary

“Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9-10, NIV).

B. SERMON

THREE ACTIONS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST BEYOND BOUNDARIES

1. We must cross our boundaries to preach the Gospel of Christ a. 2 Corinthians 10:12-13 b. 2 Timothy 4:2

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2. We must extend our borders to spread the Gospel of Christ a. 2 Corinthians 10:14-15 b. Galatians 2:8

c. 1 Chronicles 4:10

3. We must embrace others with the Gospel of Christ for his glory a. 2 Corinthians 10:16-18 b. Romans 15:20 c. Jeremiah 9:24

CONCLUSION

a. 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 b. Romans 10:14-15

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only reassuring response for the restless heart.

The beautiful truth of the Gospel of Christ is that it changes everything.

Let’s preach the Gospel of Christ beyond boundaries. Amen

The Holy Spirit makes the church go “beyond boundaries.”

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FULL SERMON

THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST BEYOND BOUNDARIES

A call for a sincere commitment to preach the Gospel of Christ 2 Corinthians 10:12-18 (NIV)

“12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond proper boundaries, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. 14 We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the Gospel of Christ. 15 Neither do we go beyond our boundaries by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the Gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. 17 But, ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’ 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”

ILLUSTRATION

General William Booth, founder of our Salvation Army, went beyond the boundaries in his commitment to help the needy. William Booth’s motto was “Go for souls and go for the worst.” With a passionate speech and a militant faith he marched to the beat of drums and trumpets to the worst neighborhoods in the cities of England looking for the alcoholics, the prostitutes, the oppressed, the abused, and the poor. All of them found hope under the flag of the Salvation Army. 41

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The Victorian England of 1865 was the most rich and powerful nation in the world. But London had the most incredible slums we can imagine. The so-called “East London” was a labyrinth of poverty, misery, corruption, alcoholism, and prostitution. Waste water and rats could be seen everywhere. Diseases and death were dreadfully familiar. Cholera had attacked three times since 1832. Many British factories treated their employees as slaves. In a case investigated by the Salvation Army, a mother and her two nine year old children worked sixteen hours per day to be able to take home pitiful earnings. They worked non-stop and took their ration of bread while working.

The trafficking of prostitutes was extremely lucrative. The virgins, called “fresh girls,” provided the greatest profits. The most common lure was to announce through the newspapers the need for country girls for domestic work in the city. When the girls showed up looking for those jobs, they were kidnapped, raped, and kept as prisoners in brothels.

Such vile conditions convinced Booth that God wanted him to go “beyond” in his work for those people. Therefore, for 47 years he crossed all types of boundaries, and extended his borders looking for the worst. Only in that way was he able to reach souls with God’s Word. He was often insulted, threatened, and stoned for his Christian service, but nothing stopped him from going beyond those boundaries in his ministry and speaking of Christ to the so called “worst” in the cities. William Booth wrote: “Some men's ambition is art. Some men's ambition is fame. Some men's ambition is gold. My ambition is the souls of men” (1 Corinthians 9:22).

INTRODUCTION

Since the time of Jesus, throughout the ministry of his disciples and apostles, and up to our time, the church itself and 42

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religious leaders often have stood in opposition to sharing the Gospel of Christ. Plots, false accusations, envy, persecution, torture and death are the price disciples and apostles, as well as Jesus Christ himself, paid for preaching the forgiveness of sins, salvation, and sanctity for the lost and the sinners.

Those religious leaders (High priests, scribes, Pharisees, etc.) who taught in the synagogues, presided over the ceremonies in the Temple, and led the Sanhedrin credited themselves with the right to decide who could be called a child of God and who should be granted the forgiveness of sins. Greeks, Gentiles, Samaritans, tax collectors, lepers, and prostitutes were some of those who were not worthy to be part of God’s people, and besides, nobody had the authority other than the religious leaders to embrace them with God’s Word, love, and mercy.

What a great injustice was committed by those religious leaders because they assumed and manipulated the knowledge of God and his law to “stop” the redeeming work of the Gospel of Christ to all. But one day, the Lord Jesus, in front of a scene of false judgment and injustice, spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9-10, NIV). In other words, in this text, God is telling Paul: “Don’t stop; you must go beyond so that the field of action among all of you is greatly widened.”

In the selected Scripture for this sermon, 2 Corinthians, chapter 10, verses 12 to 18, the apostle Paul tries to prevent the Corinthian church from dividing due to the influence of false doctrines. It is for this reason that he faces harsh opposition, criticism, accusations, disqualification, and obstacles from those false apostles. 43

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The Judaizers came boasting of work they never did. Those false apostles compared themselves with themselves, assumed all moral and spiritual authority, and took credit for the establishment of the work in Corinth when the real founder was Paul. These false teachers were members of a “mutual admiration society” since they compared themselves with themselves and, therefore, had an exaggerated concept of themselves. This attitude was linked to an extreme religious pride based on Phariseeism in the New Testament. With their attitude, they demonstrated a type of “patriotism” that opposed the message of reconciliation and service to God in Corinth and other regions beyond.

These false leaders didn’t approve of Paul and his disciples carrying the Gospel of Christ to other regions, but Paul’s common practice was to take the Gospel to where nobody had gone before. After reflecting upon and considering his call and commitment to the work of Christ, Paul answers the false apostles with a clear and straightforward appeal about his true purpose and motivation that inspired him to preach the Gospel of Christ: salvation is available to all. The truth is that God loves all peoples and wants to pour over them his forgiveness and mercy.

Paul’s call to go “beyond” relates to the continuous work of taking the Gospel to the entire world. Paul’s words about preaching the Gospel in “other places far beyond you” (NLT) reveal he was never satisfied with reserving the message for the benefit of the Christian community, including the religious leaders. The message in 2 Corinthians chapter 10 is an appeal to the detractors of the Gospel who were in the church of Corinth. It clearly states what the true motives for the ministry must be: loyalty and love. Paul, with his ardent zeal for God’s work, defends and proclaims the mandate given clearly to the church of Christ: “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19); 44

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“preach the Gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15); “repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his [Jesus’] name” (Luke 24:47); “as the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21); “you will be my witnesses [...] to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

It is difficult to understand that the religious leaders themselves opposed the great commission. Paul knew that when the mandate was wholly obeyed, the promise would be totally fulfilled. The church and the pastors, and in our case, Salvation Army officers, have the responsibility to be instruments through which God extends his Gospel; therefore, it is important to examine the true motives of serving the Lord in his church.

The spiritual secret of an abundant life within the church is to “go beyond” the ordinary, never accepting a routine and inactive life in our roles as pastors, leaders and members. We all have a call to share the Gospel of Christ, and in order to fulfill it we must cross all types of boundaries to reach this purpose.

This experience and lesson from Paul alerts us to the obstacles and challenges that sometimes arise from the church itself when we share the Gospel of Christ, and how these contradict the mission that the Gospel changes and transforms a world of wickedness and selfishness.

SERMON

What should we do as Christians when we face opposition and obstacles to preaching the Gospel of Christ? As Christians, we must assume three actions to go beyond the boundaries and fulfill the great commission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). “We must cross our boundaries, extend our borders and 45

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embrace others with the Gospel of Christ for his glory.”

1. WE MUST CROSS OUR BOUNDARIES TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST (verses 12-13, NIV).

The Bible speaks of men and women who defeated all types of limitations and changed their destiny with the purpose of obeying God’s call to them.

In this passage, Paul responds to the criticism and opposition of other leaders of the church in Corinth. They judged Paul for his physical appearance, his past, his lack of knowledge, and for his work as a follower of Christ. The leaders claimed that Paul had no authority or legitimacy to say he was the founder of the church in Corinth, which was going through a crisis at that time. The leaders compared themselves with themselves, claiming they were better than Paul and his disciples.

Paul criticizes this type of attitude in Galatians 6:3-4 (NIV): “If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.”

Besides, these false apostles attributed the growth of the church to themselves and were not interested in preaching the Gospel in other regions. Reality was that the false apostles had clearly exceeded their boundaries in order to overstep and nullify Paul’s work. By entering the church in Corinth as intruders, the false 46

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apostles had crossed Paul’s boundary, which was the boundary God had determined for him. God had brought him to the Corinthians as their genuine apostle. By contrast, Paul has no intention of invading the territory marked for others and claim their work as his own, as those false teachers were doing.

Paul knew very well his mission and his call, too. He had the power that came from God to surpass the boundary that came from criticism and opposition, so he replies: “We, however, will not boast beyond proper boundaries, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you.”

As a leader, Paul was very sure of “the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us” and this was outside the church, where the lost were. These false apostles declared themselves enemies of Paul’s ministry, but Paul still demonstrated love for them and the true nature of his calling to them, just as Christ speaks about in Matthew 5:43-48, NIV: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

As with Paul’s experience, what are those “boundaries” that prevent us from fulfilling the great commission to make disciples for Christ through evangelism? What are those boundaries that prevent us from loving our neighbor? In Luke 10:25-37 there is a wonderful truth, an eternal teaching that can help us see more clearly the value of going beyond the boundaries to spread God’s message. It is the 47

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Good Samaritan parable, taught by Jesus to an expert in the law who tried to test him by asking: “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Then Jesus replied: “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And the man cited: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Then Jesus replied: “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.” But the expert in the law wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Instead of getting involved in abstract terms, Jesus presented a teaching about the true responsibility of being a servant of God, presenting it by way of a parable. When the teaching was over, the scholar understood that “our neighbor is everyone who needs us, anyone we can help.” According to Jesus’ parable, the expert in the law treated the wounded man as a topic for discussion; the robbers, as an exploitation object; the priests, as a problem to be avoided; and the Levite, as a curious object. Only the Samaritan treated him as a person who should be loved. Finally, the expert in the law acknowledged that the hero in the story was the Samaritan who took care of the Jew, because the priest and the Levite, who were the religion professionals, did nothing to help the Jew.

Today, the church also wastes time in discussions and excuses when it’s time to go beyond the boundaries to demonstrate Christ’s love to the forgotten, the lost, and the helpless. If we cannot follow the most important of the commandments, to “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Mark 12:28–34), how can we boast of our spiritual authority within the church, showing love for the one who is out there, and enslaved by Satan? Paul, just like Jesus, knew very well that the accusations of those false apostles would never prevent him from spreading the truth of the Gospel of Christ. Paul didn’t give 48

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in to the boundaries of criticism, lack of support, false judgment, comparisons, obstacles, etc.

Paul gets to the core of the problem for the Corinthians: the real purpose of those false apostles was to teach false doctrines, and of course, this was not for the spiritual benefit of the Corinthians or the other regions where they wanted to expand their sphere of influence, invading others’ territory with their false teachings.

That is why Paul had to act quickly, with perseverance and authority. In 2 Timothy 4:2, he says, “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage— with great patience and careful instruction.” Paul understood that it was most appropriate to encourage them and stay away from them. Romans 16:17 (NIV) states “I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.” One of the greatest tragedies of religious prejudice is that it separates us from those who could eventually be in need. Christ has come to break all types of separation among human beings.

If we are truly intentional in spreading the Gospel of Christ, we must go beyond all types of boundaries. Those boundaries are there to prevent the advance of the Gospel, but we must go forward and cross them to spread the Gospel of Christ. If we don’t go beyond the boundaries to share the Gospel of Christ, Satan will do his job, reaching those places to kill, rob, and destroy.

When we compare ourselves with others we may feel proud because we think we are better, but when we measure ourselves against God’s guidelines, it becomes obvious that we are not good enough. Don’t worry about the achievement of others; on the contrary, ask yourself constantly, how does my life fit with what God wants? In what way is my life comparable to Jesus Christ’s? 49

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2. WE MUST EXTEND OUR BORDERS TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST (verses 14-15).

“14 We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the Gospel of Christ. 15 Neither do we go beyond our boundaries by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand.”

Paul would not give up. God’s call to him as representative to the Gentiles still included the church in Corinth, but also, that authority did not get him involved nor in the way of other people’s work. Galatians 2:8: “For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles.”

Paul’s attitude was extraordinary as he responded with humility and strength to the false leaders: “we did get as far as you with the Gospel of Christ.” This proves God had legitimized Paul’s commission, producing fruit in Corinth. This is the privilege granted to us when we extend our borders with the Gospel of Christ. But the false teachers wanted the credit for themselves. On the contrary, Paul did recognize the work of others within the church, “Neither do we go beyond our boundaries by boasting of work done by others.” In order to extend our borders spreading the Gospel of Christ, we must leave aside all selfishness and recognize and value the work of everyone in the church.

There are occasions when the internal challenges of the church help us to be conscious of the boundaries of evangelism. Some people give up and accept the NO imposed upon them by reality; but for others, the boundaries help them recognize they must use other resources and strategies to reach their goals, just as Paul did. In our times, the church faces the challenge to enlarge its territory. Today the church seems to be confined within its 50

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own borders, ignoring that God gives us a particular area of ministry beyond, as were Corinth, Rome, and other regions to Paul. God has assigned each one of us to a particular area of ministry in a given time. Observe what Paul wrote in verse 14: “We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the Gospel of Christ.”

Additionally, when God gives us a particular area of ministry, we must finish the work in that territory. For example, when Paul met with the elders of the church in Ephesus to say goodbye (Acts 20:17), he told them: “For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God”(Acts 20:27). Even though Paul said this to the church in Ephesus, he could have said the same to all the churches he had founded, including the church in Corinth. Paul planted humbly and with “many tears,” but he never ran away, he never gave up. The message of salvation was too important, so he didn’t miss any occasion to announce it. Also, he preached the message in different ways and to different audiences, although the message remained unchanged: repent of your sins and turn to God in faith.

The Christian life will have difficult moments, tears and joys, but we must always be ready to tell others the beautiful things God has done on our behalf. His blessings lighten the weight of life’s difficulties. The path of the believer is not easy. To be a Christian does not deliver us from all problems. Paul didn’t do anything in secret; everybody knew his message and his methods. He served the Lord, not man. He was a humble leader, not a proud dictator. He knew what it was to water with tears the seed of the Word (Acts 20:19, 31). Paul preached God’s advice publicly and house to house. He preached to all people and exalted Jesus Christ. This is the model today’s pastors must follow. The church and its leaders must prevent falling in the “comfort zone” within the ministry; on the contrary, they 51

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must extend their borders with the Gospel of Christ.

ILLUSTRATION

The corps officer had preached an impressive sermon about the work of winning souls. After this, a local officer approached him and said: “I’m old and somewhat sick and I have to work at home repairing watches from very early in the morning to very late at night. What time do I have left to win souls?” The pastor looked at him with kindness and replied, “Who brings you the milk?” He answered, “The milkman.” The pastor asked, “Who brings you the mail?” He replied, “The mailman.” The pastor, smiling, looked at him and said, “Brother, may God help you.”

The local officer went home, and since it was night already, he went to bed, but couldn’t sleep nor forget the words of his corps officer, and thought about his duty to win souls. The next morning he got up earlier than usual and did not leave out the empty milk bottle. When the milkman came and did not see the bottle, he knocked at the door, the local officer came out and with a shaky voice told the milkman, “Please listen to me for a moment, I want to ask you something: have you ever thought of where you’ll go when you die?” The milkman looked at him anxiously and replied, “That question has been disturbing me for the past two weeks.” The local officer said, “Come in and I will tell you something about that.”

In that place and moment, the local officer introduced the milkman to Christ, and he accepted Christ as his Savior. In the short span of a year, that local officer helped twenty-six people to accept Lord Jesus as their personal Savior.

There are no boundaries to presenting Christ to the lost, we must only decide to expand our borders and make no excuses so his Gospel can be preached to all, and in all the regions beyond us. 52

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In 1 Chronicles 4:10 we find the powerful prayer of a man who wanted to do something extraordinary with his life. “Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.’”

Jabez is remembered for a prayer request more than for a heroic act. In his prayer, Jabez acknowledged God as the true center of his life. When we pray for God’s blessing, we must also ask him to take his legitimate position as Lord over our life, our family, our work, and our ministry. Obeying him in the daily responsibilities is a sign of faithfulness.

“To expand our borders” is a vital decision to expanding God’s kingdom on earth. As Christians we face challenges when we must fulfill our spiritual responsibilities, and at the same time we don’t feel committed to complete obedience to the commandments God has given us, especially to the call to spread his Gospel. Let’s not wait for Satan to take the lead to go beyond our borders and to win the battle to destroy God’s people.

There are two types of Christians: Those who say “I can’t” and those who say, “Why wouldn’t I be able to...?” Can you enlarge your territory? Your territory can be your family, your neighborhood, your workplace, your ministry, your city, your college or university, etc. 3. WE MUST EMBRACE OTHERS WITH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST FOR HIS GLORY! (verses 16-18)

“16 so that we can preach the Gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. 17 But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” 53

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God gave Paul a particular field of ministry, which he completed, and afterwards he moved on to “preach the Gospel in the regions beyond” and to embrace others with the good news of salvation (v. 16). While the false apostles shrouded themselves with their own arguments, Paul was determined to continue his work to embrace others.

Paul suggested to the Corinthians his presence was not necessary there because their faith had grown. It was the time for Paul to expand his ministry to other regions, like Rome, as he had indicated in Acts 19:21: “After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. ‘After I have been there,’ he said, ‘I must visit Rome also.’”

As founder of churches, the apostle Paul did not stay longer than was necessary. He left Corinth after staying for a year and a half of faithful service to go to another place. In verse 16, Paul reveals two weak topics that are often observed when preaching the Gospel: first, the tendency of the religious leaders to compete among themselves, and, second, the tendency to take advantage of the ministry work others have done beforehand.

It’s really easy to take the Gospel of Christ where the price of evangelism has already been paid. But, Paul says, where were those “great teachers” when I risked my life to start the church in Corinth? Anyone can come after the hard work has been done, criticize the founder and receive all the glory! Paul had put as much effort as he could to reach the people in Corinth with the Gospel of Christ, and he hoped to get help from them to take the Gospel “in the regions beyond.”

Paul was not afraid to embrace the greatest tasks; God had called him to work without caring for the dangers awaiting him. He went to places where people were hostile to the Gospel. Paul endured hardship and many other pains inflicted upon his body. He was stoned, jailed, and flogged. 54

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The Judaizers came and boasted of work they never did. Paul’s custom was to take the Gospel where nobody else had gone before; Romans 15:20: “It has always been my ambition to preach the Gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.” But the Judaizers custom was to invade someone else’s territory and take over the work that had already been done, and even destroy it with their false doctrines, double standards, and false spirituality.

When we do something right we want to tell others in order to receive recognition. But recognition is dangerous, it can inflame our pride. It is much better to seek God’s approval before that of men. Then, when we are taken into account, we are free to give honor to God. Paul was wise enough to leave the matter of praise to God alone. In verse 17, he makes a reference to Jeremiah 9:24: “‘Let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the LORD.”

After all, it is the Lord who gives us the grace so we can serve him, and only he knows our hearts and motives. The apostle Paul was willing to wait for God’s “well done!” And we must do so, too.

Paul yearned to embrace others with the Word and the love of Christ. He had experienced the blessing to see Gentiles and Greeks transformed by the Gospel of Christ. That was his life’s purpose: to embrace others. That is why the personal, cultural, and geographical barriers were not an obstacle for him. During that time of criticism, instead of giving up, Paul makes clear his desire to establish more churches, and that those churches would contribute to each other to strengthen Christ’s work in the area.

Embracing others with the Gospel of Christ starts by accepting that all we do is for God’s glory and honor. We do 55

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not expect benefits or recognition.

In Matthew 19:16-22, a rich, young man came up to Jesus and asked: “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” Jesus replied: “If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” The young man said he had kept all since he was a youngster, then, what else could he be lacking? So Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and then come, follow me.” After those words, the young man went away, sad because he had great wealth. This young man had “boundaries” to “embracing others” and following Christ. In this parable we can find various boundaries to embracing others with the Gospel of Christ and for his glory, beyond our regions: • The boundary of comfort and greed

• The boundary of compliance and routine • The boundary of the past and the guilt

• The boundary of criticism and opposition

• The boundary of mistrust and fear of the unknown

• The boundary of prejudice

• The boundary of fear of failure

It is time we adopt grace by embracing what is difficult to love.

“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:7-8)

Malachi the prophet said, “You will see it with your own eyes and say, ‘Great is the Lord—even beyond the borders of Israel!’” (1:5).

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ILLUSTRATION

Richard Baxter, a sixteenth century protestant theologian and writer, said this about those who preach the Gospel of Christ.

We must preach with dedication. “Whatever you do, let people see you have great dedication. You cannot break the hearts of men by laughing with them or telling them a fascinating tale or saying a sumptuous prayer. They will not discard their dearest pleasures for an indifferent plea of someone who doesn’t seem to act what they preach or worry if their petition was approved or denied.”

We must preach with our lives. “Oh, gentlemen, we must give a message so clear, so close, so delivered as our moment, when the eternal life or eternal death of our compatriots is involved!" There is nothing more unworthy of such business than to be apathetic and bored. What?! To speak coldly of God and of the salvation of man? Can we believe our people must be converted or sentenced, and speak in a monotonous tone? In the name of God, strive to awaken your hearts before you ascend to the pulpit, so that you are ready to awaken the hearts of sinners. Oh, do not say a cold or unimportant word about such great topics as are heaven or hell. Whatever it is, get people to see your great commitment and seriousness. A sermon filled with empty words, however beautiful it is composed, if it is missing any light of evidence and a life of zeal, is only a picture or a stylish corpse.”

CONCLUSION

The Lord has spoken clearly on the mission of the church: Christians must assume three actions to go beyond the boundaries and fulfill the great commission to preach the Gospel of Christ: We must go beyond our boundaries, we must extend our borders and we must embrace others with the Gospel of Christ for his glory! 57

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God’s work involves many individuals with a variety of gifts and abilities. There are no superstars in this task, only team members who perform their specific duties. We become useful members of God’s team when we put aside our desire to receive glory for what we do. Praise that comes from people is comparatively worthless; it is God’s approval that matters.

First Corinthians 3:5-9 (NIV): “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

Paul founded the church in Corinth and Apollos built on that foundation. Tragically, the believers at Corinth had divided into groups, offering loyalty to different false apostles.

After the work of the preachers has been completed, God continues making the Christians grow. Our leaders, certainly, should be respected. But, we must never place them on pedestals creating barriers between the people or lift them up as substitutes of Christ.

As ambassadors of the message of Christ, we must understand that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only reassuring response for the anxious and restless heart. Also, the beautiful truth of the Gospel of Christ is that it changes everything. Romans 10:14-15: “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are 58

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sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Let’s preach the Gospel of Christ beyond boundaries.

The Holy Spirit makes the church go “beyond boundaries.” Amen.

CONDENSED SERMON

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THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST BEYOND BOUNDARIES

A call for a sincere commitment to preach the Gospel of Christ 2 Corinthians 10:12-18 (NIV)

ILLUSTRATION

The so-called “East London” was a labyrinth of poverty, misery, corruption, alcoholism, and prostitution. Many British factories treated their employees as slaves. Such vile conditions convinced Booth that God wanted him to go “beyond” in his work for those people. Therefore, for 47 years he crossed all types of boundaries, and extended his borders looking for the worst. Only in that way was he able to reach souls with God’s Word. He was often insulted, threatened, and stoned for his Christian service, but nothing stopped him from going beyond those boundaries in his ministry and speaking of Christ to the so called “worst” in the cities. William Booth wrote: “Some men's ambition is art. Some men's ambition is fame. Some men's ambition is gold. My ambition is the souls of men” (1 Corinthians 9:22).

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INTRODUCTION

Since the time of Jesus, throughout the ministry of his disciples and apostles, and up to our time, the church itself and religious leaders often have stood in opposition to sharing the Gospel of Christ. Plots, false accusations, envy, persecution, torture and death are the price disciples and apostles, as well as Jesus Christ himself, paid for preaching the forgiveness of sins, salvation, and sanctity for the lost and the sinners.

What a great injustice was committed by those religious leaders because they assumed and manipulated the knowledge of God and his law to “stop” the redeeming work of the Gospel of Christ to all.

But one day, the Lord Jesus, in front of a scene of false judgment and injustice, spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9-10, NIV). In other words, in this text, God is telling Paul: “Don’t stop; you must go beyond so that the field of action among all of you is greatly widened.” In the selected Scripture for this sermon, 2 Corinthians, chapter 10, verses 12 to 18, the apostle Paul tries to prevent the Corinthian church from dividing due to the influence of 61

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false doctrines. It is for this reason that he faces harsh opposition, criticism, accusations, disqualification, and obstacles from those false apostles.

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Paul, with his ardent zeal for God’s work, defends and proclaims the mandate given clearly to the church of Christ: “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19); “preach the Gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15); “repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his [Jesus’] name” (Luke 24:47). It is difficult to understand that the religious leaders themselves opposed the great commission. The church is responsible and the pastors are the tools through which God elevates his Gospel; therefore, it is important to examine the true motives for serving the Lord in his church.

The spiritual secret of an abundant life within the church is to “go beyond” the ordinary, never accepting a routine and inactive life in our roles as pastors, leaders and members. This experience and lesson from Paul alerts us to the obstacles and challenges that sometimes arise from the church itself when we share the Gospel of Christ, and how these contradict the mission that the Gospel changes and transforms a world of wickedness and selfishness.

SERMON

The question arises: What should we do as Christians when we face opposition and obstacles to preaching the Gospel of Christ? As Christians, we must assume three actions to go beyond the boundaries and fulfill the great commission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). 1. WE MUST CROSS OUR BOUNDARIES TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST (verses 12-13, NIV).

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claimed that Paul had no authority or legitimacy to say he was the founder of the church in Corinth, which was going through a crisis at that time.

By entering the church in Corinth as intruders, the false apostles had crossed Paul’s boundary, which was the boundary God had determined for him. God had brought him to the Corinthians as their genuine apostle.

Paul had the power that came from God to surpass the boundary that came from criticism and opposition, so he replies: “We, however, will not boast beyond proper boundaries, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you.”

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In Luke 10:25-37 there is a wonderful truth, an eternal teaching that can help us see more clearly the value of going beyond the boundaries to spread God’s message. It is the Good Samaritan parable, taught by Jesus to an expert in the law who tried to test him by asking: “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Then Jesus replied: “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And the man cited: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Then Jesus replied: “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.” But the expert in the law wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Instead of getting involved in abstract terms, Jesus presented a teaching about the true responsibility of being a servant of God, presenting it by way of a parable. When the teaching was over, the scholar understood that “our neighbor is everyone who needs us, anyone we can help.”

According to Jesus’ parable, the expert in the law treated the wounded man as a topic for discussion; the robbers, as an exploitation object; the priests, as a problem to be avoided; and the Levite, as a curious object. Only the Samaritan treated him as a person who should be loved.

If we cannot follow the most important of the commandments, to “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Mark 12:28–34), how can we boast of our spiritual authority within the church, showing love for the one who is out there, and enslaved by Satan?

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with their false teachings.

In order to extend our borders spreading the Gospel of Christ, we must leave aside all selfishness and recognize and value the work of everyone in the church. In our times, the church faces the challenge to enlarge its territory. 66

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Additionally, when God gives us a particular area of ministry, we must finish the work in that territory. For example, when Paul met with the elders of the church in Ephesus to say goodbye (Acts 20:17). Even though Paul said this to the church in Ephesus, he could have said the same to all the churches he had founded, including the church in Corinth. Paul planted humbly and with “many tears,” but he never ran away, he never gave up. The message of salvation was too important, so he didn’t miss any occasion to announce it.

Paul didn’t do anything in secret; everybody knew his message and his methods. He served the Lord, not man. He was a humble leader, not a proud dictator. He knew what it was to water with tears the seed of the Word (Acts 20:19, 31). Paul preached God’s advice publicly and house to house. He preached to all people and exalted Jesus Christ. This is the model for the church and its leaders to prevent falling in the “comfort zone” within the ministry; on the contrary, they must extend their borders with the Gospel of Christ.

In his prayer, Jabez acknowledged God as the true center of his life. When we pray for God’s blessing, we must also ask him to take his legitimate position as Lord over our life, our family, our work, and our ministry.

“To expand our borders” is a vital decision to expanding God’s kingdom on earth. Let’s not wait for Satan to take the lead to go beyond our borders and to win the battle to destroy God’s people. Can you enlarge your territory? Your territory can be your family, your neighborhood, your workplace, your ministry, your city, your college or university, etc. 67

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3. WE MUST EMBRACE OTHERS WITH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST FOR HIS GLORY! (verses 16-18)

Paul suggested to the Corinthians his presence was not necessary there because their faith had grown. It was the time for Paul to expand his ministry to other regions, like Rome, as he had indicated in Acts 19:21. In verse 16, Paul reveals two weak topics that are often observed when preaching the Gospel: first, the tendency of the religious leaders to compete among themselves, and, second, the tendency to take advantage of the ministry work others have done beforehand.

Paul’s custom was to take the Gospel where nobody else had gone before (Romans 15:20), but the Judaizers custom was to invade someone else’s territory and take over the work that had already been done, and even destroy it with their false doctrines, double standards, and false spirituality. Paul was wise enough to leave the matter of praise to God 68

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alone. In verse 17, he makes a reference to Jeremiah 9:24: “‘Let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the LORD.”

The apostle Paul was willing to wait for God’s “well done!” And we must do so, too. Paul yearned to embrace others with the Word and the love of Christ. He had experienced the blessing to see Gentiles and Greeks transformed by the Gospel of Christ. That was his life’s purpose: to embrace others. That is why the personal, cultural, and geographical barriers were not an obstacle for him. During that time of criticism, instead of giving up, Paul makes clear his desire to establish more churches, and that those churches would contribute to each other to strengthen Christ’s work in the area.

Embracing others with the Gospel of Christ starts by accepting that all we do is for God’s glory and honor. We do not expect benefits or recognition.

Malachi the prophet said, “You will see it with your own eyes and say, ‘Great is the Lord—even beyond the borders of Israel!’” (1:5).

CONCLUSION

God’s work involves many individuals with a variety of gifts and abilities. There are no superstars in this task, only team members who perform their specific duties. Paul founded the church in Corinth and Apollos built on that foundation. Tragically, the believers at Corinth had divided 69

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into groups, offering loyalty to different false apostles.

Romans 10:14-15: “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Let’s preach the Gospel of Christ beyond boundaries.

The Holy Spirit makes the church go “beyond boundaries.” Amen.

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POWERPOINT

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Women's Ministries Resources PROGRAM FOR WOMEN'S MINISTRIES BEYOND OUR LIMITS

Purpose: To motivate and engage every woman in the group to practice Intercessory Prayer; to ask the Lord for a passion for souls, the motivation to go out and win souls for Christ; and the courage to share their testimonies and the good news of Salvation.

There are millions of people dying without salvation; our intercessory prayer may be our mission field. A fervent prayer can change the course of history in the life of your neighbor, your friend, your partner, your boss, your child's teacher, your doctor, Moms, or your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best friends, etc. This program will help women to cross their barriers, boundaries and extend their outreach beyond your limits!

SUGGESTED PROGRAM: Welcome: Prayer:

Chorus or songs alluding to prayer (Song Book/Chorus section 58-114)

Share a Testimony of answered prayer. (Special guest or a member of WM) Devotional: "Beyond our Limits"

Activity 1: Praying For Our Needs

Activity 2: My Secret Prayer Friend.

Chorus or songs alluding to prayer

Closing Prayer

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ACTIVITY 1: PRAYING FOR OUR NEEDS

Create five groups of women to pray for each of the following requests:

1. To pray to reach women from our community (women who visit our social services, schools, bank employees, workers and customers of the stores around us, single mothers, recent immigrants, etc.).

2. To pray for the spiritual growth of women who are already in the church and commitment to the work of the church.

3. To pray for the leadership in womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ministry at the Corps.

4. To pray to win friends or neighbors. Pray for their problems and let them know that the women of the church are praying for them. Pray about visiting; ask if families wll allow a group of women to pray in their homes. 5. To Pray for friends who do not know Jesus as their personal savior.

Each group will be responsible for praying the prayer request for one month at home and when they come to church. They should take the time to intercede together and visit homes to continue praying together, if possible.

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ACTIVITY 2: MY SECRET FRIEND OF PRAYER Material: basket, paper, envelopes, and pens

1. Give each woman paper, pencil and an envelope.

2. Ask each woman to write her prayer request and intercession and put it in the envelope (She is to write her name on the prayer request, but not on the envelope). 3. Each woman will place her envelope in the basket (without her name on the envelope).

4. Ask each woman to take an envelope with the responsibility to pray for that person and their prayer requests for the period of one month.

5. During that month, the Secret Friend of Prayer will have the responsibility of praying, interceding, encouraging, and motivating their secret friend of prayer by sending cards, messages, and bible verses without revealing her identity (Be Creative!).

6. After the month, share in a service of testimony where each woman will give her testimony of how God has worked in her life and answered the prayer that she placed in the envelope. And she will give thanks to the secret friend of prayer.

7. Each sister will bring a small gift for the secret friend of prayer. They will take from a basket which has papers with numbers. The woman with the number “1” will begin. She will reveal her identity: “I am the secret friend of prayer for ______________. She will then give her gift to her friend. Then the woman with the number “2” will reveal her identity. This will continue until all the secret friends have been identified.

8. The program will end with a celebration of Thanksgiving with praise and worship for what God has done. 79

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COMMISSION:

To share their testimony with other women who do not know Jesus as their personal savior. Talk about his great love, and invite them to come to the women's ministry at the church.

WOMEN’S MINISTRIES

DEVOTIONAL FOR WOMEN'S MINISTRIES BEYOND OUR LIMITS

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us (Ephesians 3:20).”

In our lives, we sometimes feel really frustrated when we realize that we are unable to change the lives of the people around us. Maybe you are tired of battling to change the habits, character or behavior of your husband, children, family members or friends, only to find that you can’t accomplish anything. You wish they were more willing to listen to the Lord and attend church. The only thing you have now is profound exhaustion and you are about to throw in the towel.

Let me tell you, you are right to be exhausted because you are doing something that is not for you to do. God gave us a powerful tool with which to fight —and that is prayer. With it we can reach all that is beyond our limits. Only Jesus has the power to transform lives, to change hearts of stone into hearts of flesh and make them sensitive, loving, compassionate and merciful. Only God can cause each one of us “to will and to do” what is pleasing to Him. (Philippians 2:13).

When we learn to recognize the power of God through prayer and intercession we can live with hope, trusting every day that the answer to our prayers will come at the perfect time. Sometimes, the answer is fast; at other times, it takes a while. Sometimes it is a “yes,” and sometimes it is a “no.” Many times we don’t agree with God’s “no,” but eventually we realize that everything works for our advantage. What is important in this process is that God prepares us to receive whatever will be his perfect will. God is faithful. In Matthew 21:22 (NIV), Jesus said, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” 81

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Many people remember to pray only when they are going through difficult circumstances; Jesus taught his disciples with his own example to pray at all times.

The Bible is full of testimonies of men and women who changed the course of their own history, that of others, and whole groups of people through fervent prayer.

Even though Jesus had a short three-year ministry and a busy agenda, prayer always was a priority in his life. He understood communion with his Father was decisive for the accomplishment of his mission on earth.

First Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV) says, “pray continually.” How much time are you dedicating to fervent prayer? How much time is spent interceding for those who need Jesus in their lives? We must also pray for our enemies, our oppressors and our persecutors (Matthew 5:44). An important lesson to learn when we pray is to try not to give instructions to God and demand from him that things be done the way we want. Remember, He is God and knows perfectly well what is better for our lives. Let’s learn from the humility and obedience of Jesus, his own Son, when he prayed asking, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). We must pray in the name of Jesus always, since he is the only mediator between God and humanity.

If you don’t have the discipline to pray intentionally every day, ask God to put in you the fervent desire to pray and intercede for others daily. Prayer is for our spirit as the oxygen is for our body. Without air we die; without prayer, our spirit dies.

Choose a place in your home where you can have a daily prayer with your Lord, a place to be alone with your Savior. When you pray, pour out sincere, humble, and simple prayers that flow from your heart. Make prayer lists so you 82

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won’t forget anything and present your petitions and pleas trusting that God is faithful and just. With God, we can go beyond our limits because “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Let’s pray to develop a life of fervent prayer and intercession.

Prayer must be the first step for evangelism. We must pray for those who do not know Jesus, for God to prepare their minds and hearts, so when the Word is presented to them, it can fall in fertile soil. Let’s also pray for God to put in us the need to share the good news of salvation so that we may be sensitive to our neighbors. May we see with their eyes and feel with their hearts. I thank you Lord for all who prayed for me before I knew you. Help me to pray fervently for those who do not know you yet and for those who are in need.

Youth Resources DEVOTIONAL FOR YOUTH BEYOND FACEBOOK

15 Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. 17 But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends (2 Corinthians 10:15-18, NIV).

Youth are really extraordinary! They are constantly connected in some way to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Skype, e-mail, etc. For me, it is amazing how they can simultaneously connect in all those ways. As if conducting an orchestra, they chat with different people at the same time. They may be holding a direct conversation with a friend through Skype, sending a photo or video via Instagram, following something they’re interested in on Twitter, watching a video on YouTube or listening to their favorite music. Can you imagine what would happen if youth who have these extraordinary abilities to communicate in such versatile ways, would use those abilities to expand the Kingdom of God? Can you imagine the impact in the spiritual realm if all Christian youths were bombarding the social media with God’s Word? How many lives could be impacted with the message of hope, salvation and eternal life Christ offers us? We live in a world that is filled with problems. There are 84

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people without hope. There are young people struggling with drugs, alcohol, and depression as a result of family conflicts and a decadent society. And what are you, as a young person, doing about it? William Booth, the founder of our Salvation Army, had a vision:

He said,â&#x20AC;? I saw a dark and stormy ocean. Over it the black clouds hung heavily; through them every now and then vivid lightening flashed and loud thunder rolled, while the winds moaned, and the waves rose and foamed, towered and broke, only to rise and foam, tower and break again. In that ocean I thought I saw myriads of poor human beings plunging and floating, shouting and shrieking, cursing and struggling and drowning; and as they cursed and screamed they rose and shrieked again, and then some sank to rise no more.

And I saw out of this dark angry ocean, a mighty rock that rose up with its summit towering high above the black clouds that overhung the stormy sea. And all around the base of this great rock I saw a vast platform. Onto this platform, I saw with delight a number of the poor struggling, drowning wretches continually climbing out of the angry ocean. And I saw that a few of those who were already safe on the platform were helping the poor creatures still in the angry waters to reach the place of safety in the rock.

On looking more closely I found a number of those who had been rescued, industriously working and scheming by ladders, ropes, boats and other means more effective, to deliver the poor strugglers out of the sea. Here and there were some who actually jumped into the water, regardless of the consequences in their passion to "rescue the perishing." And I hardly know which gladdened me the mostâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the sight of the poor drowning people climbing onto the rocks reaching a place of safety, or the devotion and self-sacrifice of those whose whole being was wrapped up in the effort for 85

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their deliverance.

As I looked on, I saw that the occupants of that platform were quite a mixed company. That is, they were divided into different "sets" or classes, and they occupied themselves with different pleasures and employments. But only a very few of them seemed to make it their business to get the people out of the sea. But what puzzled me most was the fact that though all of them had been rescued at one time or another from the ocean, nearly everyone seemed to have forgotten all about it. Anyway, it seemed the memory of its darkness and danger no longer troubled them at all. And what seemed equally strange and perplexing to me was that these people did not even seem to have any care—that is any agonizing care—about the poor perishing ones who were struggling and drowning right before their very eyes... many of whom were their own husbands and wives, brothers and sisters and even their own children. [...]

But the thing to me that seemed the most amazing was that those on the platform to whom He called, who heard His voice and felt that they ought to obey it—at least they said they did—those who confessed to love Him much were in full sympathy with Him in the task He had undertaken— who worshipped Him or who professed to do so—were so taken up with their trades and professions, their money saving and pleasures, their families and circles, their religions and arguments about it, and their preparation for going to the mainland, that they did not listen to the cry that came to them from this Wonderful Being who had Himself gone down into the sea. Anyway, if they heard it they did not heed it. They did not care. And so the multitude went on right before them struggling and shrieking and drowning in the darkness. And then I saw something that seemed to me even more strange than anything that had gone on before in this strange vision. I saw that some of these people on the platform 86

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whom this Wonderful Being had called to, wanting them to come and help Him in His difficult task of saving these perishing creatures, were always praying and crying out to Him to come to them! [...] And all the while He was down (by His Spirit) among the poor struggling, drowning creatures in the angry deep, with His arms around them trying to drag them out, and looking up— oh! so longingly but all in vain- to those on the rock, crying to them with His voice all hoarse from calling, "Come to Me! Come, and help Me!” —Excerpt from A Vision Of The Lost, William Booth (1829-1912)

http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Stories/A.Vision. of.the.Lost.html

Many of those people you are connected with through social media are in that sea, drowning in the darkness. Many of them are crying out for help, desperately waiting for someone to offer them a helping hand to save them. Would you be willing to be that person? Let’s pray:

God help us to hear the cries of those who are in need. Give us a tender and merciful heart to go to them and lead them to the safe place, the unshakeable Rock you are, Lord Jesus. Amen

Kids Resources DEVOTIONAL FOR KIDS

ACCEPTING OTHERS BEYOND OUR DIFFERENCES

Purpose: To help children understand that we are all equal in the eyes of God and that we must accept ourselves as we are, and others as they are, regardless of skin color, culture, the language we speak, social class or any other conditions. This devotional will help children understand that they must respect and be kind to everyone, no matter the differences. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20)

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)

ILLUSTRATION:

Materials: A white egg and one brown egg, and two clear containers. Ask the children:

Do you like eggs? How do you like to eat them? Fried, boiled, omelet or scrambled?

Eggs are also used to make delicious desserts. Can you see the difference between each of these eggs?

Do you think there is any difference in these eggs when we look inside of them?

Let's break the eggs and we will discover if they have any 88

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differences.

Break each egg and place each in a clear container. Do you see any difference?

Lesson: The eggs are different on the outside, but inside they are the same. People are the same in the eyes of God. We look different on the outside, but in the eyes of God we are all equal. He loves us so much He was willing to die on the cross for all of us without distinction. He left us a new commandment, that we love one another as he loves us.

“I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another.” (John 3:34)

We must ask God to help us with His power to see other people as He see us, whether we are different in our skin color, culture, the language we speak, social class or other condition. All people deserve our respect and consideration; we must be kind to everyone, no matter the differences.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesian 3:20) Prayer: Lord, help me to see others as you see them. Give me a compassionate heart. I want to love my neighbor as you love me. Thanks for your love. Please, help me to share with others about your love, so that they also will know how much you love them. Amen. Songs: “Jesus Loves the Little Children”

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OTHER SONGS AVAILABLE:

“What Color is God’s Skin” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARykEwdBMkc

“Don’t Laugh at me” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7Dej4Gfkmc ACTIVITIES:

Coloring paper

KIDS RESOURCES

CULTURAL AWARENESS WEEK

Employee Activities BEYOND: CROSSING BOUNDARIES, EXTENDING BORDERS. EMBRACING OTHERS

Cultural Awareness Celebrations can be done individually or in a group, quietly or with great fanfare, with spontaneity or detailed planning. All it takes is an idea that you can use to fit your needs. Here is a list of suggested activities that will serve as a good place to begin. No matter how you choose to recognize this important time period within your corps, organization, school, or community, the main objective should be to increase knowledge and understanding through conversations of connection. Your Cultural Awareness Celebration can come alive through individual and personal accounts and real stories around different histories and heritages. The suggested activities can promote greater understanding of our differences while encouraging conversations that help us learn about the things we hold in common. The activities go beyond the visible or tangible aspects of culture and ethnicity, such as attire or cuisine. While celebrating these is important and fun, having discussions about those things not quite so tangible adds to our cultural uniqueness and shows the strengths these can bring to our church and our workplaces.

These activities can also be done through web-based conversations such as “chats” on SameTime (Lotus Notes), or through postings on our Facebook work pages, or a handout. It can be a single event or a series of events over time. Let this Cultural Awareness be a starter for conversation that promotes understanding and deeper connections beyond the five “Fs” of culture: festivals, flags, food, famous people, and fashion! 93

WAYS TO USE PINTEREST IN YOUR WORKPLACE (OR CORPS)

Excerpt from 10 Ways Your Church Can Use Pinterest by Jonathan D. Blundell, March 11, 2012 posted in: Digidisciple

Pinterest is a tool for collecting and organizing things you love in a visual manner. It’s called “Pinterest” because people “pin” or post images and quotes around an idea that they find interesting. On-line, it is easily identified by its photosharing, quotes, videos — you name it! It can be a way to get new ideas flowing, to share information, to get conversation started, to plan events, to create new initiatives. It’s about “discovering” the ideas and sharing them. And its been gaining popularity in many different settings, among them churches, workplaces, organizations, and schools.

PINTEREST ACTIVITY:

Locate a bulletin board in your work environment (or corps) where you and your coworkers can “PIN” ideas around the Cultural Awareness 2015 theme: BEYOND: Crossing Boundaries. Extending Borders. Embracing Others (or another theme such as “Extending Hospitality” from the perspective of your department. Or, “How to Build Bridges Across Differences.” Or “Outreach” ideas., etc.)

Pin it (or post them) in a creative way. You’ll find that the quotes, pictures, ideas that you share will stir the thoughts and the creativity of others. Your board can be a place for inspiration and it can be a tool for problem solving!

WAYS TO USE PINTEREST

Bring creative thinking to a theme. Look at the Cultural Awareness Week theme. What comes to your mind when you think of “Crossing Boundaries?” “What is Culture?” “How-To Extend Hospitality” from the perspective of your department. Or, “How to Build Bridges Across Differences.” 94

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Or “Outreach” ideas. Ways to Celebrate Diversity. Etc.

Staff recommended books, music, movies, recipes and more. Find out what your staff is reading, watching and eating and then share it with your community.

Share behind the scenes photos. Help personalize your Pinterest boards and give props to your staff by sharing photos of your staff “behind the scenes.” Maybe it’s the band warming up on Sunday morning, or a sneak peak at the team who brews the morning coffee, or someone who reaches out to others. Whoever it is, find unique ways to highlight their hard work.

Highlight the local community. Find and follow folks in your local community on Pinterest and share what they’re up to. Share local events, highlight local restaurants, show-off local art and help encourage your audience to take pride in their community. User submitted artwork. Encourage your community to share their own artwork based on the weekly message or current sermon series. Repin and highlight all their great work.

Desktop/mobile wallpapers. Use graphics from key projects, a sermon series or other community related events and create wallpapers for both desktop and mobile devices. The wallpapers can encourage your community to continue thinking on the key ideas you’ve presented each week.

Share videos. While Pinterest remains predominately a still-image based website, videos are slowly making their way onto the site. You can pin videos from YouTube just like any image. Use the video option for sharing promotional videos for events, or clips from weekly sermons, or even testimonials of how God is working in the midst of your community. Weekly events. How do remind your people of important 95

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events? For churches, its often the bulletin, which is becoming a thing of the past in many communities and people can easily tune out during long winded announcements. Or there’s the newsletter and important events may get pushed to the bottom of the pile. But, with a little creativity, you can easily remind your community of upcoming events (or an upcoming sermon series) with a great visual. And as always encourage them to share that information within their own spheres of influence.

Self-improvement. How-to articles are HUGE on Pinterest. Use Pinterest to share articles your team has read (or written) to promote team work, cultural competence, best practices in your department, etc., etc. Create different boards for different areas of ministry so users have the option to follow only those areas of interest. For bonus points – don’t be afraid to share articles written by other organizations or those outside your circle.

Words to live by. Whether folks call it “quotes,” “deep thoughts,” “challenging ideas,” or “play on words,” visuals with inspiring quotes are pretty hot on Pinterest. If a picture is worth a 1000 words then a picture with words on top of it must be worth… ah, never mind. Whether you use the ideas of those who are “great thinkers,” key points from a sermon, verses or favorite quotes, you can continue spreading your message with “quotes of the week.”

Share stories. Stories make us tick. Stories give us a way to relate to one another. Stories matter. Whether you’re sharing a video, sharing a blog post, or sharing a link to an audio podcast, always share stories that matter to your community. Continue to tell your story and the story of those in your community (no matter what network you’re on). Excerpted from http://bigbible.org.uk/2012/03/10-waysyour-church-can-use-pinterest/. Retrieved 19-June-14.

EMPLOYEE ACTIVITIES

IMMIGRANT STORIES

PANEL DISCUSSION

Invite 3-4 individuals to sit on a panel who have left their country to live in the U.S. Have them share what life was like in their homeland, how that is different today, and their personal experience in the U.S. Encourage those who attend the panel to ask the presenters questions and to share with them the part of their heritage they would like others to know about.

THE STRANGER: A FILM BY THE EVANGELICAL IMMIGRATION TABLE

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Strangerâ&#x20AC;? is a 40-minute documentary film commissioned by the Evangelical Immigration Table and produced by Emmy-award winning producer Linda Midgett. The Stranger profiles three immigrant stories and includes interviews with local and national Christian leaders.

By highlighting biblical teaching related to immigrants, sharing compelling stories of immigrants who are also evangelical Christians, and addressing some common economic and political misconceptions, The Stranger seeks to mobilize evangelical Christians to respond to immigrants and to immigration policy in ways that are consistent with biblical principles. From http://vimeo.com/97163476. Retrieved July 1, 2014. *The movie can be downloaded from this site. 97

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VIEWING

Show The Stranger. Follow with discussion using Screening and Discussion Guide. http://www.thestrangerfilm.org/wp-content/ uploads/2014/06/The-Stranger-Screening-and-DiscussionGuide-.pdf

EMPLOYEE ACTIVITIES

WORDLE

Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. A Wordle can be an inspirational reminder of a topic, theme, person or a group.

Go to http://www.wordle.net/ to see examples of what you can do and to create your wordle.

WORDLE ACTIVITIES:

Locate a bulletin board in your work environment (or corps) where you and your coworkers can post your wordle images. You can create a wordle around the following: +Crossing Boundaries: Who are the people around us?

People cross boundaries for many different reasons. Think about news reports you’ve heard on radio, seen on television, or read on the internet about people crossing boundaries. Who are they? Where are they coming from? What challenges are they facing? Create a wordle that identifies these people groups and add brief prayers for them.

Literally, what boundaries have they crossed – national or international? What places are stamped on their passports? Create a wordle that includes places your staff has travelled.

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+Embracing others

Create a department wordle. Things to include may be names, places of birth or countries of origin, favorite things, special interests, languages spoken, job tasks, etc. Include things that make your department unique. +Extending Borders: How do we extend hospitality?

Create a wordle that identifies your department name and includes ways that people show hospitality to others. Describe the ways we “make space at the table” for those who are at the margins? In what ways do we go “Beyond” the call of duty in order to be helpful to others?

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PAY IT FORWARD

Pay it Forward is an opportunity to enhance the idea of giving by doing a good deed for someone and expecting nothing in return. Instead, the receiver is encouraged to “Pay it Forward.” Decide on a day or a week that will be your Pay It Forward Day / Week.

You can do this activity alone or with friends. If with friends, consider brainstorming ideas of things to do. Having a “Pay It Forward” card handy can be a great reminder to those who received the good deed to pay it forward. There are 30 ideas here to use or to get you started thinking up your own!

Here’s a synopsis of the 2000 movie, Pay It Forward based on a true story:

When eleven and a half year old Trevor McKinney (Haley Joel Osment) begins seventh grade in Las Vegas, Nevada, his social studies teacher Eugene Simonet (Kevin Spacey) gives the class an assignment to devise and put into action a plan that will change the world for the better. Trevor's plan is a charitable program based on the networking of good deeds. He calls his plan "Pay It Forward", which means the recipient of a favor does a favor for three others rather than paying the favor back. However, it needs to be a major favor that the receiver can't complete themselves. Trevor does a favor for three people, asking each of them to "pay the favor forward" by doing favors for three other people, and so on, along a branching tree of good deeds.

Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pay_It_Forward_(film) 19June-14.

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30 WAYS TO PAY IT FORWARD Idea starters

“Selflessness is the sincere concern for the wellbeing of others. It’s about love. It’s about compassion. It’s about kindness and faith. It’s about making a difference in the world. Sure, you are only one, but you are one. You cannot do everything, but you can do something. Smile and enjoy the fact that you have the ability to make a difference – one you’ll likely remember forever.” 1. Hold the door open for the person behind you.

2. Introduce yourself. Make new colleagues, classmates, etc. feel welcome.

3. Write a positive Yelp review about a local business you like.

4. Inspire others online.

5. Share your umbrella with a stranger on a rainy day. 6. Check up on someone who looks lonely.

7. Let someone with only a few items cut you in line at the grocery store.

8. Spread good news.

9. Replace what you’ve used. For example, fill up the copier or printer with paper after you’re done using it or start a fresh batch of coffee.

10. Give words of encouragement to someone about their dreams, no matter how big or small they are.

11. Encourage co-workers to share their dreams and encourage them! 12. Shovel the snow for your neighbor or that of a senior neighbor. 102

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13. Help someone get your parking space in a crowded parking lot when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re leaving.

14. Help someone get active. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a coworker or acquaintance in your life who wants to get healthy, but needs a helping hand. Offer to go walking or running together or join a gym together.

15. Make a difference in the life of a child. Give them your time and undivided attention. Read Raising Kids Who Will Make a Difference . 16. Pay for the person in line behind you.

17. Drop off your old eye glasses at your local LensCrafters or give to a Lions Club member as a donation to the OneSight program.

18. Help the weary shopper in front of you who needs that extra two or three cents to avoid breaking a 20-dollar bill.

19. Be a courteous driver. Let people merge in front of you. Wave and even smile!

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20. Offer your seat to someone when there aren’t any left. 21. Bake cookies or brownies or bring fresh fruit to share with a neighbor or colleagues.

22. If you have a good book you’ve read that’s just sitting around on a book shelf, give it away to a friend.

23. Send a nice handwritten card to someone you know, unexpectedly.

24. Leave encouraging post-it notes in library books and other random places.

25. If you see a couple taking a self-pic, offer to take the picture for them.

26. Donate cat and dog food to an animal shelter. Call and ask what is needed.

27. Collect and donate prom dresses for underprivileged youth.

28. Stand up for someone. Lend your voice. Often the powerless, the homeless, the neglected in our world need someone to speak up for them. 29. Return someone’s shopping cart to the cart corral for them.

30. When someone wants to repay you for something, ask them to pay it forward.

And there are more! Ideas retrieved from http://www.marcandangel.com/2012/05/25/60-selflessways-to-pay-it-forward/ Retrieved 19-June-14

PINTEREST on Paying It Forward http://www.pinterest.com/parkrapids7/pay-it-forward/ Retrieved 19-June-14

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DIVERSITY 88 WAYS

Want to explore diversity throughout the year? Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a resource with a variety of ideas. Go to www.sbhihelp.org/files/Diversity88Ways.pdf

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WHAT’S IN A NAME?

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INTRODUCTIONS

What’s in a name? More than we often realize. Each person has an identity and that identity often begins with a name -- a name with a unique and interesting origin. Knowing a person’s name is the first step to building relationships. In a multicultural setting, names shared may be uncommon, have different pronunciations and spellings, or have unique naming celebrations around them. This activity can deepen intercultural awareness and build understanding among co-workers or group members.

ACTIVITY

This activity can be done in pairs or in a group, around the lunch table, or as an icebreaker at a meeting.

Here are some questions that participants might respond to as they share their names:

What is your first name?

Do you have a middle name? 106

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What is your family name? What name do you go by?

What nationality is your name?

Do you keep your mother’s family name? What does your name mean?

Who gave you this name? Why?

Did people give you a nickname?

What challenges have you experienced with your name?

Do you like your name? Why? Why not?

Are there certain expectations that come with your name? Can you write your name in another script? Did you ever want a different name?

DEBRIEF

Take the time to debrief this exercise. Discuss what you learned about names from this activity. How important is a name in a culturally diverse workplace? For a “what’s in a name?” activity by Ruth Lambach, go to http://www.iconlanguage.com/eclassroom/name.htm

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Multi-cultural Outreach Many communities today have a large population of ethnic minorities, due in large part to the economic opportunities offered by industries. While many Corps/Churches have sponsored grassroots programs that invite minority communities to church, few have actually initiated programs that can bridge the cultural and communication gaps. How long would any of us attend a church that only spoke a language other than our own for example, or did not make an effort to share in the cultures represented there? If you have a large population of different cultures in your community, you may want to consider starting a multi-cultural outreach program. Services can be held in Spanish, Russian or Filipino, or a special Sunday School group could be started for these or other minority communities in your area. An area of your expansion could be set aside as a cross-cultural ministry that actively includes elements of Hispanic, African-American or Asian cultures. Staffing these areas with members of those communities could make all the difference in the outreach. You may also consider creating a way to translate worship services, either through a translator actually interpreting the sermon in real time or a wireless radio system that connects minority members to a translator listening in another room.

Church and program materials could also be translated into several other languages and used as part of the outreach ministry. Church bulletins in other languages should also be a regular part of the multi-cultural ministry.

Source: Taken and adapted from: http://www.essortment.com/three-modern-outreach-ministry-ideas-work-64249.html 108

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OUTREACH / EVANGELISM ACTIVITIES

Once you get your feet wet and have honed some evangelism skills, your Corps’ congregation may be ready to jump in at the level of more thoroughly investing in the lives of the community. The following outreach activities are aimed at encountering people at the more difficult stress points of their lives. And they are designed to help your congregation get to know the needy of the community in a way that will allow you to begin to do something significant to meet their needs. These projects are a true investment in every sense of the word; they require a commitment of resources and time rather than blitzing or connecting projects.

Multicultural Ministries Outreach Activities are great for the following: • Community building beyond our limits

• An opportunity to cross our boundaries to help people through praying, caring, and loving.

• The greatest chance to extending our borders of our Corps

• A chance to embrace deeply the people of our community

• Building bridges of credibility between us and the community

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HOW TO HOLD YOUR OWN PRAYER AND POPSICLE OUTREACH EVENT

Prayer and Popsicle outreach events are a great way to get outside of your building and bring the ministry to the people of your community. They are a fun and easy way to meet those in your neighborhood and there is a job for every soldier – from youngest to oldest!

STEP ONE: EVANGELISM TRAINING

The best place to start is with evangelism training. It is important for your soldiers and corps people to understand why we do outreach. A solid understanding of the responsibility of Christians to reach out to the world around them and training in how to do this will make any outreach effort you plan more successful.

We asked our Territorial Evangelists to come lead the week-long series called, “Becoming a Contagious Christian” with our soldiers. This gave us all a good foundation for talking to people about our faith, how to tell our story, and how to be comfortable praying with people. We also did a sermon series on Evangelism leading up to the very first Prayer and Popsicles.

STEP TWO: PICK YOUR DATE AND LOCATION

We chose a busy street corner right outside our corps, where The Salvation Army Bed and Bread mobile feeding truck stops each day. You may choose a similar location, or perhaps a nearby park or playground (check with the local government to see if a permit is required for 110

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an event to be held if you choose a location not on your property). The best locations will have a lot of foot traffic passing by. We choose to do our events on Saturdays when families are more likely to be out and about. You should pick a date that will be warm enough that no one would turn down a free Popsicle!

STEP THREE: COLLECT SUPPLIES! Supply list: Popsicles

Ice water or Lemonade

Coolers Cups

Table

Trash Can

Scissors (if needed to cut open freeze pops) Brochures or Fliers with Corps Information

Signs advertising free popsicles and prayer

Tips: Ask for Popsicle donations from your corps people. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great way for people to support the event even if they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be there and it keeps the cost down.

If your community has several languages that are spoken, make sure to have information about your corps and programs available in those languages. Your signs and posters could also be made in several languages as well.

SET UP & PREPARATION:

Fill coolers with popsicles. Set up your table with Ice Water, Lemonade, and any information you will be passing out. You could decorate your table with balloons or stream111

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ers to attract attention. Be creative!

Have as many soldiers in uniform or Salvation Army T-shirts as possible.

DURING THE EVENT:

Our youngest volunteers held signs and greeted people as they walked by. Our older volunteers passed out popsicles and drinks. We even had a few volunteers who can’t stand for long periods of time – so they sat in folding chairs and prayed with people who wanted prayer. This really is an event that everyone has a part in!

As people pass by, offer them a free Popsicle and a cold drink. Many will ask why you are doing this. Tell them that you are The Salvation Army and are out meeting your neighbors! Ask their names, where they live in the neighborhood, how long they’ve been in the community, etc. Offer prayer to each person that stops. You will be surprised at how many people respond positively! At our last event, we had a car pull up to the sidewalk for prayer – they heard we were out praying with people and came down so we could pray for a missing child in their family! Above all, be friendly and aim to share the love of Jesus which is our motivation for reaching out with everyone you meet! Contributed by the Detroit Harding Corps

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Outreach #1* “THE BOUNDARIES OF OUR COMMITMENT” - CROSSING BOUNDARIES - Matthew 23:11-13

Activity Title: PUBLIC SERVANT OUTREACH

Our public servants are constantly giving but typically go unthanked in their tasks. These wonderful people live much stressed lives. Their marriages suffer, they go for prolonged periods without sleep, and they often eat on the run. An occasional meal to serve the servants can make a big impression.

These people are going to be on call, so no matter how far in advance you plan, you will have to be flexible according to emergencies that arise. Arrange in advance to provide food. Agree before the outreach that your group will purposely spend time with the honorees and not with each other. Use nametags.

An alternative activity to a party is to provide a basket of fruit with a card of appreciation signed by each person in your church or group explaining how thankful you are for the lives and efforts of the crew.

IN ACTION

WHERE TO GO

1. Indoor

• Gymnasium

• Fellowship Rooms 2. Outdoor

• Campuses • Parks

• Neighborhoods • Downtown

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WHAT YOU’LL NEED • Party supplies

• Thank-you card large enough for everyone in your Corps to sign

• Plenty of food (good food will be appreciated more than anything in this effort)

• Nametags • Cards

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Outreach #2* “THERE’S ROOM AT THE TABLE” - EXTENDING OUR BORDERS – Matthew 9:9-13

Activity Title: MATTHEW BBQ CELEBRATION

When the apostle Matthew began to follow Christ, he was so enthusiastic he threw a big dinner, invited all his friends, and celebrated. Jesus and all the apostles attended and apparently had a great time (see Matthew 9:10). He was criticized for attending, eating, and drinking—with sinners! How scandalous! This was a great celebration that Matthew threw in honor of his newfound faith in the Messiah Jesus. Your Corps/Churches could throw a big meal celebration in the spirit of what Matthew did. Fire up several barbeque grills and put on hot dogs and burgers. Multiple small ethnic groups can provide traditional food and desserts of all kinds. Organize kid’s games with prizes abound. Invite Special guest to share their talents. . After a couple of hours, you’ll be amazed at how prayer, conversation, laughs, and hugs have been shared more than anyone can count. The neighborhood feels touched and invested in. A result can be that Corps members are invited into neighborhood homes. This event could draw a large number of people! Not only are the people of the neighborhood encouraged, loved, and prayed for, but also the Corps members who sponsor it are built up by seeing their combined energies make a huge change in people’s lives.

IN ACTION

WHERE TO GO

1. Indoor

• Gymnasium

• Fellowship Rooms 115

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2. Outdoor

• Campuses • Parks

• Neighborhoods • Downtown

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• Two banner signs (3x6 feet): “It’s Celebration Time”

• Folding tables for serving (depending on how many you will serve)

• Coolers (several, depending on how many you will serve) • Drinking cups

• Barbeque grills

• Burgers and hot dogs to grill

• Other food and Beverages • Ice

• Game centers for Children (for example, face painting, balloons, animals, penny toss)

• Connection cards • Meats to grill

• Folding tables

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Outreach #3* “YOU ARE WELCOME AT THIS TABLE” - EMBRACING OTHERS - Luke 15:1-6 Activity Title: COMMUNITY PARTY

Most neighbors don’t know each other these days. Whether because of busyness or fear, often, there is little interaction within communities. Yet most people are looking for ways to get to know each other. You can provide that in the form of a block celebration sponsored by your Corps.

Give the neighborhood a couple of weeks of notice. If the idea is original with your corps, use the name of the host family as the inviters. Invite neighborhood families to bring a favorite dish to share with others. Your corps supplies the grills and the meat. To keep the time together fun, have some kids’ activities such as a bicycle parade. Give prizes for the best decked-out bike. Have a drawing with a couple of small prizes. In advance of the dinner, talk with your corps members about the purpose of the event: to interact with the neighborhood as a family, not to interact strictly with one another as usual. In other words, focus out!

When people get to know other on their block and their surrounding community, neighborhood can turn from being suspicious and isolated to a downright neighborly place. Crime rates go down. Residents begin to watch out for each other’s property. And this can be a start to a neighborhood’s reformation.

IN ACTION

WHERE TO GO

1. Indoor

• Gymnasium

• Fellowship Rooms 117

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2. Outdoor

• Campuses • Parks

• Neighborhoods • Downtown

WHAT YOU’LL NEED • Party supplies

• Thank-you card large enough for everyone in your group to sign

• Plenty of food (good food will be appreciated more than anything in this effort) • Nametags • cards

(*) Source: Outreach activities #1 to #3, taken and adapted from: 101 Ways To Reach Your Community by Steve Sjogren

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Outreach #4**

CULTURAL ARTS EXHIBIT

DESCRIPTION: Feature the work of artists of various cul-

tures and backgrounds. Include signage that tells the story of the art and the artist. If there are enough local artists, invite them to join one or more of the showings to share their perspectives.

CONNECTION ACTIVITY: View the art at least with one other person so at the conclusion of the viewing you can talk about what your individual experiences were like.

Outreach #5**

LEARN A FOLK DANCE

DESCRIPTION: Have a professional ethnic dancer come

to your organization to demonstrate a particular type of folk dancing, or take a class, review a video on YouTube, or check out a DVD from your library to learn dances such as Hawaiian hula, African, Russian, Korean, Mexican folk dances, or others like flamenco, reels, or clog dancing.

CONNECTION ACTIVITY: Get a group of friends or

coworkers to take a class together for added fun. Ask local dance experts, employees, or students to demonstrate folk dances during events at your organization. Encourage them to teach audience members basic movements or steps of a particular dance.

Outreach #6**

MUSIC FROM AROUND THE WORLD

DESCRIPTION: Play different types of cultural music in reception or common areas. Appropriate cultural CDs could be played as your organization's telephone "hold" music on a rotating basis. 119

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CONNECTION ACTIVITY: Ask employees and/or members to bring in examples of music from their own culture and heritage or hire local cultural musical groups to provide live music for a special event.

Outreach #7**

APPRECIATE DIVERSITY MONTH BRIEFING

DESCRIPTION: Take five minutes at the beginning of regularly scheduled meetings to provide a briefing on diversityrelated activities and events in the organization and/or the larger community. Other ideas could be recommendations of diversity related books, recipes, movies, plays, etc. CONNECTION ACTIVITY: Allow for participation by

all meeting attendees, collecting suggestions to add to the next meetings' agenda.

Outreach #8**

CULTURAL VALUES CONVERSATIONS

DESCRIPTION: Have a discussion with someone from

another culture about their cultural values related to various cultural variables like time, gestures, appearance, and how they view the elderly. Use a resource book like Gestures: The Do's and Taboos of Body Language Around the World or Bridging Cultural Conflicts: A New Approach for a Changing World to inspire ideas.

CONNECTION ACTIVITY: Think about a time when

you have been frustrated, misread, or have misunderstood something because of your own personal expectations about time, appearance, or gestures. Start your conversations with a non-judgmental question like, "Does your culture tend to â&#x20AC;Ś? or "How are elders viewed in your culture?"

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Outreach #9**

DIVERSITY ROUNDTABLE

DESCRIPTION: Start a monthly "diversity roundtable" to discuss critical issues facing your community.

CONNECTION ACTIVITY: Listen to learn about different perspectives and offer your own perspectives.

Outreach #10**

HOLD AN APPRECIATE DIVERSITY MONTH BLOCK PARTY

DESCRIPTION: Put up a tent in a yard, find a park, or use

your company's parking lot to hold a party. Invite employees, vendors, colleagues, or neighbors to share music, food, displays and stories. This can be as big or small as you desire. It will amaze you how quickly this becomes an annual event.

CONNECTION ACTIVITY: Schedule events, entertainment, and contests that promote conversations and learning.

Outreach #11**

HONOR DIVERSE FAMILIES

DESCRIPTION: The definitions of "family" are multiple

cross culturally, both in history and contemporary society, and include traditional family life and marriage, singles, parents and children, siblings or grandparents as caregivers, adoption, mixed race, families of "choice," multigenerational families, etc. Create a display wall for employees or members to show a photo and a brief description of their "family."

CONNECTION ACTIVITY: Invite participants to share a fact or story about their families that make them unique. Ask them to share what some of the strengths they have and challenges they face as a family. 121

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Outreach #12**

AROUND THE WORLD

DESCRIPTION: Display a world map and have individu-

als use tacks or post-it to indicate: locations of your company's global mission partners, their own countries of origin, places they have traveled, and/or places in current headlines. Select one or two countries for discussion for a meeting starter, "lunch and learn," or special conversation. This can be done with states and regions of the USA, as well.

CONNECTION ACTIVITY: Talk about the similarities and differences of these locations in terms of history, cultural nuances, weather, etc.

Outreach #13**

COUNTRY/STATE FLAG

DESCRIPTION: Encourage individuals to bring in their national flag, or the flag from the state in which they were born, as part of a large display. Provide information about the place represented and the cultural significance of the particular colors or symbols used in the design of the flag.

CONNECTION ACTIVITY: Ask about the flags in order

to learn and share.

Outreach #14**

CULTURAL BULLETIN BOARD

DESCRIPTION: Create a display in a common area where employees can post notices of upcoming cultural events in their communities. CONNECTION ACTIVITY: Invite friends or coworkers

to attend these events and talk about what was experienced.

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Outreach #15**

CULTURAL MINI-MUSEUM

DESCRIPTION: Create a mini-museum in a prominent

corner or display case (make sure there is adequate safety for items displayed). Exhibit ideas can rotate on a regular basis.

CONNECTION ACTIVITY: Ask individuals to bring in items for the display that build on a chosen theme, such as wedding traditions, food, rites of passage, specific regions of the world, dancing, etc.

Outreach #16**

CULTURAL SPEAKERS

DESCRIPTION: Provide cultural speakers on any topic

that informs the audience about some aspect of their culture. Topics could range from food, historical events, heroes, famous people, and popular games for kids, etc. Speakers can be found by contacting local cultural groups, searching the Internet, or asking for names from various participants. Be sure to do your homework to make sure that the speaker will support the message of appreciating diversity and building connections.

CONNECTION ACTIVITY: Have a follow-up group conversation and share one thing you learned and how it may be different or similar to something you have experienced yourself.

Outreach #17**

HISTORY AND HERITAGE MONTHS

DESCRIPTION: Create a plan to celebrate the seven

nationally-recognized History and Heritage Months within your organization. Share the significance of the month, littleknown facts, and resources bringing in cultural speakers, 123

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playing educational games, displaying posters, etc. Include African American History Month (February), Women's History Month (March), Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (May), Hispanic Heritage Month (September), Disability Employment Awareness Month (October), and American Indian Month (November). A variety of resources on the origins of these months can be found on the internet at sites such as http://www.infoplease.com/.Yearly Presidential proclamations about the months can be found at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/

CONNECTION ACTIVITY: Ask for members, employ-

ees or students to contribute individual or group ideas on how to celebrate each month.

Outreach #18**

WORDS OF RESPECT

DESCRIPTION: Identify a group of words and terms from

various cultures that are commonly used. Consider promoting a word of the day through bulletin boards, emails, or posters. Be sure to add pronunciation tips. Here are some suggestions:

Hello: hola [OH-la] (español), marhaba [MAR-hah-bah] (árabe), ni-hao [NEEhow] (chino mandarín), annyeonghaseyo [An yung Ha Se Yuo] (coreano), Shalom (hebreo) Thank you: domo arigato [doh-mo a-REE-ga-toe] (japonés), salamat po [sa-LA-mat-po] (Tagalog), motshakeram [MOATsheh-KER-am] (Farsi).

CONNECTION ACTIVITY: Encourage others to use these words when appropriate with other employees or clients.

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Outreach #19**

COMMON FOODS

DESCRIPTION: Have a conversation with someone of another culture about common foods in your culture and theirs, such as rice or bread. For example: Someone from Puerto Rico may eat rice prepared with beans and someone from Italy may eat rice with green peas.

CONNECTION ACTIVITY: Explore commonalities and differences in the preparation and presentation of common foods between cultures. Use books like Everybody Cooks Rice and Everybody Bakes Bread by Norah Dooley to spark a conversation.

Outreach #20**

GLOBAL POTLUCK

DESCRIPTION: Serve foods from different cultures by having people bring a specialty important to them. Provide identification signs and handouts that share the recipe and other information, such as who brought the item, stories of its cultural significance (for example, typical times it is eaten or any other interesting facts about the item or its ingredients). CONNECTION ACTIVITY: Have people talk about

which foods they enjoyed, why, or similar dishes that their own families may prepare. Individual recipes could be collected, published as a booklet, and distributed as gifts to employees, colleagues, or neighbors.

Outreach #21**

IMMIGRANTS' STORIES

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DESCRIPTION

Invite and host a panel of three individuals who have left their country to live in the U.S. Have them share what life was like in their homeland, how that is different today, and their personal experience in the U.S.

CONNECTION ACTIVITY: Encourage participants to

ask the panel members questions and to share with them what part of their heritage they would like others to know about.

Outreach #22**

COMMUNITY CULTURAL EVENT PLANNING

DESCRIPTION: Connect with people in your community to plan festivals, speakers, storytelling, music, theatre and other events. CONNECTION ACTIVITY: End each event with time to

talk and network.

Outreach #23**

INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY: SEPTEMBER 8

DESCRIPTION: It is estimated that 860 million of the

world’s adults do not know how to read or write (nearly two-thirds of this number are women), and that more than 100 million children lack access to education. Volunteer to help someone read on International Literacy Day, organize a read-athon to raise money for a local literacy program, or find other ways to acknowledge the work of literacy tutors, extension workers, and volunteers whose efforts make such a difference in people’s lives. Contact a representative from your area’s Mission Literacy program for more ideas.

CONNECTION ACTIVITY: Solicit creative suggestions

from employees or students on ways your organization can 126

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host an event or a speaker on the importance of literacy, or sponsor a community award for literacy volunteers.

Outreach #24**

CELEBRATE AN ETHNIC HOLIDAY

DESCRIPTION: If you celebrate a particular holiday,

invite someone of another culture to share your traditions. Ask friends or if they celebrate a particular ethnic holiday. Find out how the holiday is celebrated and where you might attend a cultural event related to the holiday, if appropriate. If the holiday is similar to one you personally celebrate, perhaps an aspect of it could be incorporated into one of your own celebrations.

CONNECTION ACTIVITY: Invite a friend or colleague

to speak to a group about the cultural and personal significance of a holiday they celebrate.

Outreach #25**

GIFT EXCHANGE

DESCRIPTION: Get inspired by another culture's gift giving traditions such as Japanese "omiyage" (bringing back some small souvenirs of a trip or visit for colleagues), the symbolic Angel Tree (gifts given to children at Christmas), or modest gifts for other holidays, or birthdays, etc. Educate yourself about the proper guidelines for giving gifts to colleagues or friends from other countries with sites like http://www.culturalsavvy.com/gift_giving.htm. CONNECTION ACTIVITY: Ask members or colleagues

to suggest ways that their own cultural traditions around gift giving could be incorporated into celebrations of various events or holidays. (**) Source: Outreach activities #4 to 25, taken and adapted from: www.appreciatediversitymonth.org 127

Men's Ministries Resources Most of us remember the movie Toy Story even though we are not kids anymore. I remember, in particular, the famous phrase by one of the main characters Buzz Lightyear: “To infinity and beyond.” This expression gives the idea of going beyond what is unimaginable.

This year, our Cultural Awareness Week theme is “Beyond: Crossing Boundaries. Extending Borders. Embracing Others with the Gospel. That is what we would like for you to think about and to do as you celebrate Cultural Awareness Week with your Men’s Ministries; go BEYOND the ordinary and think of creative ways to reach out to your men by Crossing the Boundaries, Extending your Borders, and Embracing Others.

You may follow The Salvation Army Guide for Men’s Ministry which offers five best practices that you could focus on: Fellowship, Education, Worship, Service, and Big Events. Think of how your Men’s Ministry can go beyond the ordinary as you try to reach your community of changing demographics.

Here are a few suggestions on how you can accomplish this based on four of those Best Practices:

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FELLOWSHIP

FRIEND NIGHT

Have a fellowship night with your men and have games that will help them to know each other better. Here are three links for game suggestions:

http://wilderdom.com/games/descriptions/HaveYouEver. html; http://www.ehow.com/about_5439261_diversityactivities-youth-adults.html - (Whodunit); http:// www.edchange.org/multicultural/activities/name.html

MOVIE NIGHT

Have a movie night with your men watching a movie that raises awareness of a particular culture. After watching the movie, have a time for discussion about a particular group or topic related to culture. Here are some suggestions of movies: Under the Same Moon (La Misma Luna) PG 13, Hotel Rwanda PG 13, Mr. Baseball PG 13, Amazing Grace PG, Chariots of Fire PG, Ghost of Mississippi PG 13, The Grace Card PG 13, Remember the Titans PG, The Visitor PG 13, Changing Lanes PG 13, Name Sake PG 13, The Pursuit of Happiness PG 13, Spanglish PG 13, The Help PG 13, Smoke Signals PG 13, Beautiful Mind PG 13, Radio PG, The Kite Runner PG 13, Freedom Writers Diary PG 13, My Big Fat Greek Wedding PG, The Secret Life of Bees PG 13, The King’s Speech PG 13, Courageous PG 13.

HOST ANOTHER MEN’S MINISTRY GROUP

Get together with another Salvation Army or other church men’s group that is of a different ethnic group than your own, and have a time of fellowship. This could be an opportunity for men to share parts of their story. If there are men that are from another country, it would be interesting to hear how they came to the United States and learn more about their country of origin. 129

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SPORTS EVENT

Join together with another men’s group and have a sports event: basketball, soccer, volleyball, ping pong, pool, bowling, etc. Another option would be to attend a sports event together.

EDUCATION

EMBRACING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

Educate your Men’s Ministry group on how to embrace cultural differences. Here is a link where you can find helpful information in regards to this subject. Module #5 gives insightful information on embracing other cultures. There is a PDF document and a video: http://nursing.uc.edu/centers/Look_Closer_See_Me/train ing_modules.html

UNDERSTANDING IMMIGRANTS

Share with your Men’s Ministry group how to better understand immigrants. There is a two part article written by Captain Daniel Diakanwa from the Eastern Territory about this subject. The articles were published in the November 2013 issue (pp. 12-13), and December 2013 issue (pp. 14-15). Here is the link for The War Cry online: http://www.thewarcry.org/war_cry_online/

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WORSHIP

DEVOTIONAL – “LIVING TOGETHER WITH EACH OTHER”:

(Luke 6:26-33) Now that we are in Christ, we are God’s people. The Bible also says that we belong to the family of God. If we are God’s family, God’s people, we must learn how to live together with each other. We better start practicing here because we will spend eternity together in God’s presence. How can we do that? Here are some biblical tips:

1. Loving each other (John 13:34)

2. Encouraging each other (1 Thess. 5:11)

3. Bearing with one other in love (Eph. 4:2-3)

4. Forgiving each other (Eph. 4:23)

5. Not provoking and envying each other (Gal. 5:26) 6. Admonishing each other with wisdom (Col. 3:16)

Doing what the Word of God says will bring us together. When we live together in unity we honor Jesus’ prayer (John 17:20-23, NVI): “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (Mennonite Church of Canada, Worship Resources – Many People’s Sunday, May 5, 2013)

ARTICLES FOR DISCUSSION

Read one or both of the following two articles and have a time of discussion with your men: 131

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Reaching People across Cultural Barriers http://www.reachinghispanics.org/articles/51-issue4/337-reaching-people-across-cultural-barriers

Tune to Men’s Needs http://www.lifeway.com/Article/Tune-to-Mens-Needs

SERVICE

SPAGHETTI FUND RAISING EVENT

Sponsor a spaghetti fund raising event for missions and World Services. One option would be to sponsor a country that is represented by some of the men from your men’s group or a group of people that is prevalent in your neighborhood or city. You may want to watch a documentary from that country or prepare a Power Point with different facts about that country.

SANDWICHES FOR THE HOMELESS

Get together with your men’s group and prepare sandwiches for the homeless in your community. Maybe you would like to involve your men’s sons and make it a Father – Son activity that will help create a deeper bond among them and reach out to your homeless community. Here is a link to a YouTube video that may motivate your men’s group about doing this project: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRH1IhraiLA

CHILI CONTEST

Some of your men like to showcase their cooking skills. Have a Chili Contest with your men’s group and maybe even invite other corps or churches around your area to join you in this event. To make it an outreach contest, you may want to invite the homeless men in your community to be the judges and enjoy a hot bowl of chili! 132