MISSIONARY TIPS FOR HELPING NEIGHBORS IN A PANDEMIC
Over the past few weeks our missionaries in Evansville have been visiting neighbors once again, after pausing for several weeks due to the pandemic. They go out in groups of two or three, wearing masks and carrying hand sanitizer. They knock on doors and ask simply, “how are you doing?”
What they’ve found is that many people are willing to talk—more people than in the past. Many are lonely. Some have other needs: for food, for jobs, for something for the kids to do, for medicines and other errands, needs around the house, the yard, and so on. The missionaries have been doing what they can to help, dropping off food, pulling weeds, talking with children, running errands for neighbors and always praying. As other neighbors and friends find out about what the missionaries are doing, they’ve been getting in on the action—giving the missionaries food and money to distribute. Our missionaries are becoming a conduit for love and service.
This kind of personal visiting, going out to our neighbors and checking in, is something many of us can do. In a certain sense, all you have to do is walk out your front door and encounter your neighbor. The biggest obstacles may be on the inside, where the devil sows fear and doubt, but Jesus gives us the strength to overcome temptations.
We wanted to share this information with you to encourage and inspire you to go out and meet Christ in your neighbors. Christ is suffering now in so many ways. As one spiritual writer put it, “We do truly comfort Him most, when recognizing Him in our neighbor, we serve and love our neighbor for the love of Him.”
As you give this a try in your own neighborhood, please send us your own stories of how you are finding Christ in your neighbors. Let’s make this a summer of service!
Responses
Dan Kabele says:
June 10th, 2020 at 5:51 PM
Fantastic--thank you Nick, and all missionaries! This is indeed a time that the Lord can open up new doors! We did some of this checking in on neighbors in the earlier weeks of the pandemic but we're overdue to get back out there. Thanks for the encouragement!
Russell Lyons says:
June 10th, 2020 at 7:59 PM
YYYYAAASSS! Awesome to hear about all the neighboring! I'm reminded of when used to talk about experiencing being the glue in the neighborhood. Whole new level!
Bernadette Fossen says:
June 10th, 2020 at 10:29 PM
Fantastic! People are opening up to relationship, sharing what they need and giving what they have. Beautiful!
John Carnick says:
June 11th, 2020 at 10:01 AM
Thanks for your loving service to the Lord and your encouragement to go and do likewise to our neighbor in need. I am inspired to give it a shot! Come, Lord!
Tom M Caneff says:
June 11th, 2020 at 3:52 PM
Well done, well said, well modeled. Thanks, Nick!!
Thomas Duddy says:
June 11th, 2020 at 4:21 PM
Reminds me of recent Blast re mission of Charismatic Renewal has always included care of the poor and disadvantaged. Our branch, Oahu, has always had difficulty finding group service, but individuals do all sorts of great works of mercy. We all can do something. I have one homeless person I relate with regularly and had lunch with this week - so many homeless in Honolulu, but if we each care for those the Lord puts in our path . . .
Karen Murray says:
June 11th, 2020 at 6:05 PM
Thank you Nick and all the Missionaries for sharing this video of all the practical ways you are helping your neighbors! It is also very helpful that you provided a list of "Missionary Tips For Helping Neighbors in a Pandemic" and a "Food Box Plan"! May the Lord continue to Bless all of you in your mission work as you continue to inspire and encourage us to reach out to our neighbors as well!
Jetta Lee Moyer says:
October 2nd, 2020 at 12:25 AM
I am so excited that I found People of Praise.....I am from Pennsylvania , but in my younger years I visited in your town a number of times.....My heart is so encouraged that I found a group of people who "want" to live for The LORD, and believe in HIS Gifts.....I was raised in the Pilgrim Holiness Church, now called The Wesleyan Church, but they never believed in the Gifts operating today.....In my 20's GOD sent me a woman from England who introduced me to the Jesus Movement, and my life was never the same.....so happy to hear about such wonderful people...
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