In a recent webinar we discussed the value of loving the community you serve in. At the heart of the matter is longevity. Whether a pastor ends up staying for many decades or not the evidence seems to suggest that longevity is beneficial in terms of positive change and the overall health of a church.
Sadly though many pastors simply do not love their communities. So what should you do if you want to love your town but don’t know where to start.
- Determine the city is loveable. Somehow our churches have developed an ‘us vs them’ mentality. This had lead to a general disdain for all of those people living their lives outside of your church walls on Sunday mornings. To begin with we need to break down those walls in our minds. Understand that ‘they’ are more the victims than they are the perps. They are in a need of a savior and a genuine compassion leveraged toward them will go a long ways in bringing that good news to them.
- Spend fun time in the community. If you leave your town and head toward the big city every date night or weekend you will never truly fall in love with your town and what it has to offer. Invite your Small Group or Sunday School Class or the staff along for an evening at the park, even if the park is not that great. You will be surprised at how many people you will run into and how loveable the city will become once you have fun where you live.
- Make a difference. We all know that people who invest are people who care. So invest in your town. Lead a group to clean the roadways, or paint the school playground. Once you can drive through the streets and visibly see the sweat equity you will develop a compassion and passion for the place you call home.
hese are a few ideas I shared in the webinar. What would be some of your suggestions for the pastor wanting to love his city?
Published February 12, 2016
