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PRES CON-HALF-V-2019-SEP.qxp_Layout 1 2019-07-23 9:04 AM Page 1
Small Church Having a
Big Impact
PRESBYTERIAN
7
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FALL 2019
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LEADERSHIP (cont’d)
By Canadian Ministries
Small churches can have a big mis- sional impact. In the rural town of Grand Falls-Windsor in Newfound- land, members of St. Matthew’s Presbyterian Church have been re- sponding to promptings by God to connect more intentionally with their local community.
It began with just a few small steps. The first initiative was to place a Food Bank donation box in the front entrance of the church. Soon, the box was overflowing, and the congrega- tion realized they would need a group to take the lead on their community outreach.
This resulted in the rebirth of the Thistle Club, a women’s group that had dismantled eight years before. Passionate about this new vision, the members got down to business and brainstormed ideas for more com- munity outreach projects. At first, their conversations centred on what could be done in the congregational context, but soon they began imagin- ing what could happen if they part- nered with local community service organizations.
In a discussion with the Salvation Army Community and Family Ser- vices Coordinator, it was determined that a supply of socks and underwear was required for adults in need. The Thistle Club decided to create a Com- munity Clothesline in their sanctuary. It wasn’t very long after the clothesline was constructed in the sanctuary that it was filled with new socks and un- derwear donated by the congregation.
Another need identified in the community came from Janeway Children’s Hospital in St. John’s and their own local hospital. There was a shortage of knitted caps, mitts and blankets for babies. Two meetings of the Thistle Club later, there were 57 hats and pairs of mitts as well as 32 incubator blankets that were ready for delivery to the hospitals. This was a project that not only St. Matthew’s got on board for, but also friends of the congregation.
The Thistle Club did not stop at reaching out to service organizations. They also wrote to other Christian women’s groups, offering to support outreach events they were planning. They were quickly taken up on their offer of help and are now planning an ecumenical project with a neighbour- ing church this summer.
This story confirms that all con- gregations, regardless of size, have the ability to impact their communi- ties. Taking the first steps in response to God’s missional call led St. Mat- thew’s to a renewed sense of excite- ment, purpose and connection to neighbours. What first steps might God be calling your congregation to take? Are there organizations in your community that you could partner with to respond to a local need? If nothing is coming to mind, take time to pray and ask God where your con- gregation could serve.
Canadian Ministries would be hap- py to talk to you about ways to reach out to your community. Please email canadianministries@presbyterian. ca or call 1-800-619-7301.