A Loving Community, Loving Our Community

Jesus clearly commanded Christians to love one another. He also affirmed the Old Testament commandment that we should love our neighbors as ourselves. That phrase from Leviticus 19:18 sums up a long list of ways God said His people should show consideration for anyone within our sphere of influence, whether they are fellow believers or not.

Jesus gave us the supreme example of love, humbling himself to become a human and surrendering his life to give us eternal life with Him. Our sacrificial love in imitation of Christ is what should shine from a local church in the midst of a dark world filled with enmity.

Until Christ returns, we will not be perfect in our love. But here are a couple of recent examples of how members of Faith Bible Church are following His command and example.

Loving one another

Cathy and Keith Dunham are retired and have been at Faith more than a decade. About a year ago, facing some serious health issues, they decided to sell their house and downsize.

Moving out of their home and property was a daunting prospect as they continued to face physical challenges, plus the death of Keith’s mom in the midst of everything else. They didn’t have any close family nearby to help.

But God’s family stepped up. Over several months, many different brothers and sisters from Faith came to help the Dunhams along the way: getting the property listed for sale, digging out septic tank lids, repairing, painting, packing, packing, packing.

The Dunhams’ Growth Group and several others from Faith showed up to help on their moving day and made the laborious process much easier. “God’s provision was marvelous,” Keith says. “The day we moved from our old home we had an abundance of hands and strength. ... All the hands and arms made light work of what was a great challenge in my mind.”

Because their new home was not ready before their old home sold, the Dunhams stayed for a few weeks with Gordon and June Canaday in the meantime. They were touched by the hospitality from people they hadn’t known before. “The Canadays accepted us warmly and treated us like honored guests rather than renters,” Keith says. “It was fun getting to know a couple I had never met and see the joy of the Lord in them.”

The Dunhams found, when they really needed help, that the body of Christ functioned as Paul describes in Romans chapter 12: “in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. … Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

Loving our neighbors

Loving our neighbors by meeting tangible needs is one way they will know the greater love of Christ is real. Faith is known for responding generously when such needs are brought to us.

For example, Christmas care bags include both practical items and heartwarming treats for shelter residents at the Union Gospel Mission. For several years, Jenn Bothun has been leading an effort to collect donations to fill the bags in time for Christmas so that every resident is remembered. She continues to see generous contributors from Faith meet higher goals every year to fill more bags with even better treats.

Faith also has a long relationship with Willard Elementary School just uphill from the church. Providing a free week of camp every summer and weekend meals through their Bite2Go program, the church has sought to show the school’s staff and students the love of Christ.

Willard leaders share their students’ most pressing needs with Faith. Last year they asked the church about helping to give some of their students Christmas presents. When the call went out to the church, the response came in a huge pile of presents. Seeing them delivered brought tears to the eyes of the Willard staff member who received them.

Our church has already jumped at the chance to bless Willard students and refugee families in a tangible way again this Christmas, snapping up dozens of gift tags to bless people in need with the love of Jesus.

More and more

Stories like this can just make us feel good about our church, but we should never forget two things: First, everything we have to give and share with others is from God. Our service should not puff us up with self-congratulation but with thanksgiving for the grace God is giving through us.

Finally, we owe Jesus our lives. He said, “When you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty” (Luke 17:10).

Looking to Jesus, let’s do our duty with eagerness and joy. “Finally then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more” (1 Thessalonians 4:1).

Lynn Yount

Lynn and her husband, Doug, lead a Growth Group. Lynn serves as a writer and editor for Living Faith magazine and other church communications.

View Resources by Lynn Yount