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internetmonk.com » Blog Archive » Sermon: The Longest Journey is to Samaria
I love the title to Michael Spencer's sermon on the woman at the well. He challenges God's people to take the longest journey of your "stay-in-my-comfort-zone" life. Reach out to the people nearest you on your journey.

I think the challenge is to just begin. Mark Cahill said in sermon over Spring Break in Sanibel Community Church that the hardest one to reach out to is the first one. He's right. So just start a conversation rather than worry about your presentation. Consider how you could move the conversation to bring God up. I'll share my journey with you as I start conversations with those around me.

Pastor Daron

Sowing Hope

Tonight I helped throw a party! Our church at Wooster Grace is focused on outreach. We have targeted a apartment complex where single moms and the working poor live. We extend to them God's love. The name of this outreah is Sowing Hope. Tonight we threw a valentine's party. Yeah, I know. It's not Valentine's Day yet. But we did something cool.

This is the second year the outreach team mobilized believers to throw this party. The church gathers valentines, a meal, a gospel message, and people to love-on the children and adults. The kids who attend create take-home boxes which they decorate. We purchase for them valentine card sets for them to take home so that they can prepare them for their friends at school or in the neighborhood. Most of these children can't afford to buy valentines, so we provide them. Then they can share them with their friends. We don't rubber stamp the valentines with our logo or church name. We just let them take 'em home to give out to their friends--no strings attached.

I can't tell you how amazing it is to learn names of new friends. Little ones who want to feel loved. You see the glee in their eyes as they receive the valentine cards. Their beaming smiles shine out the smell of body odor (some kids don't bathe too often). Still, God loves each of them very much. I know this pleases God! He wants us to love others as we have been loved. God is great God. He can do amazing things through us. May God give you the prompting to love others around you in His name, attribute your acts and words of love to Him. Bless people with God's love through you!

Cross-cultural challenges

I ponder my own ethnic background with interesting emotions. I have pride, gratitude, and a sense of obligation. God birthed me into my Native American heritage. I am Navajo. God made me Navajo.

As I seek to lead others to engage in cross-cultural missions I need to consider what I am asking them to do. I need to equip them to engage stepping over boundaries--their own boundaries and leap out of their own comfort zone.

I received a link to a short article which informs me how I can help others engage in cross-cultural ministry. Jeff Yourison shares how to open the door to diversity. He gives some simple things to consider or to answer as each person engages in cross-cultural ministries:

1. Take stock of your current attitudes.
2. Be aware of your own ethnicity.
3. How do you act when you are the minority?
4. What biblical truths help you engage those of a different culture?

He cites two other articles which you can read for further insight. Both articles take the perspective of college campuses however you can apply them to the city or county at large.

God is prompting me to learn more about diversity and reaching out to the lost and the lonely who need God's love and God's people to make them feel and be included in God's forever family. The lost and lonely only need an invitation. Step out of you comfort zone and minister to those around you.