United Methodist Definition; Outreach is a ministry of of Compassion, Justice, and Advocacy [in our community and the world].

We do a lot of Outreach to the world through our connectional giving (apportionments).

So, I have two questions; Who needs Compassion, Justice and Advocacy in our community, and/or, who can tell us who needs Compassion, Justice and Advocacy in our communtiy?

The answer to both questions is,

Who doesn't need compassion, justice and advocacy? Your question seems to be referring to groups of people, but individuals all around us are in need. Who isn't in need of support from others suffering with the same issues you deal with - whether it be something as simple as a friend because you're lonely to something as complicated and horrible as domestic violence. Who can't tell us of someone in need? I'm sure every person in our congregation knows at least one person who could use help. Who is to say whether or not that individual is not already being helped just by knowing that someone in our congregation. Many people find it hard to reach out and confess that they are having trouble, they don't want to be singled out or judged. So if our church works together to provide the companionship to people in our community by inviting friends, neighbors or even strangers to come to events at our church, isn't that a start to trust and friendships that help bridge unfamiliarity and insecure feelings to open the door to come back to either a service or another function? If our church invited and hosted a block party where we just make up invitations and distribute them to the immediate vicinity with the offer to bring a side and friends, have the praise band and other church bands play a song or two outside.... Honestly, who doesn't come for free food? Look at the number of people that come to VBS to let their kids have fun and dinner. There is a definate need there. I think that the more events we have that invites the community to our church, the more people that would feel comfortable to come to our church. What about including other churches in the area? Invite them to come invite anyone in those other churches with a music group or other applicable talent to come.

Sorry, I do go on....

Tonight's "be attitude" was "be bold" ! I agree Becky; we should do more at inviting the community to various events. I believe (tomorrow's "be attitude" ) that the time for bold thinking has arrived. Block partys, barbeques and even a walking ministry would be great. VBS has shown, year after year that this type of ministry draws the community in.

Greg, it is past your bedtime!

Becky, if everyone needs compassion, justice and advocacy, where do we start? Are there some who "need" it more than others? Is a lonely friend in need of more or less compassion than someone who has suffered domestic violence? Your friend is not in need of compassion from the church. Does general loneliness qualify as needing compassion? They have you and other friends. Are there those in our community who do not have someone? Who are those that are “down to the bone” lonely, and where are they? Those abandoned, neglected, shunned and forgotten in our community are lonely. I mean there are likely some who are “I want to kill myself, no one cares for me” lonely.

I do not need compassion, justice or advocacy. Really. Neither do you or Greg. Sure we need support and love, which God provides to us in abundance, but we are not suffering. I can't think of many people I know personally who does [presently] need it. We are not suffering, grieving, marginalized, ignored, taken advantaged of or dismissed. There are times in our lives when compassion is necessary. When grieving for a lost loved one, when being diagnosed with cancer, when suffering a substantial financial setback, when in the hospital; Those are the times we need compassion.

So, I suppose I could rephrase my question by asking “Who are the neediest of the needy; The loneliness of the lonely; the lost, downtrodden, and in the deepest despair. Brushed off, ignored and shunned by society. The “least and the lost”. Who are they and where are they [in our community]? Who can tell us? We should know who these people are, and God wants us to know who they are. I’m embarrassed to say I don’t know who they are, however, I should…

So, I should ask again, Who needs Compassion, Justice and Advocacy in our community, and/or, who can tell us?

Fritz - I gotta say, I agree more with Becky & Greg. I think that here in our neck of Gloucester county, there are probably not too many "neediest of the needy" by the definition above. But, I think there are an awful lot of people who struggle day to day. I'm not saying at all that we should not look for those who are truly suffering with major "stuff". But, I think it's still important to focus our efforts throughout the community. The person living right next door may be struggling with something, and you'd never know. Yes, it might be something major, but it might be just a "I'm having a rough day" thing - and we all know that it's the little headaches that tend to snowball until you feel like you're really under a heavy burden. Sometimes it's just a simple smile that can turn someone's whole day around. I think most people need to feel recognized, accepted, and welcomed - and that's something that I think our church in particular is really good at. So, we should be doing it even more, right?

Sorry - it's very late and I'm rambling [YAWN] 'night all!

Hi Michelle. Oh, you need to reset your computer clock.... Yes it is late, but 04:48 am?

Yes, I absolutely- absolutely agree. We all need to feel "recognized, accepted, and welcomed", but that may not really identify those who need Compassion, Advocacy and Justice in the Outreach Ministry arena. And, Michelle I think you summed it up well when you said "The person living right next door may be struggling with something, and you'd never know." So, back to the original question. Who needs Compassion, Justice and Advocacy in our community, and/or, who can tell us?

"You'd never know" you said. Well, that is part of my question. How do we get to know?

Are there any of the "neediest of the needy", or the least and the lost in our community? Who could tell us?

Oh and you also said it well. Yes, Mantua is not just good, but Great at a lot of things.... My question and the topic of this discussion is only on one of three major ministry areas of the church, Outreach.. The other two are Nurture and Witness. Outreach deals with the caring ministry of the church. Witness encompases many of the things Becky and Greg were talking about... Community BBQs and Events, Block Parties and Evangelism....

OK - so I see what you're saying. So, how do you get to know? The only way that I can see is to actually "get to know" people - which brings us back to the nurture and witness ideas. I think you have to get to know as many people as possible in order to find at least some of those who fall under the "compassion" umbrella, and make that kind of personal connection. So I guess it seems to me the three major areas really need to be interconnected.

I really am turning off the computer now!

I have to agree with Fritz that not all need justice. Compassion on the other is something that everyone may, at one time or another, need.

Here's a question: How well do any of us know our neighbors? Every member of of our fellowship lives somewhere and has neighbors. If we are called to be salt and light; then who are we to be salt and light to?

Outreach ministry begins with the individual believer. The Outreach Team in the UMC of M has specific roles that require an organized effort that the individual would have a hard time carrying out.

Well, I think that really the best way to help and get to know most people in our community is the BBQ's, block party, VBS, etc. Those people that are in need, a lot of them don't think that they can come back or start going to a church. I have more than one friend that is in need and does not feel that they can attend church. They feel they will not be accepted and yet they feel the need for that connection. These friends that I speak of have said that they want to go to church, that they believe in God, but many have a hard time walking through the door into a group that may not accept them. Even though worship is directed to God, that's why we are there, it's also about who is standing next to you. After the service is over, we all congregate, welcome each other and chit chat. If you've never been there and you are in need, don't you think that you would feel alienated or separated from the group? You don't know anyone and YOU know what your sins are and YOU know your needs so that would make you feel awkward to start. Are you going to stay or dash out the door from anxiety. Who's to say what someone that is truly in a desparate situation and new to our church would do?

Now if it was just a block party or BBQ or VBS or a game night or movie night where everyone is talking and there's music playing and you just happen upon or decide to come with another friend (who doesn't come to your church) and you meet some members and/or the pastor (just because they are talking about their day or kids or husband or wife or whatever while standing in line to play a game or get a drink). Don't you think that the stress is off a little? That their in more of a comfort zone? That maybe they will come again to something else or even a service?

I gotta run!

We can't exclude people because WE don't think they need compassion, justice or advocacy. How can we say that there is any degree of need between someone who is lonely as compared to someone who has experienced domestic violence. Both people have a need for compassion! The difference is in what we can give to either of these people. Becky's friend who is lonely may be lonely for Jesus but doesn't know it! Sure Becky is her friend and often times friendship is a great balm for our needs, but doesn't always solve the problem. So, Fritz I have to disagree with your statement that she doesn't need compassion. We don't really know what hole she has in her spirit that manifests itself in loneliness. Actually, the abused persons needs might be more obvious but I don't think it is any more wanting of compassion as the lonely person. We need to be able to offer hope to both the lonely and the abused! And neither of them are easy to see. As Michelle said, the person next door might be needy and we don't even know it. Do we want to focus our attention to certain "needs" in our community (once we identify them)? Of course we do, but we can't over look the rest either. Who can help us? Well right off the bat I can think of our local social services agencies. They might not be able to share in specifics, but they might be able to give us some statitics we could work with. For example, we have a jail bursting at the seams, we have drugs and alcohol abuse in our community. There is domestic violence and child abuse. Gangs have a hold in Gloucester County! Its all there running under the surface of our community like a black market. Maybe other churches in our area have identified the who but lack resources on their own. Maybe a joint effort could work. Maybe people in our own congregation have ideas as to who we need to reach out to. Jesus had lunch with the Pharisees and walked through the lepar colony...he didn't discriminate and neither should we. We need to be prepared to help anyone who needs us. We can't save everyone all at once but we could sure try to identify needs in our community and start addressing them. A 12 step for drugs or alcohol, helping the homeless through the interfaith hospitality network, a support group for abuse survivors, etc. AND.....one thing that I think we have to stop doing and that is having this caviet attached to our outreach...we will only help you if you come to church! We have to cut that out. We need to say...how can we help you period! Then I think, when people see that we are really committed to helping them...no matter who they are...they will see that we are the salt and the light and they WILL come. I fear that we are too worried over getting them in the door of the church. I hope that we can become servants and let Jesus love be so powerful for us that those people will want to get what we have and they will come to church on their own once they see it in action they won't want to resist. Justice and Advocacy are the result of compassion. How can we not want justice for those in need and how can we not work for that (advocacy. Anyway..thats my rant for today! Thanks for reading! I love you all on this string! D