A good friend of mine who is a pastor in Zimbabwe recently sent out his ministry update in which he included a number of ministry initiatives for the year. Among them were several concerning community based initiatives which are listed below:

-Provide loans and training to at least 20 households so they can start income generating projects and run them profitably.

-Help at least 50 families with food through our benevolence ministry

-Help at least 1,500 children through the schools and children’s ministry by providing feeding, educational supplies and spiritual and career guidance.

-Help four schools with allowances for staff, school supplies, equipment and renovations.

-Develop our medical ministry to where we are able to regularly provide supplies to the two main clinics in Mhondoro. These clinics are helping at least 100,000 people per year.

-Drill at least 8 boreholes and provide clean drinking water for more than 50 villages.

Looking at this list, I am wondering what might be the equivalent of some of these initiatives for us in the States?

How might we help schools with supplies, equipment and renovations?

How might we provide medical supplies and aid to clinics and those in need?

What might it look like for churches to provide loans for households to start businesses? What if someone could turn to a church rather than a bank for help?

....when i think about the possibilities with some of these ideas, I see the possibility for the church to make a real difference in a community..a difference that would show people the relevance of the gospel.

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