I just completed a Transitional Pastorate (intentional interim).  I love doing this work. Assisting a local congregation in this way is rewarding. I tell people its like being a grandparent. “I get to do a lot of the fun stuff without having to do very much of the yucky stuff.” 

About a year ago, during my most recent assignment, I met with a city neighborhood representative responsible for the section of the city where the church I was serving was located. He is not only very skilled at community development techniques, but is a committed Christian and dedicated churchman.

As he shared some helpful information about the city and our neighborhood I asked him for some ideas about how the church might best get involved. He spoke about a particular section of the neighborhood and how hard it had been to make any progress there. He said, “The best thing you can do to help us there is to just be the church with them!”

I knew immediately that as a fellow Christian he didn’t mean that we should somehow treat them as less-than us or for them to become our projects for mission-actions and compassionate care ministries – the typical way good Christians and caring churches seek to make a difference in their communities. What he meant was, “Befriend them! Do what Jesus did and go to them and build caring relationships with them seeking to get to know them and be known by them and then, do life together in the neighborhood. Just be the church with them!”

We don’t need more programs and projects. We just need to become friends with our neighbors!

But this is hard work. It means becoming vulnerable admitting that we have as many issues as anyone. It means not being in control of everything that happens. It means not keeping track of how many things “we” give “them.” It means being committed to the relationship over the long-haul no matter what! It means being accountable for what we are responsible for while holding others accountable for what they are responsible for. It means being uncomfortable!

“Being” the church in our neighborhoods is much more effective and rewarding than just “doing” church.