Editor’s Note: For our Ordinary Time Devotional series, you are hearing entirely from young authors. They will be sharing their perspectives on the theme, “God is in the streets.” Enjoy reading how the next generation of emerging GCI leaders experiences God outside the walls of the Sunday church gathering.

“Have a blessed day!” Often, I am told this or find myself saying this to those around me. It may only seem like a kind way to part ways, but it can make me ponder: is it really a blessed day?

When I exchange this greeting with another, I don’t know what they are going through, and neither do they about me. However, in that very moment, we are reminding each other that today is a blessed day, despite our current mood, role, or financial status.

It can be humbling hearing it from the kids on the street, or the CEO of a big corporation. It is good to provide a reassuring statement to others, even if the encounter is short-lived. Jesus encouraged us to shine our light to the world.

People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:15-16

So, dear readers, may you all have a blessed day!

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we pray to thank you for this day that you have made. We pray that we will rejoice and be glad in it, despite what obstacles are present. Please help us, to not only let your light within us shine, but to hopefully reignite the flame in others. We commit this day into your hand, through the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, Amen.

By Tongli Panuve
Suva, Fiji

As we dipped our toes figuratively into the waters of a Neighborhood Day Camp experience, there were many learning experiences for our small congregation. Our team began brainstorming and came up with a theme – GC/DC Connection is power. [The name is a play on the acronym AC/DC, meaning alternating current / direct current.]

Our first challenge was to bring our brothers and sisters alongside us and onboard with the idea. We wanted them to share the vision of blessing some children in our neighborhood with fun and love.

We prepared a beautiful and informative flyer that went out to the neighborhood association and to the local elementary schools. Some of our team also went throughout the neighborhood distributing this information. Our pastor ordered matching shirts for our staff members as well.

Activities we planned:

• 1. Rocket building.
  2. Watercolor painting.
  3. Basketball skills.
  4. Icebreaker games.
  5. Line dancing.
  6. Devotionals centered around our theme.

As we began sharing these ideas, we were amazed at the willingness of our members to attempt something outside their comfort spaces. We recruited around 20 staff members.

After much preparation and prayer, we had no takers. Not one family signed up. We didn’t want our volunteers to feel that this was a failure, so our team began to encourage them that this was a learning experience. We would be even better equipped for the next round. It was mutually decided that we would do a “dry run.”

We all gathered as planned and received a very special surprise. Two of our former, young members had returned to the area for a visit! Now it was possible for us to test our plans and ideas on children. We had two very willing participants – an 8-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy. And don’t you know, they loved being the center of all this attention.

Our kiddos had a blast, and so did we. You could say we had a double blast because afterward we gathered outside and watched the completed rocket be launched. That was amazing.

As the Love Avenue Champion, I was so grateful for our volunteer staffers that I prepared an appreciation luncheon. My great volunteers helped me with that as well. We had a wonderful time, discussing our joy in this new and exciting journey. We also debriefed about what worked well and what did not. We are all looking forward to dipping our toes into this water again in the coming year!

By Barbara Leatherman, Love Avenue Champion
Kansas City, MO, US

The GCI congregation in Queens, New York City, held its annual Back-to-School outreach. This year’s initiative was expanded to multiple weekends in August and September and featured an immersive open house approach that allowed each guest to see our ministry Avenues in action. We distributed nearly 400 complimentary backpacks full of school supplies, reaching hundreds of households in our diverse home neighborhood of Richmond Hill, Queens.

As we registered our guests, we offered a relaxed experience of our church community with a “journey” through a bilingual prayer table and meeting members of our various ministries, including Sunday School and Men’s/Women’s Ministry, before receiving their backpacks and enjoying a meal and music with us. We were blessed that so many chose to participate in prayer, receive encouragement, and learn more about our vibrant ministries. Some of our guests returned on subsequent Sundays to hear the transformative hope of Jesus in the stories of walking on water and the promise of forgiveness.

This year’s theme was “Jesus 4-Eva” with a logo designed by nine-year-old Genesis Phillips. We wore matching T-shirts (as pictured) to show our unity and dedication to the hope of Christ. Our hope and prayer are that the process of outreach and follow-up will facilitate the Spirit’s work in the community to build a genuine connection with Christ and our church. We have received the appreciation of some of our community leaders and local clergy for helping uplift and inspire the community.

Our pre-registration process revealed many of the circumstances and prayer requests of our potential guests and shaped the outreach. Our preparation included attending community meetings, visiting businesses, schools, and law enforcement. The entire initiative, which involved nearly every active member and ministry of the congregation, was a culmination of a months-long process of prayer and planning with the missional imagination of Christ at the forefront.

By John Newsom, Pastor
Queens, NY, US