When I was 11 years old, my Sunday school teacher told our class to write down what we wanted to be when we grew up.  So, I grabbed a scrap of paper, wrote, I want to be a missionary, and stuck that note in my Bible.  Over 8 years later, that tiny piece of paper is still in there - a constant reminder of who God has called me to be.

From a young age, I knew that reaching the lost and the broken was important to God’s heart, and therefore it was important to my own.  I’ve been on 4 missions trips in the past 16 months and those have significantly changed the way I view outreach and God’s intention for us to participate in it.

Whether you’re interested in going on a missions trip, or you’re looking for practical ways to pour into your community, I’d like to give you a few things to think about when you consider what outreach looks like in your personal life.

Creating a life that goes WIDE involves…

1. Being faithful in the little things.

“If you are faithful in the little things, you will be faithful in large ones.” Luke 16:10a.  Almost 2 years ago, God challenged me to be faithful in the little things, so that He could trust me with more.  This looks like taking the trash out when it’s overflowing and no one else is doing it. Or putting a stray grocery cart back in the cart rack when you see it just out in the open parking lot.  Or even picking up litter you find on the ground.

It’s all about seeing “little” things that need done and being faithful to do them, especially when no one else wants to.  When we’re able and willing to do these small things, I believe that opens a door for God to trust us with even more when it comes to reaching out to our community.

2. Getting out of our comfort zones.

Before I went on my first missions trip, I had the opportunity to participate in local outreach projects.  These ranged from raking people’s yards to worshipping in the park to evangelizing on the streets. These all put me out of my comfort zone in one way or another and I believe they helped me develop a lifestyle of outreach.  It’s amazing what God can do through us when we’re simply obedient to do what he asks us to.

One night, a friend and I wanted to put this into practice. We felt like we were supposed to go to Subway to pray for people.  We got there, and the place was nearly empty because it was getting so late, but we were trusting that God had us for a reason.  

10 minutes later, a lady walks in and I felt like I was supposed to go up and pay for her food.  So, I went up to the counter and asked her if I could bless her by paying for her meal, and she started tearing up because it meant so much to her!

My friend and I got to pray with her, and we found out her husband had just gotten out of the hospital, so the timing of us being there to bless her and her husband was definitely a God thing.  This encounter happened as a result of being faithful in the little things and going out of my comfort zone to do so.

3 practical ways to put these two points into practice:

• Participate in one of our Second Saturday Serves.  This is an easy way to get involved in serving and giving back to our community.
• Consider going on a missions trip.  These can be life-changing experiences and they are a great way to go out of your comfort zone!  
• Join the Neighborhood Outreach Team.  This is a team of volunteers who deliver the message of Jesus Christ through a weekly ministry called Kids Club. Volunteers have the opportunity to pour into the lives of at-risk children at the Village Green Mobile Home Community by bringing "church" right to their home. 

Join me in living a life of outreach and being faithful in the little things!  God sure will bless you for it.

Second Saturday Serve

Missions

Neighborhood Outreach

CarolAnn is the Outreach intern here at The Vineyard!  She assists the Neighborhood Outreach Team and helps in planning and implementing the Second Saturday Serves.  She enjoys pouring into her community and sharing the love of Jesus with the people she comes across!

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