For the City
In our home, we are frequently thanking God for both his continued kindness to us and for the local body of believers we get to call family. After our Covenant Member’s Meeting a couple weeks ago, we left with another reminder of both of those realities in our lives. We spent some time together looking back on 2018, and specifically how individuals cared for and ministered to each other within our body. It was such a sweet time of remembering and savoring the gift of community that God has given us.
It’s what happened next though, that made my heart swell. A question was posed: “What do you want to see God do among us in 2019?” Stay at home moms, students, engineers, teachers, and photographers responded:
I want to see our church welcome in international students that have no family and few (if any) friends at the University of Oklahoma.
We want to see more diversity among us. We want our church to look more like the Kingdom of God, with representatives from every tribe, tongue, and nation.
I desire more people to come into our church as a result of hearing the gospel instead of transferring membership.
I want God to use me to serve the poor and marginalized in our city.
Seek the Welfare of the City
We don’t need to have a seminary degree to “seek the welfare of the city” (Jeremiah 29:7a) God has placed us in. We don’t need to be an elder of a church to “pray to the Lord on its behalf” (Jeremiah 29:7b). God reminded his exiled people that even they would benefit from their care and concern for the city that held them captive: “for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7c).
Before the elders stood up and shared their vision for 2019 that Providence Road would place a special emphasis on prayer and mission, our members chimed in. These covenant members, who have been changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ, expressed their desires to see God do incredible works through us, both for His glory and for the good of our city.
And folks, it’s certainly needed. Here are some of the realities in Oklahoma that are in need of redemption and restoration:
There are 8,032 children in OK DHS custody. 40 of those do not have a placement.
Oklahoma has the highest incarceration rate in the nation – nearly double the national average.
174 people are homeless on a given night in Norman.
Oklahoma ranks second in teen pregnancy rate and third in infant mortality rate.
Oklahoma has the highest heart disease death rate in the nation and ranks eighth in suicide rate.
So what are we asking you to do to participate in our renewed emphasis of mission in our city?
Get Trained
In order to meet the social, emotional, and spiritual needs of the people of our city, you need to know the gospel and how to apply the gospel. Because we believe this is true, we are requiring anyone who would like to serve with us to attend a 2-hour training that we periodically host at our building. If interested, you can sign up for our next training on Sunday, February 10, from 2-4pm.
Pick One
Here’s what we’re not asking you to do: be involved with as many organizations as you can. We’re not asking you to take in every foster child or end homelessness. But maybe you could take in one foster child. Maybe you could befriend one homeless person. Maybe you could serve once a week at a local crisis pregnancy center.
Individually, the burden feels too great to bear. Collectively, as a church, we can have a real and lasting impact on the welfare of the city that God has called us to. Start by picking one organization or one group of people you’d like to serve. We’re working to add more organizations and serving opportunities, but here are the ones available to us now.
Be Consistent
As parents, we don’t merely tell our kids about Jesus’ work on our behalf and love for us every Easter and Christmas, hoping that these two annual events are enough to change their eternities forever. No! The stakes are too high, aren’t they? We pray with them regularly, we catechize them, and we teach them of God’s kindness to us often, in regular everyday life.
Likewise, making a significant impact on the poor and marginalized in our city will take time and patience. We can’t expect to have real, lasting change by hosting a couple events each year. We’re asking that you prayerfully consider who you want to serve, and then serve them often.
Over the coming weeks, you’re going to hear more about key organizations doing incredible work in our city. Beginning February 10, we will highlight one non-profit each week for five consecutive weeks in our Sunday morning gathering. In the meantime, begin praying now for God to show you where He wants you to serve for His glory and for the good of our city.
