Training Category: Outreach Ministry
You are the salt of the earth. (Matt. 5:13)
You are the light of the world. . . . let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matt. 5:14-16)
As believers we need to verbally witness, communicating the Gospel message, because “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Rom. 10:17). Consideration and compassion can pave the way. It’s a way of being the salt and light of Jesus in our communities and the world around us.
Learn How at: Consideration & Compassion Showcase God’s Love for People
Please Note: You’ll find the following content in the Outreach Ministry Manual.
How to be Salt and Light Through Consideration & Compassion:
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- Give financially to your church’s benevolence fund, directly to unsaved individuals in need, and/or to a relief organization that has a good balance between meeting physical needs and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. (Samaritan’s Purse is one example.) If you give directly to people in need, usually it is best to give a gift card to a grocery store or pay the actual bill rather than give the money. Unfortunately, money sometimes gets used differently than the expressed need.
- Use vacation time to go to a devastated area due to war or natural disaster to help rebuild. Pray that in the process you are a witness of God’s grace.
- Get involved in community projects with non-Christians. As you work side-by-side, helping to meet needs, pray that God would open doors for you to share about Jesus with not only those you serve but those with whom you serve.
- If you can work in a clothing or food bank, use it as an opportunity to distribute tracts and/or Bibles along with the goods the people need.
- Help an unsaved neighbor who is elderly, sick or shut-in to mow the lawn, shovel the snow, pick up groceries or medicine, drive them to the doctor’s office, etc.
- Send a sympathy card with comfort verses from Scripture to an unsaved co-worker who is grieving the loss of a loved one. Offer to bring a meal or dessert or to watch their children. Attend the viewing or funeral service to communicate your support.
- Help families of prisoners in practical ways. Your kindness to their families could also touch the hearts of the prisoners.
- Help those in your community who have special needs, such as physical or mental disabilities, in practical ways.
- Volunteer time at a rescue mission to serve meals to the homeless or do other tasks to help.
- Before, during, and after helping in any of these or other ways, pray. Permeate all you do with intercessory prayer for the people that their greatest need, the spiritual, is also met. Pray for opportunities to share about Jesus with them, not just in deed but verbally as well.
Be realistic. The world does have many scammers who are only out to take advantage of the goodness of people. Be wise. Check out the need. Most importantly, pray for God’s will. If you truly believe God wanted you to help and you seem to have been taken advantage of, trust God to work it for the good (Rom. 8:28). Pray for the person and forgive them. Your reaction to their evil intent could soften their heart to the Gospel.