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Some real life tid-bits
November 14, 2006
All poetry aside, I wanted to let you know what’s going on in life as I know it. The church I attend here in Halifax called “The Agora” has been becoming more and more actively involved in social justice issues. Many of our members are passionate about these issues. As a community, we just spent the month of October fasting, praying and seeking direction with the question in mind, “what can one small church do to aid in the HIV/AIDS pandemic?” The first Sunday of October we held a “dessert and discernment” night. We hosted a ‘community brainstorming’ about what God had been showing us in the past month, and ended with some delicious desserts (it kept people there for its entirety). The night was filled with very valuable perspectives and ideas. Some things we discovered were:
The importance for us to:
Unite with other local churches to combine efforts
Keep love at the centre of our intentions
Educate ourselves about the HIV/AIDS issues so we can make informed decisions
Just to name a few.
We also must realize we need to address real problems of AIDS education in Africa, for example, and not forget the connection between AIDS and poverty. They are both a part of the endless cycle; disease preventing them from being able to work, not having the income to pay for medication etc. there’s so much to do and get involved in if we simply get our heads out of the sand. One important thing I realized is that AIDS and poverty a lot of times are symptoms of deeper spiritual disease and darkness. If we want to heal their bodies, we also need to heal their souls. And that’s something only God can do. But like Jesus, we can walk the streets they walk and let the hand of God reach through us and touch them, making them whole in body and soul.
The cool thing about the “dessert and discernment” was to see everybody involved. As a young passionate person in the church, sometimes you feel like no one else is getting it like you are. Boy was I wrong. It’s so exciting to see the prospect of working together as a community to make an impact, however big or small. We will all play different roles. Some will be the brains, some will be the heart, some will be the hands and some will be the feet. No part is more or less important than the other. We must work this out together if we want to see our dreams become reality.
I want to encourage you churchgoers to bring up a subject like this in your congregation and opt to have a time of prayer for all those who wish to be involved in some way. The number of people that show up or show interest may surprise you.
Our brainstorming session was only the first step. Now we must press forward with the inspiration we’ve gathered and make it reality. Now it’s up to each of us to seek out where we fit in. I see myself as the feet, as one who goes and treads on the same ground the orphans and widows tread on.
Where do you fit in to the solution?
Posted by Marygrace on November 14, 2006 02:48 PM
Comments
Mary-Grace,
That was so encouraging to read about your ENTIRE CHURCH getting excited and participating in such a discussion. I mean, the fact that your church is interested enough to fast and pray for one month to discern its role is so unique. When a small church in Halifax is praying and fasting to discerg its role in the AIDS pandemic you know the SPIRIT is moving...thanks for this encouraging word.
-jason
Posted by: Jason on November 22, 2006 10:22 AM
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