We Can Do More Together

by John Eiselt

“Needs” come in all different types. 

We'll see that in this weekend's miracle story, one of my favorites in the gospels. 

For most of us, the needs that come to mind most quickly are often physical needs related to our health, home, work, finances, or family. However, some of our most essential needs are not as easy to identify.

One need we all have in common is the need for significance and meaningful relationships. Our most critical need is to be reconciled to the God who created us.

This coming ministry year we are taking another big step in how we will reach out, invite, partner with, and equip families in our church and community to experience significance and meaning in their lives and relationships.

Ultimately, we want to be a people and a place that connects people to the God who created them.

We will do this in multiple ways and our efforts will involve equal parts of what we do here at Five Oaks and what we do in our everyday lives throughout the week. 

The most important component to this is that we will do this together.

We believe that “together” is how God created us to experience him and carry out his mission. 

You will see this in how we invite you to serve at Five Oaks and beyond.

You will see it in how we recruit and train and develop our volunteer teams.

You will see it in the ministries and events that represent the heart of our mission at Five Oaks. 

This weekend we are looking at a story about the miracle of working together to meet a critical need. 

It is a need that is ultimately met when a community of friends aligns their mission with the power of God.

Join us this weekend as we experience God together.

“How to Make the Greatest Impact for Hurting People”

Years ago I read about an urban ministry to poor, at-risk kids that was having a deep impact on their lives and showing remarkable long-term results. 

The ministry consisted of after-school tutoring, athletics, Bible studies, a fantastic summer camp, and training for the parents of the kids. 

An unprecedented number of kids who would likely drop out of school were not only graduating, they were going to college.

Kids who would likely have joined gangs were becoming disciples of Jesus and growing as disciples.

Single parents were receiving tangible help and coaching. Their kids had a place to go after school, got their homework done and had fun instead of roaming the streets after school. 

At any given time, there were about 50 kids involved in the program.

Hundreds more in that neighborhood could have used the same help and were free to join in, but only if they abided by the standards of the program. The standards included parental volunteer hours, behavior standards, regular attendance…things like that.

The bar for participation was set high.

So people who cared about that community and saw this organization’s success would often say to them,

“Look, you guys are so successful. You could be helping lots more kids and families. But you make it difficult to get in and stay in. All you need to do is lower the standards so more kids can get in.” 

They didn’t lower the standards, and you already know why.

The standards were the not-so-secret sauce of their success.

And they got the recipe to the not-so-secret sauce from Jesus. 

So this weekend we’re looking at the recipe for that no-so-secret sauce as illustrated by the story of the feeding of the 5000. 

As we set out to make an impact by helping people who need encouragement, mentoring, a hand up, or even basic necessities of life, Jesus shows us some of the necessary ingredients for maximum impact. 

So, if you’re tired of helping, mentoring, serving others, and seeing little to zero results, this weekend is all about changing that.

Photo by Steven Pasino on Flickr