I did not want to do it.
I had just gotten off the phone with my 40 Days of Community coordinator, Cynthia May. Our church, Hatcher Memorial Baptist in Richmond, was in the beginning stages of planning this campaign, and she was forming her leadership team.
She asked me to lead the mission team. Our goal would be to reach out to the Lakeside area of Richmond by conducting a church-wide mission project and oversee many smaller projects performed by small groups. We were to become “Better Together” by focusing outside our four walls, working shoulder-to-shoulder to fulfill God's purposes.
It sounded like a lot of work! I envisioned hours of phone calls begging folks to get on board, meetings that last well into the evening and enough emails to make me go cross-eyed. This would become my life for two months!
The worst part was dreading the reluctance that was sure to come. I had once served on our nominating committee and getting people to say yes was like pulling teeth. Many of you know exactly what I'm talking about! And what about the community — wouldn't they hesitate to become involved in a church-sponsored event?
Floods of doubt washed over me — doubts about myself, my church, my community. Maybe I was just being pessimistic. Maybe Satan was throwing everything he could into my path to make me stumble.
Maybe I was ripe for a good lesson from God. Whatever the case, I said yes — more out of a sense of duty than anything else. Too many people had heard me say, “We really need to do more in the way of outreach.” I couldn't run from the call now.
Expectations. I really wanted this to go well, but I expected resistance. People are busy to the point of exhaustion, especially in the church. How could they enthusiastically jump on board for yet another program? I was afraid this would be another exercise in futility.
One voice of optimism helped subdue my fears during this time. My pastor, Michael Poole, has always believed in the people of Hatcher. He pushes us constantly to look outward, to see the community as our primary mission field.
Before the 40 Days Kickoff, he delivered a powerful sermon based on Revelation 3:20, with the famous picture of Jesus standing at the door serving as a backdrop. Could we envision Jesus at the door of our church, he asked? Would we let him in? He was inviting us to be a part of his work in a very tangible way, but he needed servant hearts. We needed to open ourselves up to be used by him. It was either this or choose to stay in our comfort zones.
Individual decisions needed to be made, but the palpable feeling in the sanctuary was one of optimism. We left looking forward to the future.
Maybe this was a turning point for us — a defining moment. Signs started pointing to this: Not a single person said no when asked if they would serve on both the leadership and mission teams! This trend continued as all of the various teams came to life. No needling, coaxing, begging, just a hunger to be a part of something they could believe in.
For our churchwide project, we decided to do something in Bryan Park, specifically an area that had been ravaged by the remnants of tropical storm Gaston. What started as simple plans to clean the area evolved into making a “pocket park,” replete with new landscaping, tree plantings, benches and a pergola.
We now know that God was orchestrating everything masterfully, moving each piece into place as he saw fit. He worked in the hearts of each individual long before we asked for help. There was no need for us to worry about micromanaging everything — God was in control.
We can see this truth in the way each need was supplied. One of our members, Karen Azzarone, happens to be a landscape designer. She pounded the pavement looking for merchants willing to donate supplies — lumber, mulch, sand, trees, etc. Their response was outstanding! Monetary donations came in from Lakeside businesses. A printer made posters at no charge. A public relations firm got the word out through the local media. T-shirts were made for the event.
The one common denominator from start to finish was the willingness of the people of Hatcher and Lakeside to pitch in.
God used that spirit in a big way! Over 200 people came to “Better Together — In Bryan Park,” the morning of Saturday, March 25. Some came from the homes in the immediate vicinity. Others came straight from work. Church members worked side-by-side with the unchurched.
We didn't pass out tracts. We were just there together, serving our neighbors. There were a lot of smiling faces, handshakes and pats on the back. I can still feel the feeling of camaraderie.
Was this an example of how the church works? What can God do through a group of willing people, gifted in specific ways? He combines those gifts together. Collectively we are so much stronger, wiser — better.
We experienced God in a fresh, new way. We learned that anything is possible if we will just say “yes.” The more that word rings out in the halls of Hatcher, the better.