As a congregation, we talk much about the importance of being part of a living, breathing community, existing in relationship with others. We see this evidence weekly, as we share meals and stories, prayers and tears, laughter and celebrations. We saw this in action (and are seeing it action right now) as All Souls’s folks care for one other as some of us still feel the affects of the weekend storm and power outages. Moments like these remind me of the power of this thing we call church and stir in me again the joy of being called pastor.
Winn Collier
|
However, we also believe it is important for All Souls to collectively be part of a larger community, part of the larger church. We believe we are to cooperate with others, to serve others, to receive the gift of others—and yes, even to submit to the wider wisdom of others. We do this in many ways through multiple connections with the global church. However, a primary expression of our broader community is our partnership with the Virginia Baptists, the denomination that gave us birth. While many of you don’t know much about our wider community, the moment we are in right now is one of those occasions where you truly should.
Sunday afternoon, as I was driving on Interstate 64, a rig from the VBMB (the mission board of the Virginia Baptists) passed me heading west, toward the wide swath of towns and counties without power. The VBMB is nationally known for disaster relief, and since they are one of the first the Red Cross calls when crisis hits, it’s no surpise to see them in action. However, it struck a deep chord in me to know that these men and women, trained relief volunteers, dropped their jobs and were heading into the fray—and that we are part of this.
These response teams go in Jesus’ name, and (secondarily) they go in our name. There is no way our little community could quickly and efficiently mobilize the hi-tech equipment to arrive in a storm-ravaged area and set up a food kitchen or offer water and laundry service or provide chaplains for those anxious or grieving. However, together we can. And, though many of you didn’t even know it, we have. Time and again. This weekend is simply one disaster close to home, one where we’ve felt the impact. But the VBMB was at a disaster last month and will be at some disaster next month. And our shalom funds that we give to the VBMB are there with them.
I thought you should know part of what your dollars are doing, this moment, for our neighbors.
Winn Collier (www.winncollier.com) is pastor of All Souls, a congregation with Baptist ties in Charlottesville, Va. He originally wrote this article for his congregation.