“We didn’t do it for the credit. We did do it for people to notice, not to notice us, but to notice the love we are sharing,” says Tabby McMonagle, a member of Grace Fellowship in Brunswick, Md. (Scott Avey, lead pastor). “It swelled my heart to know that the people I had the chance to see were feeling the love!”
Grace Fellowship completed its first Church on the Street community outreach event in September. The leadership team of Grace was considering ways to move congregants into missional action while embracing some of the limitations that come with being a church plant.
“We don’t have a building of our own,” says Scott Avey, “but every limitation has an advantage. Not having a building means we don’t have to upkeep and maintain a building. This makes it easier for us to be in the community rather than insisting the community comes to us.”
Church on the Street consisted of three teams of 15-20 people. One of the teams engaged in beautifying a local elementary school by weeding playgrounds, planting colorful flowers, as well as putting a fresh coat of paint on several items of
playground equipment.
The school’s custodian, Rick, was so thankful for the work from Grace Fellowship that he posted on his social media account, “Grace Fellowship did a great job this morning making BES look beautiful outside. Thank you very much for all of your hard work.”
The other teams cleaned up a city park, cleared leaves at the city’s roundabout, and cleared rubbish along a mountain bike trail.
Following the event, the three teams met up at a local park for a time of fellowship and prayer for the community.
“Serving the community is a great way to activate new or newer congregants to engage in our faith community,” says Scott, “an added bonus is that children can weed, pick up trash, and serve alongside their parents and adults!”
You can watch a video recap of Church on the Street here.
This story appeared in GraceConnect eNews. To subscribe to the weekly e-newsletter that includes news and information from congregations in the Charis Fellowship, click here.