I learned something last week about outreach — from a dead lawn mower. The large riding lawn mower that the church has enjoyed fine service from for over 15 years, mowed it’s last blade of grass here at the church a couple of weeks ago. We were advised it was beyond rehabilitation.
To save the trustees the trouble of hauling it away I offered to push it to the end of our driveway sporting a “free” sign. I knew it wouldn’t take long for someone to offer to haul it away and it didn’t, but in the three or four hours it sat there I met a few of my neighbors and they each had the same question — “Free?” “Really?” “Why?”.
What I learned was that you get people’s attention when you’re giving something away. The dead mower really didn’t hold much value for us but it obviously had value for the one who finally loaded it in his trailer headed for home. There was also a bit of good will that was generated from giving something away. Even among the people who stopped to look and then took a pass at taking the dead mower–we had friendly conversation and I enjoyed the opportunity to meet people from the area I’d never met.
Plans are now well under way for our July 7, 2007 Community Cookout — our “free” Community Cookout. Why are we doing this — couldn’t we raise money for the church by charging something? We could, but that would defeat the purpose and we don’t need to because our God supplies all our needs. We aren’t hosting a free Community Cookout because we have a need — we’re doing it because our neighbors have a need. Do they need a free meal? Probably not — some might — but what they really need is Jesus. And as the saying goes “people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” People need Jesus and we have the Gospel to share — but until people really believe we care, they won’t care that we want them to know our Savior. Some may come to the Community Cookout and say “Free?” “Really?” “Why?” The answer? Because we care.
So plan now to join us for the cookout–find a way to help–come meet the neighbors and let them know you care.
