We Need “The Neighboring Church”

 

Rick Rusaw and Brian Mavis, co-authors of “The Neighboring Church,” say loving your neighbor begins with learning their name. The next steps are to offer a helping hand and a listening ear. 

“We love our neighbors because we are Christians, not because we are trying to make them Christians,” said Mavis.

According to Mavis, it is essential not to turn neighbors into projects but to develop neighboring as a form of ministry itself. Instead of donning matching t-shirts, serving for one day, and making local headlines, “neighboring” is a daily, personal experience with one’s neighbors. 

“For years, our church was in our community to serve. Then a city employee asked if we would take care of a woman’s yard for her,” said Mavis. “As I was driving up, I spotted the house from blocks away. The grass was almost as tall as me.”

Mavis knocked on the door, and a woman answered. He learned this woman had recently survived stage-four cancer, and she was taking care of a nine-year-old foster child. This woman was tearful and embarrassed about her yard.

“I gathered a dozen people, and they brought their equipment. A few hours later, the yard looked almost as good as new. I was proud of our people, and I was glad the city knew they could call us and count on us to take care of it,” said Mavis.

But then Mavis had a moment where his feeling of joy changed to sadness.

“The project should never have even happened. The woman’s grass should never have grown more than six inches tall without a neighbor or a church member jumping in to help,” said Mavis.

Mavis realized that if the church had done a better job of helping its members learn to love their neighbors, he would not have received a phone call from the city in the first place.

“First, I should look to see which church members live nearby. I should call them and ask them to help their neighbor. Then, I should ask them to knock on their neighbors’ doors and invite them to join in helping this woman,” said Mavis. “Neighboring is not a program and neighbors aren’t projects. Needs are revealed as neighbors are known.”

Neighboring is moving life from the backyard to the front yard. It’s taking time for a neighbor when they are outside. The heart of neighboring is putting others ahead of oneself. 

As with any focus, leaders go first. Pastors and church staff can prepare to lead neighboring in their churches by starting to neighbor themselves. Once pastors and staff experience neighboring, the entire church can engage with it.

“Neighboring requires no special talent. But Pastors can start a neighboring movement by encouraging members to take a few minutes to talk to their neighbors when outside,” said Mavis. “This shouldn’t be embarrassing. It should be a start. As members embrace neighboring, any step toward a neighbor should be celebrated.”

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Does this article make you interested in taking the Engaged Neighbor pledge? Five categories and 20 principles to guide you toward becoming an engaged neighbor. Sign the pledge online at http://engagedneighbor.com.

Contact the blog author, David L. Burton at dburton541@yahoo.com.