Immanuel Reformed Church

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A Missional Marriage

Our Kids Hope Director here was already expanding the influence of the Kingdom through KHUSA by working with the school to identify families with critical needs. We developed an ‘angel tree’ at Christmas by which members of Immanuel could supply much needed warm winter clothing and a toy for children who were living in extremely economically depressed homes. At the beginning of the school year we collect school materials to bring to the school office for the staff to hand out to kids who cannot afford proper materials. There were a couple of instances where refugee families moving into the district had needs and our fellowship responded to provide beds, bedding and other basic goods. Because of the four years of excellence of the commitment of the mentors and the compassionate assistance of our fellowship, Kids Hope became well known and well respected throughout the Meadowlawn community. We didn’t realize how well known until we were led to begin a missional outreach to that community. As we completed the DE courses here, a small group from Immanuel wanted to gather to see how we could make it practical in a missional venture. We decided we would like to see if we could establish an organic Kingdom community in a neighborhood – an indigenous work, separate from Immanuel. We weren’t sure what it would look like, or how we would proceed. As we prayed and thought about going into a neighborhood, it came to mind that the Meadowlawn community might be a good place to begin. There is a tremendous diversity of cultures, many of the residents are ‘unchurched’, and we have had some exposure through KHUSA. We decided we would begin by prayer-walking, utilizing the three principles of OAs. We literally ‘married’ the two missional tools God had provided; DE and KHUSA. We began prayer walking on Sunday afternoons in May of 2008. We witnessed the reality of all of the things we had been learning. God indeed was already at work. Rather than ‘going in cold’, God used KHUSA to warm the neighborhood where we walked. Children in the neighborhood immediately recognized the mentors in our group, and ran out to greet us and walk with us. We later discovered that the parents were less concerned with our presence in the neighborhood because they knew of our service at Meadowlawn. We already had a story that touched their story. We didn’t have to work hard at building a bridge of trust, we simply had to validate it. As the weeks continued, we found more opportunity to meet the adults. We let them know that we were there because initially we loved their kids, and that we wanted to know how we could further bless them in their own neighborhood setting. We offered to pray for their concerns. They began to trust we had no ulterior motives, and we found openness. This is a story in the making. We already have accumulated several local stories that are proving to become a part of the greater unfolding story. It is clear that God is writing the story, and we will continue to endeavor to follow His Spirit as He connects their stories to His Story, the story of His love for the world, and particularly for those He misses and is working to restore. We are just humbled and excited to be invited by Him to participate.