mercy ministry

The permanent programme approach to mercy ministry can take the initiative away from Christians to love their neighbours, institutionalise it, and even distract the local church from our central purpose of proclaiming the gospel.

The spontaneous approach might help keep gospel proclamation central by handing the initiative back to individual Christians, but it can also misallocate scarce resources and relegate mercy ministry too far from the consciousness of many believers.

At Blantyre Community Church, we want to encourage every-member-ministry in word and deed, equipping believers to participate in works of service. But, rather than telling people exactly how they ought to love their neighbour, we’re watching to see compassion emerge naturally as the Holy Spirit convicts through his Word. And then, reactively, we get behind to advise, coordinate and support that activity - especially those ideas that are best conceived to meet both physical and eternal needs.

In practice, this means our Needs Committee helps as a first point of call to receive, evaluate and prioritise both needs and ideas, as well as mobilising people to help.

Ministry to the immediate church family is given first priority. As ‘a man must first care for his own household’, so the church as a family must first see that immediate needs are met.

Beyond the local church, the church's ministry of mercy cannot be limited to Christians. The compassion of Christ and the love of God was directed towards us when we were still enemies.

Church resources are used responsively to strengthen support to various individuals and initiatives both in and outside the local church.

In recent times, the church has given towards: flood relief; day care; income support; medical expenses; school fees; transport to church; funeral costs; rental subsidies; addiction care; stolen goods replacement; food gifts and business start up costs.

Please consider giving to our general fund so that we will be able to generously support mercy ministry to the many who are disadvantaged in our context.