keep showing up

A large part of Christian Community Development is found in the "keep showing up".  A great example of this is found in a small group from Orchard Hill Church who befriended Jack, a Walnut neighbor who was in need of some assistance a few years back. Their friendship has been mutually transformative in so many ways   Through committed presence and listening deeply to one another's lives, a small band of friends have become family.  Here's just a sampling of how Jesus and the Good News of the Kingdom of God have become visible...

*Celebrating Jack's 73rd birthday last week with a living room, a loving room, full of family and friends.
*This group of friends have walked with Jack through neck surgery, through rehab at a local care facility, through advocacy for in-home healthcare, through doing the required work to get an awesome powered wheelchair, through doing the work together that was required for Jack's house to get an outdoor makeover by Habitat for Humanity.  And so. much. more.
*Jack saw the Gospel being lived out in this group, and dialogue about Jesus and finding life in Jesus pursued.  Jack made a decision for Christ, and is learning what it means to put his trust in the Lord.
*Not only has this group taken Jack out to concerts and for dinner, but yesterday, they were able to organize the logistics to get Jack's older sister to Jack's house for his birthday.  I do not believe that Shirley had been inside Jack's home for many years.  In the picture below, you can see her listening to Jack play one of his many treasured guitars.

As this group kept showing up, they moved from service through a mission motivation to service through a friendship motivation. 

 John 15:15  Jesus talks about no longer servants, but friends.