The river. Sometimes the banks overflowed, other times not. For a small village in Nepal, this river was the only place to get water. There were no faucets in the huts, no easy access to water. It all came from this river. And collecting water sometimes was difficult and dangero
The people in this village are considered outcasts by their society. People basically abandoned – except by one person. “P” travels to this village and others in the area to minister to the people to let them know they are not forgotten.
“L” was introduced to “P” when he and a group from the United States visited this region. The two kept in contact after this group returned home. One day “P” asked about the possibility of building a well for this village – something these people had never had before. “L” found eight people who together donated over $600 to cover the costs of the well.
Once the rainy season ended, several men were hired to dig the well – which they did barefoot and by hand! Once built, the villagers gathered together and celebrated! Tears flowed and shouts of joy echoed loudly as two people pumped the handle and water poured out!
Outreach happened with only a few people giving limited resources – but the impact was significant on people whom society had turned its back on.
Why Outreach?
The importance of outreach cannot be overstated and while there are many reasons for it, let’s explore five of those reasons.
Reason 1 – Outreach is Biblical
First, Jesus commanded it. In Matthew 28:19*, Jesus told His disciples, “Go and make disciples of all the nations.” In Mark 16:15*, Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” And in 2 Timothy 4:5*, Paul told Timothy, “Work at telling others the Good News.”
Jesus spent His life sharing why He came to earth. Then, after His resurrection, He sent the Holy Spirit to help us to share this awesome news of love and forgiveness.
Reason 2 – The Best Message Ever Needs to be Shared
Second, Jesus as our Savior is the best message ever given to humanity! The excitement of the Gospel is begs to be shared. “For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16*)
When a person experiences something that is life-changing, it is meant to be shared. When a person is given a special treasure, wanting to let others know about it is part of the greatness of the gift.
Reason 3 – Outreach Doesn’t Take A Lot of People
Third, one person can make a difference. Outreach can be simple – invite someone to lunch or contribute even a small amount to a mission project, such as building a well. Of course, working together can make a much bigger impact, but one-to-one can change a person’s life.
In John 6:8-13*, a great example of outreach is described. Andrew, a disciple of Jesus and Simon Peter’s brother, found a boy who agreed to share his lunch. Andrew said to Jesus, ““There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?” Jesus then showed them all that giving just a little can make a huge difference, as He fed over 5000 people that day with that small amount of food. One young boy gave all that he had for his lunch. The key is Jesus took the small amount that was offered and multiplied it tremendously.
Reason 4 – Outreach Helps to Make the Gospel More Alive in Your Church
Fourth, outreach affects the local church. Rev Molly Goodrich explained it this way: “In my experience, the more outward reaching a congregation is to its own people, the people in the community, and the people in the world, the more alive and far reaching the Gospel is.”
Outreach doesn’t have to mean doing something for people overseas. It can – but it also means helping others within the communities of the local church.
Reason 5 – Outreach Expresses Gratitude to God
Fifth, the privilege of being able to go to God in prayer is one of life’s greatest blessings which results in heartfelt gratitude to Him. One of the best ways to say “thank you” is to let others know how to find this love and peace.
“Do not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7*)
Surviving and Thriving
A church needs outreach to survive. As Rev Robert Goodrich pointed out: “If a church is to survive and thrive, it must reach beyond its own walls.”
Outreach is finding ways within your local church to share the good news of Jesus. Discover what the Bible says. Do as the Apostle Paul told Timothy, “Work at telling others the Good News.” Start with one person and let him/her know how God has made a difference in your life. Express your gratitude to God by telling someone else about Him. Help your church thrive by being a part of outreach.
*Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
© 2020 Butterfly Copywriting – Val Roskens Tews