There are few things that really make an impact on someone's life like another person serving them with nothing to gain in return... and there are few things that represent the selfless love of God in such a clear way. That is the reason for encounterGOD's "Adopt-A-Block" ministry. "Adopt-A-Block" exists to serve the underprivileged of the city by "adopting" blocks in poorer neighborhoods and performing miscellaneous tasks for families on that block, such as mowing lawns, planting flowers, painting, making minor home repairs, etc. Of course, all of this is done with the intention of gaining an open door to share the love of Jesus with the families being served.
The Scriptures tell us in James 2:15-16, "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?" The context surrounding this verse is James' discussion of the fact that faith without works is dead. These are tough words to hear, but it is clear that James is telling us here that if we love Jesus, if we truly believe that He is Lord and that He offers salvation to those who call on His name, then we will live out that faith by loving what Jesus loves - people. What better way to live out faith in Jesus than by serving those around us, especially those who are unable to enjoy the comforts that many of us take for granted?
The "Adopt-A-Block" ministry takes a strong commitment and a lot of volunteers to be successful. It is not a ministry that can be accomplished by only a few people; therefore, we seek to partner with local church bodies in the neighborhoods we serve that will carry out this ministry. Not to mention that a neighborhood church is much more able to serve the needs of those surrounding it. Therefore, the first step in the "Adopt-A-Block" ministry is often to find churches that are willing to provide the necessary labor and resources to sustain the ministry. If you are a church leader who would like to partner with encounterGOD for this ministry, or if you are an individual who would like to serve on an existing "Adopt-A-Block" team, please contact us by using our online contact form. We would love to serve alongside you in this ministry!
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