I visited the VicRelief Foodbank yesterday to get inducted for the Dining Room. It was quite a humble experience, but it was something that came up in the induction that has bothered me.
The foodbank has over 700 agencies listed as being able to access the food. It came up in conversation that there are quite a few churches and agencies getting food from just the Croydon and Mooroolbark and surrounds areas. It was suggested that perhaps a group of these agencies could combine to do a “shop”, saving time, fuel, money and the staff and resources of the food bank itself. The problem is, we aren’t aware of the other churches handing food and welfare, some meal services sure, but on the whole, none of the myriad of agencies and ministries in this area know each other, let alone work for the same causes, and with the same motivation.
Even within the churches serving meals such as the Dining Room, there is fierce rivalry about days and spaces, money, food and people we serve in God’s name! This is sickening and disgraceful to say the very least.
After some thought on this, I thougt I might do a “census” of the ministries and welfare services within the area. I did one earlier for the churches in the Mooroolbark area earlier out of curiousity and disgust to find almost 15 churches in the one suburb of Mooroolbark, yet not working together in an area rife with poverty, homelessness and other social justice issues. I’ll post the PDF later when back home (on the iPhone at the moment).
It saddens me, and I am sure God, that we cannot work together in unity! Imagine the impact combined outpourings of love and resources could have on the community and imagine what impact that would have on the Kingdom! We, and I mean, those of us who profess to follow Jesus, have to get over ourselves and the need for our own little kingdoms! This means accepting others and getting over the man-made doctrines and crap we call denominations, to start outpouring the love we have been shown through Jesus!
I’ll be praying about doing this census, but would appreciate your prayers and thoughts!
Sorry for any spelling errors — using the WordPress app on the iPhone!
Addendum: PDF of Map of Mooroolbark Churches Heres the map I mention earlier about the known churches in the immediate area.
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My melbourne geography is pretty ordinairy, but I know that UnitingCare recently launched a Direct2Care service in the eastern suburbs. The intent is to provide a single point of contact for clients to take some of the confusion out of the system of multiple aid providers. I think they are based in or near Knox.
Cheers!
Scott
Hi Neal,
Just read your article about 'our small kingdoms' i think you have highlighted a significant problem, i think a number of factors contribute to this 'great divide' not least theoligical. How does one change this? i think a broader more comprehensive understanding of the Kingdom might be a good start, if churches embraced a 'centered set' model view ( Heibert. Kraft, Bosch, etc)this would change the focus from the old 'bounded set' model, as you know this old model has its focus on a well defined structure and majors on boundaries that are almost 'black-and-white' in definition, now for me to think that this will somehow change due simple to the act of recognition is equally as foolish on my part. What a different world it would be if churches ride themselves of a Collins St Corporate mentality this sort of competition is well accepted and even encouraged in a secular context, and why not, the end result has the same aim….measurable outcomes.
Ps: This is a great website….wow!! with heaps of interesting stuff, ive had a good look around…..i'll be back!!
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