Welcome to Part 2 of our 25th-anniversary blog series! Following our reflection on Discovering the Good, National Director John Wildeboer explores how sharing our gifts transforms our churches and local communities.
Sharing Our Gifts
Using the unique gifts God has entrusted to each of us to serve our neighbours and build flourishing communities.
Renewing Canada
Joining God in His work of renewal as churches become catalysts for hope, justice, reconciliation, and shared flourishing.
“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”
Luke 12:18–19
The Trap of “Tearing Down Barns”
If you are familiar with the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12, you have probably heard it preached as a warning about the dangers of greed and a reminder that we are called to be generous with our money. But there is something else in this parable that may have gone unnoticed.
“I’ll say to myself… Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”
As a congregational pastor, I often talked and preached about the importance of every member and attendee actively serving within the church and in the community.
Can you imagine the impact our churches might have if this were true? If every person in the pew was actively serving throughout the week in a ministry or program of the church, you might never read another “Help Wanted” notice in the bulletin. There would never be a desperate plea for Cadet leaders, Sunday school teachers, youth volunteers, or people to fill another ministry role.
Imagine every person in a church discovering their gifts and using them to serve one another. Can you imagine?
And then imagine the transformation in our communities. One hundred people, hundreds of people – or 65, if that’s the size of your church – out in the community every week, showing the love of Jesus by serving others.
I am thankful that, in the Christian Reformed Church, we have taken seriously our call to serve our neighbours. Out of this commitment, hundreds, if not thousands, of ministries have been founded and established across Canada. NewGround (formerly Operation Manna) has been directly involved in more than 150 of those ministries over the past 25 years alone.
And yet, back to our rich fool.
You see, he believed a lie. He believed the lie that he would be happiest if he could simply sit back, take life easy, eat, drink, and do whatever he wanted. But perhaps that is the very thing Jesus is challenging.
Created to Give, Created to Serve
We weren’t created simply to accumulate, consume, and take it easy. We were created to serve. We were created to use the gifts God has given us for the good of others.
And when we do, something happens. We discover a deeper sense of purpose. We experience the joy of making a difference. We become more fully who God created us to be.
In those moments when we give ourselves in service to others, we are fully alive—using our gifts, loving our neighbours, and glorifying God.
What unique gifts has God given you or your church community that might be waiting to be shared?
Where in your local community could a small team from your church make an active difference this week?
By sharing our gifts with our neighbours, we step into the good work God prepared for us.
Partner with NewGround to Help Churches Love Their Neighbours
For 25 years, NewGround has equipped local churches across Canada to uncover community potential and start impactful ministries. Consider giving to support churches as they step out in faith.
