Meet the Church That Helps Anyone Who Needs It

Proverbs 11:10 says, “When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices.” Who are the righteous, and what does it look like for them to prosper? The “righteous” are Christians, the just, the people who follow God’s heart. They “prosper” when they steward everything God has given them to bless the Body, bless God and bless their neighbor. They do this for the common good, for the advancement of shalom.

What does it look like for a city to rejoice, then? Well, I think it looks a lot like the Kentucky community where Southland Christian Church is located. Under the leadership of Pastor Jon Weece, Southland is reaching into their city and changing it in big ways. Here are just a few of the ministries the church has founded or is involved in:

• A “Dollar Club” that collects $12,000 one dollar bills every week, and then gives that money someone in need.
• Free medical clinics throughout the city, providing primary care for 3,500 people who can’t afford a doctor.
• A school lunch program
• A community garden
• Tutoring for local students
• Prison care ministry for inmates
• A garage to provide cheap auto care

I can’t imagine a clearer picture of a city who is rejoicing because the Body of Christ, the “righteous,” is committed to blessing their neighbors. If Southland were to suddenly vanish from central Kentucky, no doubt their absence would be a tremendous blow to the thousands who are supported by them.

Sadly, according to this trending Relevant article, Southland’s focus on service is not without controversy. As the article puts it, “Critics have a name for Weece’s brand of ministry: social gospel… heavily criticized by the likes of Dwight Moody, who believed the Church’s mission on earth was a particularly spiritual one.” In other words, critics of these heavily social-service oriented churches are concerned that they are so focused on meeting physical needs that they lose sight of our important mission to share the good news of the gospel with our neighbors.

Ref: http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/christian-trends/meet-the-church-that-helps-anyone-who-needs-it.html