In Response to the Disaster in Haiti

photo from website of Churches helping Churches

Churches Helping Churches is the new site for a dedicated work begun by Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA and James MacDonald of Harvest Bible Church in Napierville, IL. The mission is simple, summed up by Paul's words from Galatians 6:10.

"So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."

MacDonald's words in response to the earthquake disaster in Haiti tug at my heart as it breaks for my brothers and sisters in this ravaged island nation which Christ dearly loves.

"The world will always be better, faster, and more effective than we can be at the important work of relief. As individuals, we should give to these efforts, pray for these efforts, and even volunteer to help, if God so directs.

BUT the primary focus of the church gathered, the priority calling of the body of Christ, the first response of all biblically-informed believers must be to help the church. Locating local communities of brothers and sisters in Christ, assessing the needs of local churches in hardest hit areas, rallying the church in North America to rescue and restore the church, wherever it is ravaged by natural disaster or human tragedy . . . This is the most important step of obedience we can offer to Christ and His kingdom.

Who will help the church? By God’s grace we will, together we can."

This sentiment is expressed beautifully in the song and video on Churches Helping Churches home page.

Our own denomination, the PCA, is also currently assessing what we can do in response to this tragedy. Updates can be followed here.

Locally, here at Oak Mountain Church we will be taking up a special dedicated offering for the work in Haiti this coming Sunday, January 24th. Checks may be made payable to Oak Mountain Church with "Haiti" designated at the bottom.

May the Lord God whom we call both sovereign and compassionate grant mercy, healing and peace to his bride the church in the coming weeks and months. And as always, may God be glorified and may His kingdom come.

Facing North with Scott Roley

Great thoughts from Scott Roley, Senior Pastor at Christ Community Church in Franklin, TN. Challenging as well. How many pastors do you know have the opportunity / take the opportunity to tour with a band in order to take the pulse of those traditionally outside of the church?

Hope for the 'Ham

Many of the best ideas are simply copies of someone else's brilliance. At least that's the way it typically goes with me. Not much originality here, I just don't have the brain cells.

This has been the case with Oak Mountain's Hope for the 'Ham grant proposal for our LIFE Groups. "Hope for the 'Ham" is simply a repeat of Mars Hill in Seattle's MicroMissions project (albeit with slightly less funding). What we are hoping to do is to encourage our LIFE Groups to fulfill the third part of our church's vision statement, the "Showing grace to all" part, by providing seed funding for ministries of outreach and mercy. The goal is simply to enable our members, through their small group communities, to love their neighborhoods well through acts of gospel-motivated service. In other words, to show grace to the "least" and the "lost" whom we cross paths with every day.

Read an example of what this has looked like for one of Mars Hill's community groups here. Be inspired and then light a fire under your LIFE Group. Don't wait for someone else to lead.