I had just met the mayor of Parma, Dean DePiero, for the first time.  As I introduced myself, I informed him of the church where I was currently serving.  I will never forget his response, nor how I felt when I heard it.  “So where is your church located?”

 

It was a seemingly normal question, but it bothered me.

 

The truth was the church had been in Parma for 45 years.  That’s right, 45 years!  The fact that it was virtually unknown to the mayor was perplexing, not to mention a little embarrassing.  Of course, I didn’t blame the mayor for not knowing who we were or where we were located.  On the contrary, it was a troubling evidence that the church - my church, that is - was not nearly as engaged or influential within the community as I thought we were.

 

Looking back, I am now thankful for that moment.  It taught me the importance of being an active participant in the life of my community.  Why is community engagement so important?  Because you simply cannot be a voice of influence if people do not know who you are.

 

Just look at Jesus.  Clearly, he made a significant impact on his community.  Wherever he traveled, people knew who he was.  They even tracked his whereabouts.  Jesus was present, not just in the synagogue, but in the community and in the marketplace.  Whether it was having dinner with shady low-lifes (Luke 19:2-7), conversing with an adulteress (John 4:7-26), or hanging with high-rollers (Matthew 19:16-22), Jesus was intimately and intentionally engaged with others.

 

The life of Jesus challenges us to think differently about how we connect with our community and how we share the gospel with others.  While Christ did not just call us to be cultural change agents, he did call us to be ambassadors.  So what might happen if we were to engage our community like Jesus - loving like him and serving like him?  Would it not send shock waves throughout our community?  Would it not grab the attention of the mayor, school officials, business leaders, etc.?  Would not the whole community feel our impact?

 

To be “salt” and “light,” we cannot be candles hidden under a bushel.  We must be visible, active participants in our community, reaching beyond the confines of our church buildings.  My heart’s prayer today is that every pastor and church in the Parma and surrounding area would be united in mission, working in partnership with the community across multiple domains - city hall, schools, health care, business, social services - that we might see a community transformed for the cause and glory of Christ.

 

“...Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

 

THOUGHTS TO PONDER?

How well do I know my community?

How well does the community know me?

What are community members’ perceptions of my church?