Community within the realm of Chrisianity can be defined as the “Body of Christ”. “Just as the [human] body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ” (1 Cor. 12:12). Through us, his body, he proclaims the good news of salvation; he heals, feeds, teaches, and confronts men with the truth about God.
At LJ Pres there are many different opportunites to become active parts of this body of Christ such as preparing and serving food to the homeless or at a church function, building homes in TJ for the poor, tutoring a child, singing in the choir or worship team, to name a few. Each week our campus opens the doors to approximately 700 people outside of Sunday worship services for groups of the community at large such as AA, the Boys Scouts, exercise classes and more.
Every year around this time, for two weeks, our church participates in the Interfaith Shelter Network. We house approximately a dozen homeless and unemployed men, woman and children while they actively search for a job with the guidance of a social worker. Church volunteers organize and prepare for their stay, prepare their hot dinner meals, and stay overnight with them as hosts. The body of Christ is at work.
I like to think of our church not only as a church community, but as a family. A family that gives, prays, and loves one another because Christ first loved us.
This season of Lent, I give thanks to God for our Community at LJPres.