A Blog by Josh Agerton

Being the Church

Posted on 04. May, 2009 by Josh Agerton in Formation

I love this picture. It’s a picture of the church. It showed up yesterday in The Valley Times under the “Lifestyles” section (which of course is the appropriate place to put this picture rather than the “Religion” section). The caption tells about how several groups came together to help feed some hungry friends in LaFayette, AL: A Baptist Church, a grocery store, a car dealership; a funeral home, Cornerstone “Unity” Methodist Church, a bank, and a barber shop.

But there is a great story behind this picture. It started with a few Cornerstone folks who had a connection with Carl Ashford, a gentleman who operates “A Vision to Feed” (a donations based organization that simply feeds hungry people). These few people rounded up their small groups and even called up some new faces that they had just met at the last Cornerstone 101. There was nothing published on the website, no strategic mass communication, no announcement at the end of the service on Sunday. Rather, it was more like a groundswell…a buzz between friends who knew other friends who knew some other people. It was an organic movement that turned into something beautiful.

It get’s better. They all showed up in LaFayette last Saturday morning to help cook 435 meals. They served alongside each other and were ready to feed those who came hungry as Carl had planned. But not many folks showed up. The group waited around looking at each other until Brian Caldwell in true UPS fashion said, “Pack ‘em up, we’re gonna take it to the people.” (Brian just so happens to be the UPS driver for this area and knew exactly where the most needy people lived…he was the one who delivered their meds.) So this little band of people loaded up with to-go boxes and went to the neighborhoods, knocking on doors, passing out smoked chicken, veggies and hot-dogs for the kids.

I love this story. It was a shared experience among these friends and they saw a new side of each other that day. And this happened because these people have a fundamental understanding that they are the church…the very hands and feet of Jesus Christ in East Alabama today. I chalk this up as a great win for the Kingdom.

Be the church.

Tags: Church, Hungar, Organic, Poor