Out from Behind My Fear

So its one thing to think about doing outreach events. I think about them a lot. And that’s about all. But my women’s Wednesday night Life Group at my church havs been studying the book of Acts this year. Its impossible to read and consider Acts and not be inspired by Paul’s story. It was a natural progression of our study that in February we were challenged to put our feet to the pavement and actually DO an outreach event. For me, the fear was never far from my thoughts as we planned the caper. The idea of walking up to strangers and saying anything besides, “Excuse me, do you have the time?” was pretty much out of the question. But I was roped in. That happens when you are involved in a small group: nowhere to hide. The plan was simple enough. We would bake cookies and bag ‘em up, then deliver them to the residents of the apartment complex next door to the church the week of Valentine’s Day. Our objective was to simply greet the people and tell them that God loves them and our church is nearby. So we bought cases of frozen cookie dough because it simplified the task of preparation. Thank God for Otis Spunkmeyer and those cute little cookie dough pucks he makes! Several woman gathered to bake the cookie dough on a recent Saturday. And then on Tuesday Feb. 11 a few women met to package up our baked and frozen cookies. Then Wednesday, Feb 12, instead of sitting at tables discussing Acts, at 6:30 PM we divided ourselves into teams, passed our maps of the property, and headed to Park Sorrento Apartments just east of us on Bernard St.to give away cookies. Someone was singing "onward Christian Soldiers" as we drove to the parking lot and I felt silly, like a kid being encouraged to march. But she was right to pump us up in song, and that song carried us through the first steps, armed with cookie bags, to the apartment complex doors. I hesitated, then knocked. Many people were taken aback at someone showing up at their door with a gift. Some tried to pay for the gift. Two or three refused the gift. Most smiled and thanked us and graciously received the gift. A few wanted more information and we gave that to them. All recipients got contact information on the package pointing them to Heritage Bible Church. By the time we left Park Sorrento at 7:50 PM, we had delivered cookies to almost all of 264 apartment units. We had accomplished a step into relationship with our neighbors and we all agreed enthusiastically that we must plan another event soon to connect again with our new friends. As for my fear? Well when I knocked on that first door, God answered, a grateful person accepted our humble gift, and there was nothing more to fear.