Rock the World – Audacious Service
Main Entry: au·da·cious
Pronunciation: \ȯ-'dā-shəs\
Function: adjective
1. Adventurous
2. Bold
3. Risk-taking
4. Daring
Audacious service meets needs when one offers themselves in deliberate, daring, and bold efforts to make a positive difference in the lives of others for the purposes of Jesus Christ.
Audacious Service meets needs by reaching out. We are challenged as Christians to take risks to reach out to others and work for justice just as Jesus did, as well as to follow in the footsteps of Christians throughout the centuries. For those of us who are Disciples of Christ, it is not an option to love, to teach, to heal, and to associate with the outcast, and the marginalized. Vision of Hope MCC strongly believes that every one of us in the body of Christ is called to serve. We live out our Vision Statement to “Rock the World” when we at VOHMCC choose to serve – and not just any kind of serving but AUDACIOUS Service, adventurous, bold, risk-taking, daring. God’s people loved and served God by loving and serving others, doing so in bold, daring, risk-taking ways.
There are many to meet needs and practice Audacious Service at VOHMCC. Just a few of those examples include:
- our Pride Outreach, when we host a space at the events in Lancaster, Harrisburg and Reading and share information about VOHMCC and God’s love for all;
- our Rock the Nation of Moldova project has been a way to reach out to people in another part of the world and offer support and encouragement to people who are not able to freely and publicly express their sexual orientation and spirituality;
- the Adopt-a-Highway clean-up provides an opportunity to serve the Earth as we care for the road off of Rt. 30 leading into Lancaster City and Chestnut Street;
- our support of the AIDS Community Alliance at Christmas time serves needy families by helping them receive gifts and much needed household supplies;
- Congregational Care serves our needs as a community that cares for one another, like hospital visits, the Good Will Towards Others team which provides meals at times when people are in need, and people who make phone calls to reach out to others;
- Hospitality time after Worship is an opportunity for us to reach out to those who are new in the community and build new relationships;
- Worship is a way we serve one another and all the worship ministries provide weekly service, in addition to just the general sense that when we come together as a community of faith we have many opportunities to reach out to one another and make positive differences in our lives;
- the Benevolence Fund is specifically designated to provide assistance to those who are in financial need whether they are part of the church or not;
- our Multi-site locations are ways in which we have been going out into our communities and reaching out to people where they are;
- Regular giving serves audaciously because by our tithes and giving we support our paid staff and ensure that a church building is here as hope and love for all!
- What other ways not mentioned here are practices of Audacious Service that you have experienced and / or have taken part in that reach out to others in bold, daring, risk-taking ways?