Designing a Neighborhood
Hope Lutheran Evangelical Church is globally focused and strives to establish intimate relationships with each of its neighbors. We believe that our neighbors are not only those who live down the dirt path next to the church or across the road a short distance away that is traveled daily to and from work and school, but also any others whom are sent to us in the course of our earthly days, to hear about the eternal path
open just for them. As we are globally focused, we follow the image and focus of our God, who is, from His creation days, globally focused. His vision is ours as well. Taking in a thought brought about by one of our members from the US, she recounted to us a gentle soul who graced the TV screens in those years when her children were young. While she prepared the evening meal, his show was on the TV, captivating his young, and not so young audience, with his kind, patient, and welcoming feeling, into each home he visited in that hour. She says that she too was drawn in to listen to this man as dinner was prepared.
This simple man was Fred Rogers who had a TV program that aired in the US and Canada entitled “Mr.
Rogers Neighborhood.” He realized that with a TV in many homes around the world, he was able to
share time with anyone who turned on the TV. He considered the space between the TV and whomever
was there to be holy ground. From that point, he hoped that each person realized that they were unique
in the eyes of God. He lived and loved that passion to the end. That was his calling as a pastor and a motivational speaker, especially to children. In Jesus, God continues to ask us this very question. “Won’t you be my neighbor?” When the word became flesh, Jesus moved into the neighborhood. He became one of us and is our forever neighbor now. He is now here. And so are we as a church body. This is the core of whom we are and why we are here too. We are making a solid footprint to stand strong for Him to share His vision. So if you are curious as to how we are doing this, it is by visiting each and every home in the community, meeting the moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, and anyone else who is in attendance in the home, and of course the children. So many of these children whose homes we visit are those who are attending English teaching in the evening hours each day. How best can we serve these children other than to get to know their families, their home environments, their challenges, and their dreams and goals. Each one of these whose lives we touch are always unique. We have a general questionnaire that gives us a model for each visit. Not all questions will fit every home situation, and we understand that. Yet having this questionnaire speaks for itself as to the importance, relevance, and uniqueness for each family. It opens doors that otherwise may not be unlocked. Many of the questions are in themselves family specific. Writing answers on a piece of paper speaks to each family that we acknowledge them, are interested in their well being, and want to be a part of their daily lives.
Additionally, it gives us village information for later as opportunities present themselves to help a
specific need in a sector of the village, or even just one family. There are defined village trends from
area to area for sure. That was initially noted in our eyeglass clinic days, which will be a separate topic
in the near future. As to this topic and overall presence for each family, it is a golden opportunity during this time to listen to their struggles, rejoice in their achievements, and understand their goals into the future. And to pray with each one of them. Some of our families have baptized members already in the church. We thank and praise God for those who have come forward and have become children of God. Here is a glimpse of those who live on the paths outside our church in the immediate area.
