Ministries Making a Difference
Sports leagues and steaming coffee—churches building practical ministries for neighbors
I have much respect for churches that build practical ministries based on what their neighbors need. I grew up with a selfish view of ministry—What dreams has God laid on my heart? What ministry fits me and my gifts? Worthy questions, mind you, but surface level. It was a ministry mindset that was mostly about…me. I romanticized ideas of ministering overseas, but ignored my neighbor next door.
Then I heard about a womens’ ministry whose community was changing around them. Hispanic immigrants were moving to the area, many of them single mothers. The womens’ group coupled their prayers with relationships, and began doing a whole lot of listening. They developed outreaches based on that feedback—parenting classes, job skills workshops, mentoring in home management, free childcare—and used those as a platform for discipleship.
That story did a lot to deepen my understanding of ministry. It wasn’t so much about what I felt gifted for; it was about what work God has placed in front of me. And what our neighbors need.
It reminds me of the quote by Puritan Thomas Manton: “We must serve faithfully, not picking and choosing…We must serve even if it goes against the natural bent of our hearts.”
When Christ walked from village to village, He taught the truth about His kingdom, and He met people’s needs—the blind man, the woman with the issue of blood, the sick, the demon possessed. The needs most people overlooked, or even purposely looked away from. But Jesus didn’t look away. As his disciples, neither should we.
Below are churches (and in one case, a missionary couple) who are listening to their neighbors and have created practical ministries to meet those needs.
Lifehouse
Over the past few years, Lifehouse Church of Salem County in New Jersey has expanded its ministry to families with disabilities inside and outside the church. The congregation sponsors and coaches an elementary-age baseball team with Little League Challenger, a league for children with disabilities. It also hosted a special VBS two years ago that grew into a monthly VBS-type program for families with disabilities that includes Bible stories, crafts, and music.
Photo via UM News
On Fridays in Austin, Texas, First United Methodist Church invites homeless women to a day of self-care—a safe haven, steaming coffee, scrumptious meal, hot shower, a new outfit, and a chance to wash laundry. Once a month, a hairstylist donates her time to cut hair. The ministry began as church leaders noticed it was mostly men who took advantage of their homeless services. They found out women were intimidated by the men, and so they prepared a separate day. Now, as many as 30-40 women show up at the church for help on any given Friday.
Church of the Nazarene in Cerro Cama in Panama
Iglesia Episcopal La Sagrada Familia began its ministry 29 years ago in Dunn, North Carolina, when the Diocese of East Carolina began an outreach to seasonal farmworkers and immigrants who live in the area for six to nine months of the year. But only recently did it acquire a building to call home—and that, because its members built it. Using donations, members began building in June 2023 and hosted a dedication ceremony for the new building last week, on May 10. With an average weekly attendance of 90 people, the small Spanish-speaking church multiplies its impact by distributing necessities, like hygiene kits, clothing, and mattresses, and by hosting recreational activities on Sundays. Church volunteers visit housing camps to build relationships with farmworkers and connect them with helpful resources.
Garden refuge
A missionary couple in the Czech Republic reached a place of burnout after almost 15 years of ministry. After a guided sabbatical that involved rest, mentorship, and debrief getaways, Mitch and Monika Anderson began a new ministry of missionary care called Caretakers. Dubbing it “Garden Refuge,” the Andersons renovated an adjoining apartment, earned certifications in counseling and coaching, and grew a serene garden. Together, the couple offers debriefing, transition support, stress assessment, and spiritual formation retreats, according to The Christian Chronicle.
Church of the Nazarene in Cerro Cama in Panama
Members of the Church of the Nazarene in Cerro Cama in Panama have initiated a host of practical ministries to its surrounding community. With the help of volunteers from other districts and missions teams from North America, they have hosted Vacation Bible Schools, medical mission teams, hot meal distributions, support for public schools and families in need, and support sessions for teenagers. The work has created a need for further accommodations, and in 2024, the church began building a new sanctuary, a children’s dining area, and a pastoral apartment.
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