Cultivating a life that reflects Jesus is a central command of the Christian faith, but it is much easier said than done. How many of us sit in church on Sundays (or these days, watch the livestream) and think guiltily, “Am I doing enough to live out my faith?”
Especially during a time of global pandemic it is easy to become overwhelmed by the challenges our communities face, and wonder if there is anything to do about massive systemic problems of poverty, oppression, access to health care, abuse, human trafficking, and the like. The need for tangible help and the need for Jesus in our communities are significant.
Our hearts are stirred when we realize our neighbors are suffering. But in the midst of this compassionate response an internal voice often whispers, “What can I even do to make a difference?” That subtle voice can derail the best of intentions from the beginning–but it doesn’t have to.
There are many ways for Jesus followers to live out their faith, but at Compassion Connect we focus on service and unity: helping Christians link arms with their brothers and sisters from other local churches to love and serve their neighbors together.
There are common things that hold folks back from putting their faith in action, but they are surmountable. The following are some of the most prevalent barriers and how to address them.
All the Feels: When Fear Holds You Back
Our emotions can often cling to the steering wheel and convince us out of taking action. Fear in particular can be difficult to face head on.
Amber spent a year wrestling with indecision before she finally took the leap and became a volunteer youth mentor at the Design Studio in SE Portland.
“My husband is a middle school teacher and has told me many stories of the kids he has interacted with. I felt I needed to let myself grow and interact with kids too. I heard about the Design Studio after I donated my wedding dress to Adorned in Grace, but I did not think I could do it at first and I spent a year hesitating on being a mentor.”
Chloe got involved with Compassion Clinics because she saw a huge need in the city of Tigard for accessible health services, and because she realized the urgency for leaders to step up. However, even after she got involved she wrestled with the temptation to go back to her comfort zone: “Every Clinic I would cry at some point at home and think, “I am in way over my head.” And so I had to go to God and ask, “How do I lead these leaders as they seek to serve?” I felt that if I came humbly, God would make up the difference–and he did. I think that’s just a testament to God, bringing unity and peace. It helped me step back and let him take the reins, and that grew my spiritual life.”
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).
The funny thing about a comfort zone is that the only way to get out of it is to experience discomfort, which leads to growth. And then eventually, what was once uncomfortable becomes comfortable.
For Amber, her journey of mentoring youth led to some confidence-inspiring discoveries:
“I wish I would have done this way back when I first found out about mentoring. [The youth] have taught me a lot more than I could ever teach them. I’m excited to be part of their futures and I’ve felt changed by the girls as they’ve taught me patience, to be more sympathetic, and to understand why people behave the way they do in certain situations. Anyone can be a mentor who has the heart to do so.”
Amber (left) with two Design Studio mentees
The powerful lesson here is that often, the only requirement to put your faith in action and make a difference in your community is a willing heart.
But to add an extra layer of encouragement, there is always the much beloved reminder from 2 Timothy: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).
The Problems Are Big: Overcoming Overwhelm
It can be way too easy to fall into the trap of thinking that anything we do is just a drop in the bucket and won’t lead to real transformation in our communities. One of the reasons Compassion Connect focuses so much on unity and collaboration is because we know that no one person, church, or organization can do transformative community work alone. There is actually a relief in knowing that the problems are bigger than ourselves, because that is exactly why it takes all of us working together to address them–and God often uses that in incredible ways.
“We’re such small churches in North Portland, we HAVE to communicate and collaborate. We don’t really have a choice. But it allows us to dream bigger than we otherwise would be able to. Clinics do not solve all the hard issues, but they are a gateway, they give a connection point to people that are struggling.” says Luke, a volunteer leader with the North Portland Compassion Clinic for many years.
“I see people in our communities who are hurting in various ways, and I do not always know how to help. It can initially seem daunting to make a difference, but everyone can find a way to help and join in the mission.”
The parable of the lost sheep is also helpful to remember when we are overwhelmed:
“We met a young man who came to our Compassion Clinic, his name was Brandon. We shared Jesus with him on Saturday, he went to one of our partner churches on Sunday, and then he came to our ministry center on Monday and again on Tuesday for bible study,” says Kawehi, who helps lead Compassion Clinics in the Puget Sound region. “That is amazing. I share with everybody: One soul–God’s happy with one soul.”
One sheep, one soul, one step of faith–that’s just the beginning.
Time After Time…Time Is the Problem
The struggle is real when it comes to the juggling act of time management. But a busy schedule does not necessarily mean that you don’t have anything to offer.
“People think living on mission is reserved for pastors, but this is a cool example of everyday people using their gifts to serve their neighbors,” says Audrey, a volunteer leader from Gresham, OR. “If Jesus says serve, you can do that with the gifts God has given you. Compassion Connect is a beautiful picture of serving where you are with what you have.”
Self-judgments or comparisons to others can cause harm, but a sincere assessment of “where am I at and what do I have to offer” can offer helpful perspective and discernment.
Often people think they have to participate in missions trips overseas in order to serve others but in reality the mission field is just as much at home in our neighborhoods as it is across the world. While flying to a different time zone can have a big impact, it’s helpful to remember that there are many opportunities in our own backyards to put our faith in action. One volunteer recently shared with us, “I am believing that I have a role in the bigger picture and can make a difference doing something small.”
At Compassion Connect we have volunteer opportunities to fit many schedules, whether you have time for one day or once a week, in person or virtual. But volunteering isn’t the only way to put your faith in action.
Where Do I Fit In? Your Gifts and Skills Can Have Kingdom Impact
It’s important to have those within the church serving as teachers, musicians, greeters, pastors, missionaries, and more, but it’s just as important for there to be opportunities outside of the four walls of the church to display Jesus in action. Yet sometimes we think that we have nothing to offer or don’t know quite how our skills fit in, which presents a challenge.
One of the beautiful things about the family of God is that we each bring different backgrounds, perspectives, and skills to the table–all of which can be used to uplift others and build the Kingdom. (And just like a real family, our differences can lead to conflict but that subject requires another blog post!)
Related: How Can Jesus Followers Take Effective Community Action?
“I see people in our communities who are hurting in various ways, and I do not always know how to help. There are many such people in downtown Portland whom I see every day. It can initially seem daunting to make a difference, but everyone can find a way to help and join in the mission. I feel I’ve grown in leadership ability, teaching ability, and confidence under pressure–all of which I can use for the rest of my life both in my career and in life. And I got to experience these joys and successes with the church teams and those in my community,” says Alex, who assisted with the digital X-ray system at Compassion Clinics.
Nurses, artists, translators, HR professionals, entrepreneurs, electricians, computer scientists, photographers, dentists, people who just love people…everyone is needed in this journey.
Prayer: a way that EVERYONE can do something!
There are so many opportunities for Christians to use their unique gifts to serve, and we love finding just the right fit for those God has called to serve with us. But there are other ways to put your faith in action as well:
“I have been a supporter for many years and Compassion Connect has never changed their focus of bringing churches together,” says Connie, a retired nurse. “Having been part of the development of the“mini clinics,” I have experienced people from different ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds all be pulled together by the Compassion Connect team to serve. The small monthly donation I give helps contribute to their cause to spread the gospel in so many various ways.”
Donating and volunteering/ interning are wonderful ways to get involved, but sometimes you need to just dip your toes in at first:
- LEARN more about our work (or another organization that you care about!) by researching their website or specific causes.
- SHARE about what you’ve learned on social media (we have some fun shareable social media graphics here).
- PRAY- Consistently praying for a cause or organization you care about is one of the best ways to express your care and grow in your walk with Jesus. We have four free prayer guides/devotionals on our website here (scroll down to the “Unite in Prayer” section), as well as a prayer team that sends out one email update a month.
Whatever your skill or interest, there is a place for you.
Get It Together! The Fallacy of Perfect Servants
And now for this final barrier to putting your faith in action–the idea that you have to have it all together before you put yourself out there.
Luckily for us, there are so many biblical examples of God using the least likely people to do inspired things:
- Moses had trouble speaking
- Rahab was a prostitute
- The disciples were a ragtag bunch of misfits
- Ruth was an ethnic outsider
- Jesus himself was born in a manger and not in a palace
God seems to delight in using those who seem weak by human standards, who feel their flaws deeply and use that to push them toward surrendered trust.
In faith as in life, we will always be in a process of figuring things out, but we can learn and grow from one another as we do.
Go Forth And Do Likewise: The Journey Begins
There is always an option to stay on the safe side of the shore, among the familiar. Sometimes people end up doing this even when they know it’s not God’s best for them, but it feels less risky than trying something new. But not doing anything will lead to more of the same, and can lead to missing out on a vibrant opportunity to become more like Jesus.
In a world that is watching the Church closely and wondering what impact Christians are really having, the stakes are high. Putting our faith in action by loving our brothers and sisters in Christ and loving our neighbors is one of the best ways we can give the outside world a glimpse of the face of Jesus.
Overcoming the things that hold you back from a leap of faith is not always easy, but it is possible. Taking that step can lead to a deeper sense of purpose, increased connectedness to the wider body of Christ, and life-changing new relationships with people in your community you may never have crossed paths with otherwise.
There is a seat for you at the table. It’s waiting for you to claim it. Will you?
-Anna Johnson
