The face of a ministry changes as time moves on. It was now two years since New Life @ The Well of Mount Vernon, Washington first began serving end-of-the-month meals to help the working poor in our community. Those first meals were sparsely attended. Strangers cautiously came in; quietly ate their food and quickly left.

Two years later, everything had changed. The room was full of familiar faces; families were coming with their children, most stayed long after their food was gone. As I stood in the midst of the room I noticed another change. The children were running and playing. They moved around the room like energetic bees. Then it hit me: parents were bringing their children to our neighborhood meals.

Our goal at New Life @ The Well has been to plant seeds of God’s love in practical ways in our community. Our hope is that through acts of compassion the love of Jesus would be known and would change lives.

Compassion evangelism has given New Life @ The Well the reputation in our community as a church that cares about people and provides real and meaningful help. We’ve known for some time that the next phase of our ministry must center on building deeper relationships with our neighbors. We have been a visible demonstration of the love of God, but how do we go beyond that?

Interestingly, our neighbors have already been going deeper, but we were slow to notice; they were bringing their children to us —and that is a big deal. It’s time for the face of our ministry to change. This past weekend we began a program for the children who come to our community meals. As the months roll on we don’t know how God will shape us or this ministry, but it will be built on a foundation God’s love, and consistent caring and acceptance of the children who come.

Two years ago we began with a Thanksgiving Day community meal aimed at the working poor. Since that time God has made it possible for us to serve monthly meals to hundreds of our neighbors, invite the homeless into our church to find shelter from the cold, convert two rooms to a community clothing closet, provide over a thousand kids with back-to-school clothing and more. Those being served through ministries of compassion far exceed the number attending our worship services. Now God has opened the door to a deeper relationship with the families and children of our neighborhood. It is with great joy that we follow where he leads.

Rev. Keith Luna is pastor of New Life @ The Well, Mount Vernon, WA.

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