Mercy involves developing relationships to share God’s love and provide for physical and spiritual needs, without expectations for response.  It should be an ongoing part of a believer’s life and faith practice, not a separate, occasional activity. The practice of mercy can range from doing your family’s laundry or leaving a good tip for the overworked waitress to developing a mentoring relationship with a struggling family or leading a Bible study at a nursing home.

 

The Bible is full of references that show God’s heart of mercy for the poor.  Here are just a few:

 

I John 3:18 – “My little children, let us not love in words or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

 

James 1:27 – “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faithful is this:  to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

 

Matthew 25: 34-40—“Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”

 

Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O man, what is good and what is right, to love justice and to do mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

 

Ezekiel 16:49 – “Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom:  She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.”

 

Matthew 10:42 – “If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, He will certainly not lose His reward.”

 

 

 

    Hope for the Triad

   Mercy Opportunities

 

 

Members of our church are involved in several different outreach and mercy ministries that could benefit from YOUR involvement.  The contact people listed below can give you some background, tell you about immediate needs, and encourage you to join them in their activities.  Some opportunities are brief, one-time commitments; others may involve a longer commitment, and greater blessings!  

 

Refugee Assistance:  Assist those who fled religious and political persecution in Vietnam, Burma and Liberia.

Opportunity:  Volunteers are needed to provide transportation to appointments, tutor adults and children in English, and take children to activities like scouting or soccer. To help, call Ruth DeHoog (294-4357), Debbie Childers (540-1467), Holly Miller (889-4115) or Nancy Dominick (282-5985).

 

English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes:  Be a conversation partner with a new immigrant.

Opportunity:  Volunteers are needed to speak English with members of FHC’s ESL classes, which meet on Wednesday evenings.  No experience necessary!  For more information, call Pam Coldwell (south) at 841-7749 or Ruth DeHoog (north) at 294-4357.

 

Foster Parent Association:  Plan special church events to help foster families such as the Early Thanksgiving Dinner or mentoring opportunities with families.

Opportunity:  To help, call Jeff Miller at 292-7788, Anne Turner at 282-5288, or Greg Wierda at 855-9934.

 

Greensboro Pregnancy Care Center or Pregnancy Care Center of High Point:  Serve those experiencing unplanned pregnancies, offering new life for them and their babies.

Opportunity:   Volunteer as a receptionist, peer counselor, housecleaner, handyman, etc.  For more information, call GPCC at 274-4881, or PCCHP at 887-2232.

 

Greensboro Urban Ministry:  Serve the homeless and financially needy

Opportunity:  Volunteers needed to serve breakfast, interview people requesting emergency help, mentor homeless families, conduct Bible studies and children’s activities and much more. Call Volunteer Services at 271-5959, or Mark Childers at 540-1467.

 

Higher Ground:  Assist men and women living with AIDS and HIV.

Opportunity:  Serve lunch, play board games, be a friend. For information, call April Ragan at 288-9437, or Lee Paige at 668-7419.

 

Prison Ministries: Help inmates and the families of inmates

Opportunity:  Volunteers are needed to support prisoners’ children in a summer camp, to work with the Christmas Angel Tree gift giving, and to grade Bible correspondence course for prisoners.  Contact Debbie Walsh at 869-7412.