See what was written in the OA News about My Jerusalem
Hundreds Expected for Semi-Annual “My Jerusalem” Event.
Hundreds are expected to disperse all over Lee County Saturday to participate in about 30 service projects of various kinds for local people in need. The event, dubbed “My Jerusalem”, occurs twice each year and is the primary “multi-church” local missions event for TheWay2Serve ministries. Local church groups and individuals alike will assemble at 8am Saturday October 13th, atCornerstoneChurch inAuburn where they will be divided up into project groups and given their marching orders and project specifications.
TheWay2Serve is a local ministry that helps local churches identify and plan local ministry projects by providing them with “turn-key opportunities to show the love of Christ in practical ways.” “We have a passion to reach into our local hurting communities and we also love to see our local churches experience the blessings of giving and serving,” says Way2Serve director Shane Kyles. “So we’ve developed a program to help churches help the community.” Way2Servee does the planning and organization. Local church leadership provides the opportunity and encouragement. And local church members actually do the work and hopefully establish relationships lasting far longer than the length of the project. Often TheWay2Serve will plan service projects for smaller groups and individual churches, but twice a year they facilitate “My Jerusalem” where churches from all over the area unite on one day to serve others in diverse ways.
But their service isn’t only about doing things. It’s also about knowing people. “While we are certainly focused on keeping rain and cold out of people’s homes, our end goal is to develop relationships that benefit people for a lifetime” says Kyles. “Too often we approach helping others in a way that provides a service but not a relationship. Jesus makes it clear that He is primarily about a relationship with us, so we should be primarily about relationships as well.”
The groups will provide many types of services, but, every group will aim to know those being served, understand what their needs are, and lay the groundwork for long term relationships. Kyles notes that initially, many people are surprised at the needs local people have. “But when the day is over they haven’t just learned about needs. They’ve made new friends. That is how we really make a difference.”
For more information go to www.TheWay2Serve.org or contact Shane Kyles at 334-703-0746.
