Mercy Ministry, Biblical Guidelines (html), (pdf), (doc)

Excerpt below

The ministry of mercy is a necessary part of the calling of Christ's church. The miracles of Christ, as signs of the kingdom, show us that the ministry of the church must be in deeds of mercy as well as in proclamation of the gospel. The ministry of Christ's disciples and of the apostolic church confirm this.

2. The church's ministry of mercy cannot be limited to Christians. Our compassion is modeled on the compassion of Christ and the love of God, directed to us when we were enemies.

3. The church's ministry of mercy must be conducted in Christ's name. It is a spiritual ministry, not an impersonal provision of resources. It is performed without public fanfare, but with the loving acknowledgement of Christ's lordship and to the praise of his name.

4. The church's ministry of mercy must be conducted in spiritual wisdom, recognizing both priorities of ministry and urgency of need.
a. Ministry to the immediate church family is given first priority. As a man must first care for his own household, so the church as a family must first see that immediate needs are met. Beyond the local church, the bond of the Christian brotherhood calls for compassionate help to all who are in Christ.
b. The urgency of need may establish temporary priority. Jesus delivered the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman at a time when the priority of his ministry was to the lost sheep of Israel (Mk. 7:24-30).
c. Priorities may be established in mission strategy. The priority established in caring for the immediate household of faith must not be made an excuse for refusing any exercise of the ministry of mercy as part of the missionary task of the church. Particular targets of benevolence may be chosen in developing mission strategy.

5. The church's ministry of mercy cannot ignore the demand of Christ's kingdom. Christian benevolence is necessarily linked with gospel summons. The discipline that accompanies the word cannot be absent from the witness of deeds. To signify the reality of Christ's compassion the strategy of Christian witness may call for periods of benevolent service among resistant peoples (or persons). Yet, as is the case with gospel proclamation, such periods are not to be indefinitely prolonged.

6. The churches' ministry of mercy is benevolent and charitable, not political or Utopian. The church does not seek to reconstruct social structures through political pressure; rather, it bears witness to the ultimate new order that will come with Christ. The witness of the church as salt and light in the world is advanced by the testimony of benevolence, but the witness of the church is gospel witness. That witness seeks to make disciples, and to offer a sample of the new order in the church. Where the church deems it expedient to cooperate with other agencies in providing resources for relief of distress it must jealously guard the distinctiveness of witness in Christ's name.

7. The church's ministry of mercy is a voluntary expression of gratitude for God's mercies. Even though the giving of time, service, and resources is an expression of gratitude that God requires, it is nevertheless God's will that it be freely and cheerfully given. Such gifts are expressions of a life that is in every part a stewardship of the blessings of God (2 Cor. 9:5-7).

8. Within the church as the family and household of God, the needs of the poor and the distressed are to be met from the resources God has provided. These resources are to be freely given by those whom God has made stewards of grace and of goods. Giving is in the context of worship and nurture. It seeks the restoration of the needy, and is a loving ministry, not a mere dole. It is also in the context of spiritual discipline, a discipline that curbs the exploitation of benevolence. The obligation of provision for the needs of the people of God is part of the new commandment of love reflecting the love of God in Christ.

9. The church is not charged with the support of the poor of the world. A distinction is necessary between the responsibility that the church bears for the relief and support of needy people of God and the opportunity that the church has to show the compassion of Christ to those in need who are outside the covenant. Even within the church the ministry of mercy is to be sustained by voluntary benevolence. Ministry toward those without is to be exercised in wisdom, wisdom that perceives God-given opportunities for benevolence. These opportunities are providentially provided; the ministry that seizes them in faith will glorify God by manifesting his compassion and saving love.

10. The church's ministry of mercy is primarily carried on through the exercise of spiritual gifts. It cannot be measured simply by financial expenditure or "case-load." The manner in which the ministry is carried out is essential to its nature. Those with spiritual gifts for showing mercy are responsible for exercising them, even as those with material means are responsible for their stewardship. Opportunities for the ministry of mercy must be sought in prayer, challenges and pleas must be prayerfully considered. The church's ministry of mercy is part of its spiritual warfare. (II Cor. 10:3-5).

Some of the ministries we are involved in...

if your interested in getting more information about the ministries below, click here

Back to School

The "Back to School Program" is a once a year drive specifically created to aid neighboring school children in need.  Each summer families and groups of Metro North Church are asked to "adopt" a child going "back to school" by purchasing a back pack or book bag and filling it with needed school supplies.  The Mercy Team facilitates the program by determining the exact need, communicating the need to the congregation, collecting and organizing the donations, and delivering them to the children.  Past recipients have included children of Shannon Park and a few of Metro North's own children.  Promotion for this ministry is usually started by June, collection started by July, and distribution started and completed in August.  Current Co-Coordinators for this ministry are Susan Davies & Barbara Walsh.

Bundle of Joy

The purpose of this on-going ministry is to affirm life by providing assistance and support to young, unwed mothers.  The Mercy Team collects donated dressers and fills them with new or "gently used" items any mother would need.  Most recipients have been "word of mouth" ministry opportunities, but the Mercy Team has in the past worked with several pregnancy assistance agencies to find recipients for a "bundle of joy" blessing.  Current coordinator is Kate Arnold.