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 school supply 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. Promotion & collection are started in July, and distribution started and completed in August before school begins. Coordinator for this ministry is Aileen Burgeson.
Bundle of Joy
"Bundle of Joy” affirms the gift of life & builds a bridge of grace by coming alongside un-wed moms and assisting them with some material needs for their newborn babes. BOJ collects donated dressers and fills them with new or "gently used" items any mother would need for her baby that first year of life. We’ve partnered with the Low Country Pregnancy Center to minister more effectively and re-structured our own ministry so as to facilitate a greater connection for these moms and babies to Jesus Christ and His Church by walking alongside these families for a year or so. Coordinator is Kate Arnold.
Hearts of Compassion
This ministry had its inception following the deaths of several (born and yet to be born) covenant babies. HOC ministers to families experiencing the death of an infant by providing gowns, blankets and bonnets for the baby and love & prayer for the grieving family. The Mercy Team provides finished gowns and bonnets to Trident Hospital for Trident to store and distribute as needed. In addition, HOC provides materials to aid the family in dealing biblically with grief including; Grief: Finding Hope Again booklet & Morning Will Come. A website resource we have also found to be helpful is: From Grief to Glory. Current coordinator is Jennifer Kelly
Helping Hands Of Goose Creek
Helping Hands of Goose Creek, a Trident United Way Agency, is a not-for-profit
emergency assistance food pantry, whose goal is to help with emergency
supplemental food and educational opportunities to enhance self esteem,
break the cycle of poverty and/or abuse and to provide the support
needed to take the next step toward self-sufficiency for members of
the community.
To help us build bridges of grace and mercy to our community, we have partnered
with Helping Hands of Goose Creek, our local food pantry, and are designating
each Communion Sunday, the first Sunday of the month, as “Helping Hands
Sunday”. Each “Helping Hands Sunday” we will place the
Helping Hands cart in the church foyer to collect the donations of our congregation. Coordinator
is Dick Cain.
HELPING HANDS is in need of donations of boxed dinners (ex tuna/hamburger helper,
mac & cheese boxes, etc.) and breakfast cereals. Please bring these
items to church with you the first Sunday of each month.
Metro Meals
Metro Meals – our freezer ministry is to encourage those going thru trying times with a yummy meal they can take home and enjoy. Coordinator is: Stephanie Easterling; 764-0122.
Operation Christmas Child
Our church provides you with the unique opportunity to share Christ with a needy child using a simple shoe box. Your shoe box will reach a child in a troubled country like Uganda or El Salvador with the Gospel message. We are taking part in Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse--the Christian ministry led by Franklin Graham, the son of Dr. Billy Graham. People across the country are getting shoe boxes from home and filling them with small toys, school supplies, and other little gifts. This Christmas season, a needy child overseas will receive your shoe box, along with Christian literature in his or her own language. What an opportunity to reach these children with a clear presentation of the Gospel! For more details, please pick up an Operation Christmas Child brochure in November. Be a part of this exciting opportunity to share God's love with a hurting child.
Relay for Life
Fight cancer by helping us raise money for the American Cancer Society thru Relay For Life. MNC kicks off our Relay campaign with a Wed Night Supper Feb 3rd. You can help by coming and buying a meal &/or helping with it (make dessert, clean up &/or serve). There are lots of ways to help - make gift baskets, handle one area of fundraising, etc. Call Sandy or Stephanie at 764-0122 to let us know you can help! The campaign ends with an all night event May 14, 2010 at Goose Creek High School by remembering and honoring loved ones who have been touched by cancer. (Attendance 5/14 is not required to help). Coordinator is Sandy Easterling.