 What is The Big Challenge?
The Big Challenge is all about showing God's love to the people who live in Reading in practical ways. Regularly, on key dates e.g. Valentine's day, Mother's Day etc we go out together to serve the communities around us or give away things free as a token of God's love, so that throughout the year we show Gods love to lots of people across the town. There are also regular homegroup focused events where each group is challenged to do something together to help serve the communuties in which they meet.
It is easy to talk about it; it’s easy to have the good intentions to
love & serve but the real challenge is in actually being that
servant. It is often said that the church is the only body of people
that exist for the benefits of its non attenders and now we have an
opportunity to be just that. To reach out and go out to the people,
problems and places around us without expecting anything in return and
giving, serving, loving, helping, caring, changing the communities
around us for the better.
“For the Son of Man came not to be cared for. He came to care for others. He came to give His life...” Matt 20:28
I can't do that, Can I?!?
Don't worry you've never done anything like that before or if you feel scared - that's why we go together! It is a great way to learn about trusting God and see what He can do with us. Also there are so many ways to use different skills and passions - never rule yourself out.
It is not only what Jesus did it is also what he commanded us to do and be. We are blessed so that we can go out and bless others. The good news is that you don’t have to do this by yourself! We want to help you live out this part of the Christian adventure by doing this with you.
We would love you to commit to getting involved as part of your worship and we in turn will help organise fun easy things in order so that you can live this out with minimal stress.
How can I get involved?
You can get involved with the big challenge in the following ways.
- Think about the sort of person you are and what type of project —big giveaway/serve/difference - would suit you to get stuck into.
- Pray for the big challenge with your eyes open asking God to show you ideas/places/people who we can serve and bless as a church.
- Don't just think about an idea but seek to own it, we are here to support you and empower you to love and serve. Please do talk to any of the team!
- Make a commitment to get involved in the big challenge projects as an act of worship.
- Bring non-perishable item/good with you to church on a Sunday morning and put it in the big challenge box.
- If you are in a home group/band, why not talk to your leader about an evening to think/pray about how you can serve your local area? Members of the big challenge team are happy to come along and help facilitate that session. If you aren’t in a home group, think about joining one...
- Do you feel passionate about serving people or empowering and supporting others to serve? Then why not join the big challenge team!?!
- Remember that together with God we can make a real difference and impact by serving our communities!
Some of the projects we've done so far:
Last year, we collected 90 Easter eggs for 'Homestart', a charity that supports local families who would otherwise have missed out. In April, we cleared 30 black sacks of rubbish from around Bulmershe, where we meet,and scrubbed graffiti off the walls, much to the delight of the Leisure centre manager! On Halloween we gave out free chocolate as a 'treat not trick'. The £10 Challenge was a huge success with each Housegroup multiplying their £10 through various events in order to use the money to bless different sections of Reading.
We also started collecting non-perishable food (tins and packets) plus nappies and other household goods like saucepans for a Reading based charity called Christian Community Action (CCA). Last year we collected 10 car boots full whih help support and feed those on very low incomes who would otherwise go without, so why not join in and use 'Buy one get one free' offers and or commit to putting something into the box at the front of church every week! This is also a great way to teach children about giving....
The Fast Serve Challenge...... The FAST bit refers to giving something up in order to focus on God. This may be food (e.g. 1 day per week or certain foods), alcohol, TV, spending money on non-essentials, using credit cards .... whatever fills your thoughts or wastes your time! As we fast, we pray and seek God, asking for more opportunities to work with Him in our every day lives. As a group we then go out to SERVE our neighbours B4 Easter.
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