The economic impact resulting from the recent natural disasters has affected all of us. The newly unemployed and displaced will feel it the most. The approaching Thanksgiving and Advent/Christmas seasons provide a grand opportunity for meaningful ministry and a genuine outpouring of Christian love. Consider these ways of sharing God's love with others during the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Greatest Gifts Come Out of Personal Sacrifice

Conduct a pre-Thanksgiving fast and redirect the money that would have been spent on food toward feeding the newly unemployed, the displaced, or the homeless. [Note: not everyone is physically capable of abstaining from food for medical reasons. Consider alternatives to fasting from food, such as fasting from spending money on non-essential items and using that money to donate to the poor or homeless.]

Bible Study on Fasting:

Invite the congregation to read Isaiah 58:1-12 (special emphasis on verses 6-9a). Discuss the life lessons revealed in the passage in small groups, Sunday school classes, or as a special emphasis during a worship experience. Talk about definite ways to act upon one or more of the lessons discovered in the passage.

Pray With Your Community in Mind During the Fast

Make a list of topics in your community to pray about during the fast. Is there injustice that is harming people in your congregation or community? Are there oppressive conditions that need to be addressed? Are there hungry and homeless people in the immediate church community that need your assistance? Are there people with insufficient clothing that could use one of the extra sweaters or coats that hang in our closets or cedar chests?

Serve Thanksgiving Dinner to the Needy

In the second year of a new church start, my wife, Safiyah, and I were inspired to feed the needy during Thanksgiving in our congregation of about 100 people. Mrs. Dickson, affectionately known as "The Pie Lady," was a woman on a fixed income. She took it upon herself to make pies for sick and shut-in people and single moms on Thanksgiving and Mother's Day. People learned of her generosity and concern and began donating baking ingredients and time to deliver her pies.

When we learned of her efforts, our church took on the ministry and cooked Thanksgiving meals and delivered them to needy people in the community. We served more than 75 meals to the needy because one person cared enough to do something.

People affected by the recent hurricanes directly or through economic downsizing need to know that God loves them this Thanksgiving. Why not be the extension of God's love that people need in your community? What better way of saying thanks to God for God's goodness to us?

Kwasi Kena is the Director of Evangelism Ministries for the General Board of Discipleship. Please direct suggestions and comments to him at kkena@gbod.org.

Copyright © 2005 the General Board of Discipleship.

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