Often times we are blind to the diversity found right outside our door. To engage faithfully in God’s mission, we must intentionally open ourselves to the fact that the “other” is not only the person living in distant places and different cultures, but can also be found in our neighborhood. Global Ministries believes that to understand your community, there must be a continuous journey to embrace the “other” both locally and globally.

Scriptures

How do you encourage “the other” in your community? Who do we exclude?

In your community, are there relationships which need healing and forgiveness? How can you help to repair relationships in your community

What are you willing to give up to be in community? How should church community be similar to Ruth’s relationship with Naomi? What commitments do we need to make to others to bring them into community?

In what ways are you able to help those in your community? How has working with your community helped you?

How can you reach across the boundaries in your community? In what ways can we show welcome and love to the strangers in our community?

How do you overlook the face of God in your community? As you engage your community and the world, what ways has God surprised you?

What role do you play in your community? Are there groups of people in our community that we sometimes shut out? What ways do we sometimes tell people we have no need of them? In what way do you feel needed in your community? In what way do you feel shut out?