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Many years ago, a small church in North Carolina received a part-time-student pastor. The church was small and struggling and the members were concerned that they would not be able to continue in the years to come as they just weren’t able to do what they used to be able to do. Early in the new pastor’s ministry, the membership met to discuss their concerns. The pastor asked them one simple question: “What is one thing you do well?” The answer was “we are good cooks.” So, the pastor helped them develop a new ministry around their gift for cooking. Each week a few members would scour the obituary column. If there had been a death in their community, they would cook and deliver a meal to the family. It wasn’t long before the church began to grow. By the time the pastor was ready to graduate from seminary three years later, the church was ready to become full-time simply because the members used the gift that God had given them to bring comfort and love in a time of distress to their community.
We have a similar story in the Susquehanna conference but instead of cooking they cut wood. At Greater Buffalo Run Valley UMC Pastor James Jacobs held an “Out of the Box Outreach” brainstorming session. An idea was born to provide firewood to folks in the area who need it to heat their home but are unable to cut and split it anymore.
Three months later with an implementation plan, a safety plan, a federal grant, and a grant from the Susquehanna Conference the church was ready to start work. The first year over 25 families were provided wood so that they could heat their homes.
The ministry continues to grow with multiple dump trailers, splitters, and wood cutting equipment. Also, the community has gotten involved with local township and tree trimming companies providing a steady stream of wood and also even helping to process some of the wood.
The outreach currently has over 30 cords of wood cut and split ready to deliver to homes for the 2025/2026 heating season as well as providing some for customers at the local food bank to pick up.
Greater Buffalo Run Valley UMC thought outside the box, using the gifts God had given them – skills to cut and split wood. So, the question for all of us is “What gifts has God given me?” Someone in your “neighborhood” has a need, a need that you can use your gift to alleviate. It is said that “God works in mysterious ways” but sometimes, even most times, God works through the simple acts of love, comfort, and mercy that each one of us can provide in our own ways.
Try it. It will change lives – including yours.
VIM Coordinator
vim@susumc.org
Web: www.susumc.org/vim
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