I feel human again…
““The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”
Often in life, we don't know how to respond to the desperate needs of so many in our society. People ask; Do we give money? Do I offer a job? Do I ignore and leave these problems to be solved by someone else? It is often hard for many of us to know the correct response, frequently leaving us frustrated. However, when we read the gospels we learn that Jesus was often practical in loving those around him, especially the poor and those considered outcasts of society.
“‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
One thing I think that is clear is that we can’t ignore the brokenness and pain that people in our community feel. God sees us all and loves every one of us. In Zulu the term ‘Sawabona’ means ‘I see you’. It is a term that I believe should challenge us as a community to see each others humanity and that God doesn’t ignore anyone, so neither should we.
This is something we want to value as a community at CHS, as a church, in our Life Centre and through the missional partners that do great work in our surrounding communities. I loved this quote from Coretta King: “A community can be measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” A community that embodies compassion is what we want to be and to see this lived out practically amongst those Jesus would call the least of these, people who are on the margins of society and those who often aren’t seen.
One of the ways we want to express this compassion is through our monthly Community Lunches. On the 27th of August, our CHS community held our second Community Lunch at the CHS Life Centre.
The Community Lunch is a monthly gathering where we invite anyone from our community to connect over a meal at our Table Cafe. This includes our unhoused community who would not normally have the opportunity to eat a nutritious meal, have fun and connect with others.
“Justice is not a practice removed from people, it is lived in response to what we see when we slow down enough to see our neighbour is hurting”
The community lunch is something we envisioned at the CHS Life Centre before it was built, to provide a space where everyone is welcome and can experience God’s love and care. These lunches have become a beautiful time when the community comes together, eating great food, laughing, praying, playing games and listening to one another.
On this day we served 60 meals and were able to give showers to 9 people and 4 haircuts. As one person stepped out of our shower said “I feel human again”. For many of us, taking a shower is normal and taken for granted, but it is a reminder that so many don’t have access to this basic need or to have their haircut or eat a healthy meal. Part of being a compassionate community is to reach out and show love to everyone, especially the poor and marginalised who struggle with so many needs daily.
Through simple acts of love, we hope to partner more with other organisations like Rea Thusana, U-Turn and New Hope SA. It is our heart and desire to be able to care for people well in our community and see them grow in faith and life. Part of this vision for the future is to run job training, skills development and holistic care.
“Church is about more than gathering for a service, its about being a community of faith that lives out the good news of Jesus in tangible ways for our world.”
Please do join us in supporting our community lunches and providing pathways for those living on the streets and struggling with addiction.
Another way we are doing this is through our Pay It Forward campaign in our Cafe where you can buy someone in need a coffee. At the Centre, we also sell the Mi-Change vouchers that offer the opportunity for those on the street to claim a shower, food, clothing and a safe space to sleep.
Let's be known for the compassionate community Coretta King envisioned. A place where everyone can experience God's love and care.
Written by Mark Slessenger
CHS Life Centre
