1.5.1 Christian Church & the Local Community

The Role of the Christian Church in the Local Community

Biblical Foundations

"If anyone has material possessions and ignores his brother in need, how can he love God?" — 1 John 3:17

"Love your neighbour as yourself." — Mark 12:31

Church Activities and Community Support

• Open Churches: Christian churches often remain open throughout the day, providing a space for quiet reflection and solace. Regular services welcome everyone, offering a sense of community and support, especially for those who are lonely.
• Rites of Passage: Important life events such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals are conducted in local churches, involving the community in these significant moments.
• Youth Groups: Churches frequently run youth groups, providing local children with activities and a safe environment to grow and develop.

Volunteer Work and Charitable Activities

• Advice and Help: Churches offer help and advice to those in need, with many Christians volunteering for local charities to provide direct support.
• Food Banks: Numerous churches operate food banks from their church halls, ensuring that those in need have access to essential supplies.
• Street Pastors: Christians often volunteer as street pastors, patrolling the streets at night to care for those at risk and in need of assistance.

The Salvation Army

• Food Kitchens and Toy Collections: They organise food kitchens and toy collections during Christmas to support families in need.
• Affordable Nurseries: They provide affordable childcare to help parents return to work and support their families.
• Children's Activities: They run summer camps and after-school clubs, offering children a safe environment to develop independence and life skills.
• Advocacy and Support: The Salvation Army represents vulnerable groups, attends political conferences, and provides support for addiction, modern-day slavery, and elderly isolation through various activities. The Christian church plays a vital role in the local community by following Jesus' example and biblical teachings to help those in need. Through open churches, community involvement, volunteer work, and the efforts of organisations like the Salvation Army, Christians strive to make their communities better, safer, and more supportive places to live.

Charity and Mission in Christianity

The following are three notable Christian charities:

1. CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development):

CAFOD fights poverty and injustice worldwide, operating through churches in disaster-affected regions. Their aim is to empower local communities by providing them with the skills needed for self-sufficiency.

2. Christian Aid:

Founded after World War Two to support European refugees, Christian Aid now operates in disaster zones globally. During Christian Aid Week, UK households are encouraged to donate to their cause. The charity focuses on harnessing local skills to enhance community living and aims to eradicate poverty.

3. Tearfund:

Tearfund is an evangelical organisation dedicated to ending global hunger and caring for refugees. They engage young people from congregations to assist with overseas projects. While providing various forms of aid, Tearfund places a significant emphasis on addressing spiritual needs, having established over 67,000 churches worldwide.

Mission and Evangelism:

The Mission of Christianity:

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." — Matthew 28:19

Missionaries carry out this mission by spreading the Christian message through both words and deeds, such as participating in development projects. This approach has been instrumental in spreading Christianity, particularly in South America and Africa, where missionaries have promoted social justice and established churches.

Evangelism:

Evangelists believe they can help people find their true purpose in life by introducing them to Christianity. Their methods vary from direct communication about God to demonstrating God's love through actions.

Exam Practise:

Explain two contrasting examples of the work of the Church in the local community [2 marks]

Give two ways in which Christians might show their commitment to Church growth. [2 marks]

Give two ways in which the Church helps Christians to respond to persecution. [2 marks]