GlocalNet

Matt Robertson, Guest Blogger
Glocal Impact Pastor, NorthWood Church

Last week I met with a surgeon who had just come back from a one week Medical Outreach Trip that NorthWood Church had organized to one of our global impact areas.  He was so excited to tell me about how he was able to use his experience and skills working alongside local doctors, to provide much needed medical care to people in remote villages.  Many lives were impacted during this one week!

He was able to help a lot of people, and learn from and help train several of the local doctors he was with.  He can’t wait to get back.  He’s even talking about wanting to retire earlier so he can spend longer periods of time serving in difficult places.  He’s so thankful for the opportunity to go and serve.

At the same time, we have a woman in our congregation who is a personal fitness trainer.  She feels called to use her skills and passion for health and wellness to serve those who can’t normally afford her coaching.  This has led her to a Section 8 apartment complex that NorthWood Church has recently adopted.  There are a lot of isolated elderly as well as single moms with kids in this complex.
 
She has organized fitness and wellness classes at this complex.  In addition, she has also created several opportunities for the kids in the complex, a lot of them shut-in while the parents are working, to hang out, have ice cream, make crafts and study the Bible.  The kids are so excited to have this positive personal interaction, they keep coming back for more…and now parents are starting to engage more as well.  Not only is she engaging this apartment complex, she is mobilizing other volunteers to show up and hang out with the kids for a few hours each week.

Both examples: one global, the other local (glocal) demonstrate how churches can be releasing and mobilizing their members to engage society.  We believe this is a key ingredient to discipleship.  Understanding and studying the Bible is critical.  A focus on core Biblical principles is critical to having a strong foundation of discipleship in any church.  However, releasing the disciples into society and allowing them to use their vocations / domains, gifts, passions and abilities is also critical to the transformation of the individual and society as a whole.