Hands and Feet

This morning, our three pastors spoke about the idea of “Missional Church”. The congregation is in the process of raising funds to build a new children’s wing, in order to accommodate and serve more children. This is not simply for the families within the congregation, but for the larger community as well. The focus is on being Missional; on being Jesus to the people around us, whether or not they are connected to the community of faith.

One of the pastors made the statement, “Lots of people head out to be the hands and feet of Jesus, but it’s hard to be the hands and feet if you’re not connected to the rest of the body.” And, being a visual thinker, you know where my mind immediately went with that?

Thing. The disembodied hand from The Addams Family. Yes. Really.

Follow me on this. Thing runs around the family home like a manic five-legged spider. He (she?) manages to communicate with the rest of the Addams family by use of jumping gestures. Thing is very expressive. And Thing manages to care for the homestead in spite of being just a hand. In return, the family cares for Thing and makes Thing feel welcome and honored and loved. 

Though Thing is disembodied, Thing is not without a body. That’s Missional.

We’re preparing to head off to the other side of the world from where we are now. We’re heading off to be the hands and feet and eyes and ears of Jesus. And we’re leaving the congregation and friends and family that have been so close to us for years. We’re about to be somewhat disembodied. But… we hope to not be without a body. We will still be connected intimately to the Body of Christ. But we also need to be connected to you all, our body. Christ’s Body for us. Our support, our nourishment. Our sustenance. 

You nourish us now. Many have joined with us and are standing alongside us praying and supporting us. But developing partners can be a long process, and one that is occasionally discouraging. The numbers don’t always grow as quickly as we would like them to. It’s important for us to know that we are not the body-less hand. It’s important for us to feel as connected to you as you hopefully feel to us. If there are ways that we can connect more with each of you, please let us know. Please let us know. And know that we hold you all very close and are very grateful for each of you, and that we cherish our connections with you.