Care: Loving Our Neighbors Like Jesus

Mission America Coalition Annual Meeting 2007

Kansas City, Mo - October 10, 2007

Sam Tillery, President, Pastors Prayer and Ministry Alliance, Santa Rosa, CA

Care: Loving Our Neighbors Like Jesus

#1 Thing we can do: Pray 2 Chronicles 7:14

¹⁴ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Cause and effect process that is universal – across cities and cultures.

A right relationship with God leads to a right relationship with one another.

Unity, humility, prayer, holiness… are all processes that are as valuable as the events. .

Can we walk in a great commitment to the great commandment and not walk in the greater body of Chris?

1 Corinthians 1:10

¹⁰ Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Ephesians 1:15-16

¹⁵ Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
¹⁶ Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

Wouldn’t it be great if people would hear about our faith in the Lord Jesus and all Christians everywhere? If they are, we’re going to have to get out of our little fortresses.

Jeremiah 29:4-7

⁴ Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;
⁵ Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;
⁶ Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.
⁷ And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

As your city prospers, so you will prosper. How can we complain about what is happening in our community? We are the ones responsible!!

Video:

Hope Works, Santa Rosa, an employment and mentoring service for gang members, modeled after a program in Fresno, CA. Local elected leaders saw that the Christian life works and wanted this demonstrated blessing for the anti-gang program.

Matthew 5:14-16

¹⁴ Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
¹⁵ Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Caring displaces darkness. Caring is Love, and caring opens the door to sharing the hope and power of Jesus Christ.

Caring for what they think they need, not what YOU think they need.

Government is posed with problems with no solutions. The elected leaders tell us to “come with solutions, and you’ll be listened to.”

Caring is a posture to serve. Caring gives us the right to be heard. Caring opens doors. Caring makes a way for God to move in incredible ways.

Video:

Promotes unity in the body of believers in Sonoma County.

Spring Clean, Kids Festival, and other projects of the Pastors Prayer and Ministry Alliance.

Pastors take trips to Israel to build relationships with each other and with Israel.

Ed, City Administrator, Santa Rosa shares his perspective of this working relationship between the city and the churches of the city.

Video:

COPE – Citizen’s Organizing to Prepare for Emergencies.