Creating Community with our Neighbors

 

Most neighborhoods these days are made up of folks from all over the country.  Jobs move people around and take us away from family and what use to be called “neighbors”.  Growing up, I remember that my neighbors were mostly my family and those that were not family were very close friends.  What made the friends close to us?  We spent time with them.

 

Life has gotten extremely busy for most of us.  I have two sons who play ball of every kind, a daughter in dance and gymnastics, and my wife and I are active at church and I mix in coaching here and there.  For one to make commitments to anything else is extremely difficult.  Unfortunately the simple act of just getting to know your neighbors falls to the wayside.

 

Last summer I was asked to host a cookout in my neighborhood for those that went to church at LifePoint.  I asked the church for a list of people who lived on my street and the next one over. I did not realize that so many people from our church were just a few blocks away.  I invited my neighbors and we had about 30 people attend.  A few others that were invited were my neighbors that did not go to church, but I wanted them to get to know each other.  The response to this event was well received and my immediate neighbors expressed an interest in having another cookout.  After a couple of months, our small group, which is mostly comprised of my neighbors, decided to hold another cookout and invite the folks that lived on our two-street block.  About 50 households were invited to this cookout and about 20 of them showed up.  Several others had already made plans but called to send their regrets and asked to be invited the next time.  During this cookout I heard story after story how most folks had not even gotten to know their neighbors and some had lived there for 3 years.  This wasn’t because they didn’t like each other, but simply they had not taken the time or initiative to get to know one another.

 

By creating a small group in my neighborhood, I have folks that are friends with me, as well as friends with others in our neighborhood, and we can keep up with many households.  We are able to support one another and care for each other when times get tough and become a community of friends.  Recently, one of our neighbors had a baby.  This family does not attend church and was overwhelmed when our small group had arranged dinner for them the first week they were home with the new baby.  This opened the door for several of us that did not know this family to stop and visit with them when we see them in their yards while walking around the block.  Just by taking the time to add a few more helpings to our dinner allowed us the opportunity to wrap our arms around a family in need.

 

As time has passed from our last cookout, I developed a neighborhood directory for the 50 households on our block.  About 98% of them participated and some expressed how thankful they are that someone would take the time to try to bring everyone closer.  People are looking for a connection with their neighbors and long for that bond they once knew as a child.  We are learning to create a community of friends, not just being neighbors in a subdivision who don’t know one another.  We are trying to live our Discipleship in our small group, creating Community with our neighbors, and Serving each other as needed.

~Jon Frazier, LifePoint Small Group Coordinator

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