Start a Movement Community Today!
Social Help - We know that through Jesus’ teachings and the example of the early church, it is integral that we share with others and help those in need. Our goal is that every month each Movement group finds some way to help a person, family, or community and complete a project. Some possible examples are buying a family needed groceries, visiting a hospital or cleaning a neighborhood. The goal is to focus on one need at a time and use the available resources we have as a local group. At our weekly meet-ups, we discuss the possible projects we could do and decide on one together.
Many people are anxious to help with a worthy cause if given the opportunity. Through doing these projects, we are creating a culture of love for our neighbors - one that the Bible values and The Movement wants to encourage. Even if you don’t consider yourself to be a spiritual person, most people inherently hold the value of helping others.
The value of expression in The Movement will be a huge promoter of the social helps projects. When groups put on events using their unique form of expression and relate to others, they can invite others to help with their next project. A Movement group in Tepic has already seen the success of this. While the band was playing a concert in the park, they met some people and invited them to come to a meet-up where they planned their next project. These new friends were the most committed to the project and even brought more friends to help.
The projects will also be a great opportunity for various groups to come together. For example, if there are 5 different groups in Guadalajara, they can all combine efforts for one project. The benefit of this is that people get to develop relationships with new people while working towards a common goal, the projects can have a bigger impact with more resources, and newcomers to The Movement can meet a broader range of people and find a group where they fit well.
The Internet and Vineage will be a major way for groups to connect. Through this webpage we will spotlight groups and social help projects they’ve accomplished as examples for other groups to follow.
In the future, we hope to partner with a social-help organization that we can funnel funds and resources into, and use the help of individuals from Movement groups around the world to accomplish the projects. An example of this is Habitat For Humanity, who provides affordable housing for people in need, and uses volunteers to build the houses. This organization could also be perfect for short-term missions teams to come and serve with. Movement groups will still complete their own projects to help with needs in their communities.
Purpose:
With the social help projects we hope to follow Jesus’ teachings of helping people in need, as well as gather people and multiple Movement groups around a cause that will create bonds in the community.
Goals:
1. Every Movement group completes a social help project in their community about once a month and invites the local community to participate.
2. Money received at expression events can go towards social help projects.
3. Movement groups invite new people to help with projects.
4. Short term mission teams help organize and run social help projects.
5. Have a person on staff who helps coordinate larger projects, and gives tools and ideas to Movement groups for running their own projects.
6. Partner with or create a social help organization that The Movement can funnel resources into, and Movement groups and short-term teams can partner with in order to complete larger projects.
7. Highlight various projects on the Movement website to inspire other groups.
Ministry possibilities include:
-
Serving and evangelizing the recipients of the projects.
-
During projects, events, or fellowship groups discuss Jesus’ teaching in the Bible about serving others and apply it to the projects.
-
Host parties to celebrate the completion of projects and also include expression such as live music and creative film documentation of projects.
-
Pre-conversion discipleship of non-believers by being involved in projects.
-
Various movement groups can unite to complete a larger project, which will allow them to network within other groups and be involved in the macro Movement community.
Keys to success:
-
Coordinators of Movement groups that can head up organizing and facilitating projects, and also motivate the group.
-
Projects are planned by group members which causes them to have more ownership and commitment.
-
Projects utilize the resources the group has, such as funds, people, and various skills and abilities.
-
The purpose of the projects, which is to live out the Bible’s teachings, are instilled in participants.
Benefits:
- Those involved are touched by the love we are showing and introduced to Biblical and Movement values.
- Community becomes bonded by working together for a cause.
- Another opportunity to invite new people to get involved with Movement community.
- When expression events are used to promote social helps, it shows that there is a higher goal than expression - bringing people together and use our influence to help others.
- Projects provide another purpose for short-term teams to come and experience what’s happening with the Movement, and hopefully be inspired to spread it where they live.
- Projects bring various groups in an area together.