Every part of our life is affected by Christ, and we need a comprehensive approach to be fully effective in our efforts to create positive and lasting change for others. We can only do so much alone, but together we are strong and will see dramatic changes in lives we touch. Though the ministry of the local church is foundational to all we do, a local church cannot do it all. That strong foundation allows CSM and other non-profits to come along the journey to true health. As a para-church ministry, we are able to come alongside the local church in order to help accomplish the vision we share for the Kingdom.
The healthier the person… the healthier the church… the healthier the community… the healthier our city will become. Every person needs health in these four areas of their life: economic, social, educational, and spiritual. Economic health refers to accessible work, place, security and housing. The social health of their lives refers to physical, emotional and relational strength. The educational aspects include the place, space and investment they make back to a community. A person’s spiritual life includes an inner relationship with God and outer relationship with the world. The spiritual area effects all other areas, and it takes us all as a community of faith to invest in each other.
I think of one particular family who we have invested in for over a year with our approach of comprehensive care. With the goal of a whole and healthy family, we have helped to build an economic base so that their future is brighter by building a home for them. We are surrounding them with a strong team of believers who are helping to put a family system in place for long term stability. Their pastor and church have been involved with this family to helped in the educational and spiritual development of this family, to help us insure that this precious family has moved forward this year in a wholistic manner.
The saying, “It takes a village” is true in the Kingdom and reflects our process for building healthier communities. It takes all of us in the Body to effectively impact the areas of need that produce healthier people, families, communities and city. At CSM, we know that the spiritual runs through the whole process as we work to improve lives through of our housing, food and community engagement areas of ministry. We know to fully carry out the ministry God has entrusted to us; we must work to build up the whole person from the inside out. We thank you for trusting us as we all walk together to see amazing results for His glory.
