October 5, 2025

When we think of helping people it’s important to be practical. It’s helpful for churches to provide opportunity for members to engage in benevolence. We need to make it an ongoing part of our preaching and teaching. We need to provide guidance for safety and opportunity. Perhaps we keep water bottles available to be handed out. Maybe we provide pamphlets and business cards that can be given along with a meal or snack. Many churches have had success with gift cards to grocery stores or by keeping some food and clothing on hand to give out when needed. In colder climates churches may give out blankets or warm clothing. In warmer regions or in hot summer months churches may provide an air-conditioned cooling space for those at risk of exposure. These efforts as mentioned can easily be combined with business cards, invitations to bible courses or in person studies. 

Each of these can and should be carried out by individual Christians.

We should avoid the trap of time share sales in doing our benevolence. Many of us may have sat through a time share pitch to receive the free tickets to an event or some other benefit, never intending to buy a time share. There will be some who may take this approach when attending the activities of the church. 

It’s wise to work in strategies which encourage people to be honest and express their disinterest. We may allow people to simply pick up gospel related materials. We may use benevolent efforts to advertise future events. We may allow people to interact with church members or sit alone or in their own groups. This keeps people from feeling trapped and avoids negative perception. We are not wrong to keep evangelism a priority. It can be helpful to simply tell people up front that we believe everyone needs Jesus, including them. When we then go ahead and help them, they can see that we are sincere in all that we do. 

The last thing to point out is that congregational efforts at benevolence should support and encourage personal efforts, not replace them. All Christians are called to show compassion to others at all times. Often personal efforts will be more fruitful because of the more intimate connections they are able to facilitate. 

May God Bless us in our efforts to reach people with the saving truth of the gospel.

~ Kevin Cleary