Helen said:Tim: one is missing and it is very important in the NT: to build up the body. Also, when the Holy Spirit sent Philip to the Ethiopian, the direction were not to find out his needs and meet them, but simply to walk alongside. .
I just noticed this...
building up the body is Discipleship...
Then Philip met the Ethiopian's need to explain the scriptures to him...
I am talking about practical needs...
If someone is hungry, feed them and share Christ.
If there is a community service you can do, do it in the name of Christ...
For instance, one of our missionaries to Bolivia worked along side one of our convention's Area Ministers and we (churches in the WVBC) provided something like 20 solar powered lights to a vilage in Bolivia where there was no electricity.
This was a need in this village.. Now the church has evening services... Bible schools can be taught at night... people are experiencing the love of Christ in a practical way...
And not only is Christ the spiritual light to them, His church provided natural light as well.
I will not apologize for doing missions this way... it helps build relationships with people in order to share the Gospel...
It is more personal, hands on, just like Christ did...
He healed hurts... We are called to too.