Cultivate Community

Debbie VanDeventer

North Christian Church, Columbus, IN

It is 90 degrees outside on Memorial Day Sunday. Shouldn’t I be at a family picnic or lounging by a pool or something? What am I doing digging around in the dirt this afternoon in a small yard not far from the church? How did I get myself, my husband, and three of my closest friends into this hot mess?

As I place a baby tomato plant into the newly formed garden bed, I remember a conversation I had with Keith Moore a few years ago concerning church growth. 

“You know,” Keith said, “When North Christian first started, we went around the neighborhood, knocked on doors and invited our neighbors to come to church.”

Inspired by Keith’s comment and by an idea from Tammy Shaw and Karen Whitson, the Evangelism and Nurture Committee made more than 100 candy cane invitations for our Christmas Eve service this year. On a cold December afternoon, several church members – including our youth – hung invitations on door knobs in the neighborhood. I didn’t think that we would get any response, so I was surprised when the church office called and said that one of our neighbors had called to ask for a ride to the Christmas Eve service. That’s how I first met Kenneth.

From our doorsteps

Kenneth lives close to our doorstep. He has been our neighbor for many, many years, but we didn’t know each other. Luke 10 teaches us to get to know our neighbors, really know them, and discover what needs they might have. 

I really didn’t want to get involved in another project but our missional challenge says ... “go forth to cultivate community … from our doorstep..” So, I joined in the Community Garden project this spring, which would take our members and their gardening skills into the neighborhood.

Meanwhile, I kept thinking about Kenneth. I hesitated a bit, then gave him a call. I told him about our project, and asked if we could put a small garden in his yard. After taking a few days to process my request, our neighbor excitedly agreed.

On my knees
So here I am, a few weeks later planting lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, and carrots in an 8-foot-by-30-inch frame filled with an enriched soil mixture. I glance over, and see my fellow Luke 10 cultivators (husband Ed, Debby and Terry Shaw, and Ken Lanteigne) listening to Kenneth’s stories. 

He shares stories of the 1953 green Chevy pickup truck in the garage. Kenneth’s dad bought it brand new and used it when he was building bridges around Columbus. It is still Kenneth’s only form of transportation. We stand in the shade of the limestone house that was his parent’s home. Our 83-year-old neighbor has lived there for many years by himself. Although he takes great pride in his home, it is obvious that it is difficult for him to maintain.

What else does our neighbor need? I sense that his need for community may be greater than his need for the vegetables that will grow here. 

I also sense that Keith Moore was on to something. We do need to knock on a few neighbor’s doors. But this time instead of inviting our neighbors in, perhaps they are inviting us out. 

“To cultivate community from our doorsteps to the ends of the Earth.” I am experiencing firsthand what it must mean to be a Luke 10 missional church.

And it takes my breath away!