Loving Your Neighbors & City

The mission of Park Church is to “make disciples of Jesus for the glory of God and the joy of all people.” One of the ways we glorify God is by seeking the welfare of the people in the neighborhoods, community, and city in which God has placed us. Jesus called these people our “neighbors.” When Jesus was asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” His response was two-fold. Jesus replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,’” and then he said, “The second is like it, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37–39 NIV). As citizens of the kingdom of God, who have been loved so graciously and generously by the King, it is our great privilege to tangibly love and serve those whom God has placed around us. This page is a resource designed to help you do just that, or in the words of Jesus, to “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

In Your Neighborhood

Start with those in closest proximity (relationally and/or geographically) to you by:
  1. Being Aware There are people in need around you. It’s not an accident that God has placed them in your sphere of influence. See this as a Divine Appointment.
  2. Reaching Out Find out who around you is in need. Call, text, place flyers on doors, etc.
  3. Acting In Love Biblical love always includes action. Love your neighbor by striving to meet their physical needs during this time of crisis.
Two helpful resources our team has put together to help facilitate this process are:
  • The Needs Form: Send this form to anyone who has a tangible need or fill it out for them so that we can help coordinate meeting this need.
  • The Park Mobilization Team: Fill this out if you would like to join a team to help meet the needs that arise within our church and broader community.

In Your City

The city of Denver is blessed with many organizations that exist for the purpose of fulfilling Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Listed below are a few that Park Church has had an ongoing relationship with and we would encourage you to support their efforts to serve the city during this time. Click on the links below to find out ways you can support them. Denver Dream Center Give tangible goods or financially to help the most vulnerable in the neighborhoods surrounding the Park Church building. Hope In Our City Provide money or email Courtney at cgingras@hopeinourcity.org to arrange dropping off needed supplies for refugees in our city. Joshua Station Donate to a community-style home in our city that helps the homeless recover and build for the future.

Other Ideas & Resources

  1. Love5280 is an effort by Park Church to resource people with information about organizations that serve Denver and opportunities to join them in their work. Visit love5280.org to browse more ministry partners than the three we’ve listed above.
  2. Donating blood meets a major need during a major shortage. The usual methods for donating blood have been taken away because of COVID-19 concerns—the Red Cross reports that nearly 2,700 of its blood drives have been canceled across the country, resulting in about 86,000 fewer donations. To help, consider setting up a Red Cross blood donation, or visiting vitalant.org to find a blood bank near you.
  3. Say What You Need: Coronavirus Levels The Field of Neediness—Article by CrossPoint
  4. The state has launched a site to help integrate volunteer needs and donations. Additionally, the United Way has compiled a list of organizations that are primarily working with the homeless and have current volunteer needs.
  5. Be a pen pal: Drop a note to people in care facilities who may not be allowed visitors or send thank you notes to first responders, teachers or healthcare workers. Self-distancing doesn’t have to mean self-isolation.
  6. Check in on your network: Call, text or email friends and family members. Your support is invaluable when emotions are high.
  7. Help limit food insecurities: Offer to shop for the vulnerable in your community or be a neighborhood drop point for others to leave pantry items outside your door. Gather the supplies, sanitize them and deliver to your local food shelf.
  8. Create a plan: Every day the needs in our communities are growing. Organize virtual meetings via Facebook or Zoom to brainstorm and share virtual volunteer ideas.

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