Blood Drive Time: The Church Takes on Community Service

The Church's Place in the Community
Have you ever observed that churches sometimes resemble little fiefdoms? I understand that there are general guidelines for our respective organizations, but beyond our mutually shared doctrine, each church's identity is largely determined by its leader, its people, and certainly its community. (FYI - Get the Because of the Times(?) tape where Bro. T.F. Tenney spoke on the need for pastors to be in covenant with the land, i.e. their city/town.)

What I mean is this--no two churches are exactly alike because no two communities are exactly alike. I think that's a big reason that each church has its own feel. And I've always been interested to see the church's role in the community it serves.

Long Story Short
This morning a lady spoke to our church and asked for blood donors. We're doing a large blood drive, I suppose for the sake that it serves a very real need and because it's a way to be involved in our community(?). I'm trying to psych myself up for it. I've only given blood once and almost passed out, so I’ve been a big baby about it since then. So while the blood drive lady was speaking, the selfish side of me screamed No, but I claim to believe in the importance of helping those in need, so my guilt is hopefully getting the better of me.

Report Card
Meanwhile I'm wondering if the Oneness movement has even scratched the surface of its challenge to be community minded and involved? I understand that Rev. Matt Maddix spoke this week at our Louisiana Camp from the pure religion text and preached very urgently about the responsibility of the church at large to those outside its walls.

I said individual churches resemble fiefdoms in the way they each are different and have their own unique relationships with their towns/cities. My discussion topic today, should you choose to accept it, is: to what degree should a church serve its community? Obviously we begin with a spiritual appeal, but to what degree do we need to serve our community beyond that? Is the “everything else will take care of itself after spiritual needs are met” concept outdated? Or is “community service” in the sense of canned food drives, soup kitchen service, etc a generational thing? I realize that each fiefdom, or individual church, will have its own formula. But as a whole, where is the Oneness movement with community service?