Noticing the Need
As our city expands, so does the opportunity for Christ-followers to step into spaces of need, sharing God’s love in tangible ways with the people in our communities. Long-time partner, Austin Street, provides safe shelter and basic essentials for people who are without housing.
Each month, volunteers from HP Pres serve meals at Austin Street, helping feed those who greatly need it. Among those volunteers are Tom (pictured lower left corner) and John (pictured far left), who have been serving alongside each other for many years. John shares, “It’s such a feeling of gratification when you go in there to serve and see the smiles on people’s faces. It’s so powerful and you just want to share that with everyone.”
Helping meet people’s basic needs is a part of following Christ. In Jesus’ earthly ministry, he fed the hungry and healed the sick while sharing the life-changing message of the Gospel. Tom shares, “At Austin Street, I feel confident that when we go there to serve, it’s going to a good cause. We know that while people are getting help to become self-sufficient, they are also learning about Jesus.”
As businessmen, Tom and John see the world through the lens of potential outcomes. They notice pain points, formulating paths to success through a myriad of variables. But they also see the world through the eyes of Jesus – noticing the needs of people they pass on the street and acting on Christ’s call in Matthew 22:39 to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Tom shares, “If we stay in our own little world and don’t serve the needy like God calls us to do, then we don’t have our eyes open to the needs of others. Going to Austin Street is one of those things that opens your eyes to seek out opportunities to serve people.”
There is an undeniable joy that comes from acting on God’s call to love your neighbor. Through helping other people, you draw nearer to our Father in heaven, seeing the world through his eyes, and remembering the hope we have through faith in our Savior. John encourages you to join them serving at Austin Street, sharing, “This is probably one of the most uplifting experiences that you can embark on. You will get so much out of it every time.”
Sign up to serve at hppres.org/serve-our-city.
