As Figtree Anglicans conclude a 40-day community mission this weekend, one of its ministers is spearheading a campaign to get the church into the centre of their suburb.
Figtree senior associate minister, the Rev Leigh Roberts is spearheading his church's initiative which he refers to as "incarnational ministry'.
"Incarnational ministry is what we do as Christians " the actions that accompany the gospel. It's a needs-based evangelism," Mr Roberts says.
"We have 70 small groups and their project has been to find what they can do as a group to bless the community," Mr Roberts says.
"One lady said her Bible study group was donating blood and is challenging other groups to do the same.
"We have other people partnering with the church in Warrawong to build a fence for them and to help with their playgroup," he says.
This weekend the church members will go into two local schools a way of building links and being salt and light their communities.
"We are going into Farnborough Road Public School where we already have a scripture teaching relationship and holding a car boot sale to raise money for the school," Mr Roberts says.
"At the same time we are doing a backyard blitz on Figtree High School where we are returfing one of their playgrounds, repairing a tennis court and painting their seats. It's our way of sharing both word and deeds in the community."
The book The church of irresistible influence by Robert Lewis and the Saddleback Church 40 Days of Community program has encouraged Mr Roberts and the majority of the church community to do more to reach the community around them with the gospel.
Lewis's book states that evangelism will be more effective when accompanied with an incarnational ministry.
‘Sky-rocketing’ cost of petrol means church goes out to the people
Figtree Anglican Church launched the Manna Van last month to help the church reach out to the homeless and underprivileged in the Wollongong region.
The Manna Van is a mobile extension of Manna House, a ministry that for over three years has fed the homeless, the needy and offered support to struggling parents.
"We've found that for a number of reasons, including the sky-rocketing cost of petrol, the many homeless people we help each week are struggling to get to us at our Figtree base," says Manna House founder and coordinator, Julie-Anne Jones.
"With the help of some wonderful volunteers we've transformed an old caravan into the Manna Van to take our help and food to them."
The church plans to reach areas like Unanderra, Port Kembla, the Crown Street mall and the Department of Housing flats in Warrawong.
Parish councillor Peter Jones says the church has struggled to reach those on the fringes of society.
"We do okay at reaching the middle class, the educated and those like us but Manna Van allows us to take food helps and Christ to those we have always struggled to touch," he says.
Mr Roberts says Figtree members have donated time and finances to projects like Manna Van as a result of the challenge to incarnational ministry.
"We made a public confession as a church and said we have not done well in this area in the past, so let's call on God's mercy to enable us to do this better in the future," Mr Roberts says.
"You've got to be faithful and look to Jesus. To my hot shot evangelists I say be more compassionate, to my really caring people I say be more evangelistic."
