Churches Step Up in Flint, Michigan

Offering Hope After Hurricanes | [View online]( [Give Now]( Advertisement [Local Church Outreach Newsletter]( [CT Pastors]( [Join for Free]( [More on Outreach]( Wednesday, April 18, 2018 Churches Step Up in Flint, Michigan It’s unfathomable that the residents of Flint, Michigan are still struggling to have clean, accessible drinking water in their homes. Studies show that the [water levels are improving](, but residents are still being advised to use bottled water until all the lead pipes have been replaced, perhaps by 2020. [Churches Step in Where Government Fails]( The state is no longer providing water, so some area churches [are filling in the gap](. According to NBC News, “First Trinity Baptist Church gave more than 3,000 gallons of water away to residents on Tuesday.” Pastor Ezra Tillman explains First Trinity Baptist’s commitment to Flint this way: "Right now, the whole city's in need; and we know that is an outlandish goal to provide water for the whole city, but we're planning and praying for the Lord to provide," Pastor Tillman said. It’s remarkable how the churches in the area have become a refuge for the residents of Flint. Some [denominations and networks have also gotten involved](. As a father of four, I can’t imagine what it would be like to not have clean drinking water in my home. It’s a luxury we just assume in the modern world. Let’s continue to pray and help Fint. [The Tension of Prophetic Preaching]( Is the gospel mere proclamation and conversion or does it also demand we serve our neighbor in the way the churches above have done? This week at the bi-annual Together for the Gospel Conference, the Chancellor of Reformed Theological Seminary, in a challenging [message](, said that works of justice are merely about obeying the second part of Jesus’ Great Commandment. [In a widely shared clip](, Duncan modeled a pastoral approach: - He was prophetic about his own community’s failure during the civil rights era - He was personal about his own “blindness” when it comes to racial justice - He was faithful to apply the text to a contemporary issue I found this message to be a helpful model for my own preaching and teaching. In a helpful piece ([Are We Preachers or Prophets?]() for Preaching Today, Matthew Schlimm, an Professor of Old Testament at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, writes of his own mistakes in preaching prophetic passages: I was so determined to act just like Amos that I wrote my sermon without imagining the faces of people in my congregation. I didn't step into their shoes. I didn't think about how they gave a portion of their paycheck so I could have my paycheck. I didn't think about how they came to my office when life's events frightened them. In trying to take up my idea of the prophetic mantle, I had lost sight of my calling to love my flock. I’m sure you feel this tension in your role as a pastor. I certainly do. I think Schlimm’s suggestion to see the faces of our people as we preach is crucial. If you are preaching a prophetic passage or talking about justice in your church, I’d love to hear how you did it. If you have a similar story, [Don't hesitate to send an email](mailto:outreach@christianitytoday.com). [Daniel Darling] [Daniel Darling] [Daniel Darling](mailto:outreach@christianitytoday.com) Advertisement [Is Your Church Prepared for the Challenges Ahead?]( Sponsored by Alliance Defending Freedom [Is Your Church Prepared for the Challenges Ahead?]( Pastors and church leaders should consider in advance what to do in the event of a legal challenge aimed at their religious freedom. www.adfchurchalliance.org More from CT Pastors [The Day I Hit the Wall]( [The Day I Hit the Wall]( A simple question led to a life-defining collapse. Gordon MacDonald [Read More]( [Share the Load in Your Small Congregation]( [Share the Load in Your Small Congregation]( Are you the only pastor on staff? You don’t have to bear the burden alone. Rob O’Lynn [Read More]( [The Main Point of a Passage Should Not Always Be the Main Point of Your Sermon]( [The Main Point of a Passage Should Not Always Be the Main Point of Your Sermon]( Use a sub-point or the author's logic as the main point of your sermon. 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