And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6: 8.
In the spring of 2002, representatives from nine University-area churches, including The Congregational Church of Austin, met to discuss ways to coordinate and increase the effectiveness of their social outreach ministries. Some of the area churches had extensive outreach ministries that provided financial assistance, food, clothing and other services to people in need, while other churches that did not offer assistance were seeking ways to develop effective outreach ministries.
We decided to organize ourselves under the banner of Micah 6, a program developed by the Economic Justice and Domestic Hunger Program Ministry of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. The Micah 6 program emphasizes a continuing process of study, prayer, action and service in an attempt to integrate justice, compassion and spiritual growth. The program provides study materials and community assessment tools to help churches become more committed and effective in their direct service and advocacy ministries. -- Paraphrased from the June 2002 issue of the Congregational Church of Austin Newsletter, The Visitor message by Tom VandeStadt.
|
