What does being an alongsider mean for followers of Jesus across Australia and around the world ?
What does being an alongsider mean for followers of Jesus across Australia and around the world ?
“ I am learning what it means to be an alongsider in my context on the Silk Road , which is quite different from life in Sydney !
I am part of a fitness group here , and God is teaching me that being an alongsider in this group not only means exercising and encouraging healthy lives with each other , but also celebrating birthdays and babies , being part of a micro loan program and going out for tea and dancing once a month . And sometimes it means eating a second dinner when you bump into your friends on an evening stroll and are invited for dinner and dessert !” - Mel , Silk Road Area
“ In recent years , there has been significant flooding in our area which has caused pain and major damage to the community . As a church we have tried to practically and relationally respond to our community ’ s needs .
We want to share God ’ s love through word and deed . And something I am learning is that being a people of love is less about what we do to people or even for people , but that it ’ s something we do with people .
Being an alongsider is about noticing where God is at work . Because He is at work ! It ’ s not about trying to contrive , create or force something ... but it ’ s about having our eyes open for where there is Gospel curiosity and being ready to open that door when people want it .” - Steve , Lismore Baptist Church
“ One of the things that God has been saying to me over many years is to listen well .
The ability to be attentive to both what God is doing and what is going on for people is very powerful . I don ’ t always get it right , but as I seek to be a peacemaking alongsider , I am seeking to be an attentive listener .” - Kath , Mozambique
“ Being an alongsider means journeying together with people as they walk towards God ’ s Kingdom . At the same time , we are further being formed into Kingdom people too .
A key characteristic of being an alongsider is humility . We don ’ t pretend that we know it all . We don ’ t pretend that we have already arrived . But we do set our gaze firmly on the King of the Kingdom and encourage those we are journeying with to do the same .” - Mike , South East Asia