Last Saturday Shiloh’s Victory Village was at
its best, with every inch of our available space
being utilized for community outreach. At the
administration building 150 baskets were
distributed to needy families. In the lower
level of the Family Life Center 150 people from
shelters joined us for lunch and a Christmas
party. In Heritage Hall and the gymnasium, the
BZB Black Gift Show entertained countless
numbers throughout the day. In the Church
vestibule a program in which we partnered with
the Metropolitan Police conducted a gun amnesty
program and 124 weapons were turned in - no
questions asked.
In the gun amnesty program we were one of three
sites in the city where weapons were collected.
The total at all three of these locations was
350. Praise the Lord! The program was so
successful, the Metropolitan Police have asked
us to partner with them again for another effort
before the end of the year.
In Western African culture, a village is the
place where the community comes together. Child
rearing is everyone’s responsibility, goods and
resources are shared, and ethically right
behavior is promoted. Much has been written
about the break up of the African American
Family. I have written a forward and a chapter
in a book edited by Dr. Johnny Hill entitled
Multidimensional Ministry for Today’s Black
Family. In the book we discuss ways in
which churches can assist communities to find
solutions. In the forward I say “It is not
sufficient to have a fiery worship service if
the community outside the church’s wall is
plagued by prostitution, drug deals, and gun
wars”. At Shiloh, we are addressing these
concerns by building a village that reflects
God’s kingdom. Last Saturday we saw a
significant marker in making that dream a
reality.
Reading Through The Bible
December 30: Isaiah 63:7-9. Psalm 148; Hebrews
2:10-18; Matthew 2:13-23
