by Susan Maughan, Stake Humanitarian Leader
There was an article in the Deseret News recently (Sept. 17th) about a local church in Sandy (Sandy Ridge Community Church.). The pastor asked himself a sobering question,
“If we closed the doors of our church tomorrow, would anybody notice?”
He said he didn’t like the answer. “I felt compelled by the love of God for this church to be a blessing not just to its members, but to the community in which we live.” He urged his church to find ways to reach out into the community to find ways to make a difference. The article then wrote about ways his church congregation has done this.
Our church leaders have similarly encouraged us to reach out into the community. President Monson recently said, “My brothers and sisters, we are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness – be they family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers. We are the Lord’s hands here on earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us.”
*Did you know, according to Family Circle Magazine (March 2011), “only 29% of parents frequently explain to their kids the importance of giving to others, according to a recent poll.”
