So what is it like???  For some it is a great experience of having someone nearby to talk to, connect with, and pray with etc, for others there can be tension when people don’t get on quite as would be expected!  God has made each of us individually with different personality traits, different likes & dislikes.  Some of us are extroverts and would love to be mixing with other people, playing games etc, every night of the week, and some do.  Some of us are introverts and crave time to be on our own and away from other people!  For others it can still be very lonely, knowing there is somebody just outside your door but not feeling confident or having the courage to let them know how you feel and that you need help or just simply company!

How do we find a good balance of community within a church where we don’t live right next door to each other, we have different jobs, different likes and dislikes, different lives altogether.  Is it important to have community with the rest of your church?  If so, how do we do that, what does it look like? 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12  “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work.  If one falls down, his friend can help him up.  But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!  Also, if two lie down together they will keep warm.   But how can one keep warm alone?  Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.  A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

One of the most encouraging things Phil and I saw during our time in PNG was watching the people at the conference ministering to each other.  On our last night together we had communion.  There are four families leaving MAF PNG within the next few months and these people served communion to the rest of the “MAF family” and prayed with each person or family as they came forward to take communion.  There were lots of tears, lots of smiles, but most importantly lots of prayer, encouragement and support.  This to me was the best aspect of community that I could witness.  People loving one another, sharing the gift of life (communion), and sharing the gift of love that Christ has given us. 

Yes it is important to have community within our church, to love one another as Christ has loved you.  To minister to one another as Christ wants us to.

Have a great month!

Julie Bignill