The
Love Your Neighbor Christian Network uses a Bulletin Board/Forum web site to aid
communication between neighbors so that we can share our lives, friendship and
labor to accomplish the 4 missions outlined below. The
Love Your Neighbor Christian Network uses a Bulletin Board/Forum web site to aid
communication between neighbors so that we can share our lives, friendship and
labor to accomplish the 4 missions outlined below. 2. Service Team or S-Team: Most members help their neighbors with practical needs. Any kind of service that an individual may have thought about doing for others will be open for them to do as the needs of the neighborhood are discovered by the door to door teams. It may be a physical need, or it may be emotional, like visiting an elderly neighbor who lives alone.
3. webLYNC: A few people help communication between those in the neighborhood who may not have internet access. The webLYNC gets the emailed “need alert” from the forum site and then makes a phone call to the “web-challenged” neighbor who volunteered to help in that area and lets them know who needs help.
1. Help neighbors in need. LYNC Network members help their neighbors with practical needs like:
getting groceries or clothing with or for someone who is in desperate need.
helping someone start a budget or find a job
or less urgent, but still important needs like cutting grass, fixing a widow’s pipes, visiting and helping the handicapped, befriending the lonely, picking up groceries for someone who can’t get out, fixing a car,
and also deeper things like counseling, mentoring and even adopting a child from an unwanted pregnancy
the list is endless.
Neighbors practice what the Bible teaches: “Religion that pleases God the Father must be pure and spotless. You must help needy orphans and widows and not let this world make you evil.” (James 1:27)
The way it works:
Contacts are made and needs are discovered through those that visit their neighbors door to door.
As they see the needs, the Visiting Teams (or individuals) record them on the Forum web site.
Service Team volunteers in that area who are registered to help those with that particular need receive email alerts about the need
If a volunteer can help that particular need, they reply to the email or call the contact number
The Visiting team that met the neighbor and discovered the need introduces the volunteer to the one in need
Arrangements are made to serve that neighbor at a time convenient to both of them.
2. Knit communities together. The LYNC Network will help unite neighbors through the following means:
a. Through working together- A deep bond is formed with others when working together to help neighbors with their practical and spiritual needs.
b. Through “Friendship Forums”- The Forum site is an easy way to meet neighbors with similar interests and build friendships. Neighbors can offer and accept invitations to social and spiritual events on the neighborhood level; anything from a dinner invitation, a pick up sports game or Bible study to a joint neighborhood helps project.
3. Protect the innocent by exposing serious injustices. It is the duty of Christians and all good men and women to protect the vulnerable who cannot protect themselves. We think of gross human rights violations as being the plight of destitute third world countries ruled by cruel dictators or corrupt, nominal democracies but there are horrifying violations occurring right in our own back yard and the truth must be exposed so we can help those in need and protect the innocent victims of our warped society. A return to Christ and his Word is the only solution for our culture and its twisted way of thinking. But since that return is not happening on a widespread scale, and may not in the future, we MUST do what we can to protect the innocent. Even if in this life it seems a losing battle, we have a responsibility to fight it. God will be the final judge and He will bring the final victory, of that we can rest assured, but in the meantime we must fight for right and justice for all, regardless of the prospects for victory.
4. Invite people to meet the real Jesus. It’s true, words are cheap. Christians in the LYNC Network hope you will see Jesus not just in their words but in their actions. But of course it does take words to communicate ideas and past events, and it takes words to present the Bible’s good news about who Jesus is and what He came to Earth to do for us. If Jesus is who He claimed to be then all that He taught and revealed would be true and that includes a lot of real good news for everyone of every faith, race, gender, nationality and social status.
The LYNC Network is established by Christians who do believe the claims of Jesus and the evidence of his death and resurrection so it is a great joy, privilege and responsibility to share that good news with everyone! So naturally that is one of the goals of the LYNC Network. HOWEVER we encourage LYNC Network members and all Christians to respect the viewpoints of others and to serve, befriend and love our neighbors whether or not they ever embrace our beliefs. That is why we encourage everyone to join with us in serving our neighbors whether or not you are a Christian.
We hope you get a chance to have some meaningful and encouraging dialog with the volunteers in your neighborhood. There is also a virtual conversation on the web site, on CD and in print (If needed, we hope to have a DVD version also). The interactive conversation explains the basic universal principles upon which traditional orthodox Christianity is based. The material also tries to address some of the questions and concerns of those who do not believe in God or the Bible.
a. Invite people to meet Him for the First Time- Many people would say they like Jesus, but not “Christians”. Sadly there are some good reasons for that sentiment. God’s plan was that you would see Jesus in His followers, and though there are many Christians who truly are living expressions of God’s love, often the most visible and memorable are the bad examples of hypocrisy, spiritual pride, religiosity, legalism and even downright hatefulness and rudeness. Some of the problem has been good motives and wrong methods, in other cases it has just been bad and wrong attitudes and sometimes it's pure delusion or hypocrisy having nothing to do with real Christianity. We talk about this some in the virtual dialog called the Summit.
At last, many Christians are listening to God’s correction in this matter and we sincerely offer our apologies, and beg for a chance to make amends. That is partly what the LYNC Network is about. LYNC Network participation is open to people of all faith or “no” faith; and we sincerely want to work with you in the neighborhood and get to know you as neighbors and friends. Of course our hope is that you will see what true Christianity does for the heart of man and that the real Jesus will also become your friend as He is ours.
b. Invite Christians to meet Him daily and follow wholeheartedly- Those who are already believers are encouraged to join the LYNC Network and adopt more streets or to serve their neighbors in some way. Motivation is increased and efforts are multiplied as Christians who meet each other through the door to door visits and Friendship Forums get to know each other and receive the badly needed (often missing) encouragement that it takes to live the Christian life fully. Then joining forces we work together to serve those in need around us.
c. Invite people to meet Him at Church, among his people- Some people have never gone to church because they have never been invited. That’s easy enough to fix while we’re knocking on doors and visiting our neighbors. Admittedly sometimes church becomes stale and monotonous when tradition creeps in and replaces the living, vibrant teaching of the Bible and ritual replaces the enriching presence of the Spirit of God. Don't be discouraged if you have to check a couple of places before you find one that is alive. Varied church and fellowship choices are available:
A nearby traditional church that meets in a building near your home
Or if it's not in your neighborhood you could drive a little further to a traditional church attended by or recommended by a friend or a LYNC Network member
Many neighborhoods have groups of believers meeting in Christian homes. These groups can be discovered and connected with other Christian neighbors through the LYNC Network
Some are small home groups (cell groups, life groups) that are smaller units of a large traditional church that meets in a nearby or distant church building.
Other groups that meet are independent "house churches" that meet in people's homes. These home churches are usually led by volunteer pastors and teachers so any contributions that may be collected are used to directly help people in need and not to pay for or support buildings and professional clergy. Not that buildings and paid clergy are wrong, the Bible endorses financially supporting those who serve you spiritually.
To be honest, there are great and not so great opportunities for growth and fellowship in any of the above categories. But Jesus said "wherever two or more are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them". So just start out wherever you feel you might be most comfortable, and trust that God will meet you. Eventually if you seek Him wholeheartedly, now or later, God will lead you and you may feel drawn to a particular church, but please START SOMEWHERE; go and meet some new friends and find a new way of living and sharing that is full and abundant!