Each year, Liberti churches participate in Easter Outreach. In our pursuit to live speak and serve as the presence of Jesus in our neighborhoods, we see this as a tangible way to demonstrate the heart of Jesus.
How? Here are seven things we believe Jesus loves about the Easter Outreach:
1. 3000 Meals Delivered.
Many in need were loved, honored and cared for as fellow human beings made in the image of God:
- People were prayed for (if they wanted to be prayed for, of course)
- People were directed to other non-profits and services they could access
- People were invited to churches near them.
- People were loved and served food.
Jesus loves that. Luke 9:10-13
2. Increasing Momentum toward Good Works
This year there were seven distribution sites in Philadelphia, one in Harrisburg, PA, and one in Collingswood, NJ. This initiative has grown so that more sections of our city were served and more regions in our area were touched.
When there is more fruit and good deeds than before and when the Father’s worth is revealed through loving deeds.
Jesus loves that. John 15:8
3. More than 600 Volunteers.
Vito Baldini led a team from multiple churches that organized fundraising, church partnerships, planning, packing and distributing all these meals. There were countless hours that led up to the day before Easter. These hundreds of people re-arranged their schedules and lives to serve others.
Jesus loves that. Galatians 6:9-10
4. Clean Water for the Poor
Funds – $22,500, to be exact – were raised for clean water in South Sudan, the world’s newest country. Providing clean water is the best way to help those in poverty in developing countries.
Sharing generously out of what God has given us and imitating Jesus’s heart for the poor: Jesus loves that. Proverbs 19:17
5. Charitable Generosity
In total, a little over $75,000 was raised. It’s a good thing if we learn to love God and love other people more than we love our money.
Sharing our resources because Jesus has shared the riches of his grace with us: Jesus loves that. Hebrews 13:16
6. Church Unity
About 30 churches and Christian organizations partnered together to do this project. When people following Jesus work together to do good, when the people of Jesus demonstrate a oneness and unity in the mission that we are called to, Jesus loves that. John 17:23
7. The Sent People of God
Through this outreach we have been reminded that there are physical, tangle needs around us everyday. We were reminded to look around and to open our eyes to what life is like for our neighbors. We were reminded over Easter weekend that the tomb really is empty and that we really do live with hope in a risen Savior.
We were reminded that everyone who is spiritually connected with Jesus is swept up in what Jesus continues to do in this world. We were reminded that we are called to live as people who have been sent into the world with this hope. We have been reminded that we are sent to be Jesus’ hug, tears, laugh, hands and feet in this place. We are sent to live, speak and serve as the very presence of Jesus.
Jesus loves that. John 20:21
To learn more about the history of Easter Outreach, read this post on our blog.