The Church at its Best Looks Outward
By Ryan Dawson
One of the healthiest signs of a growing church isn't simply what happens inside its walls—it's the difference it makes outside them.
Author and church leader Eric Swanson, in The Externally Focused Church, writes:
"The church exists for the sake of those who are not yet part of it."
That simple statement is both inspiring and challenging. Jesus never intended His Church to become inward-focused, preoccupied with our own comfort, preferences, or programs. Instead, He calls us to be a people who move toward others with compassion, serving our communities in tangible ways that point people to Him.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus consistently noticed those others overlooked. He touched the untouchable, welcomed the outsider, fed the hungry, healed the broken, and met practical needs while proclaiming the good news of God's Kingdom. He didn't ask people to come to Him first—He often went to them.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to do the same.
One of our 8 Core Practices at Sequoia is Serving Like Jesus. We believe that every act of service, no matter how ordinary it seems, can become an extraordinary expression of God's love. When we serve with humility and compassion, we become a visible demonstration of the Gospel.
That opportunity is right in front of us. Serving Our Ottawa Neighbours
In the aftermath of the record-breaking rainfall that struck Ottawa on July 1, more than 6,000 homes were flooded. While we're deeply grateful that no lives were lost, many families are still facing the overwhelming task of cleaning out damaged basements and beginning the long process of rebuilding.
The City of Ottawa has identified approximately 200 highly vulnerable households—primarily seniors, individuals with mobility challenges, and families without the physical or financial ability to complete the cleanup themselves.
At the City's invitation, Samaritan's Purse Canada has deployed its Disaster Relief Unit along with trained disaster relief staff. Working alongside local churches and Respond Ottawa, volunteers are providing:
• Mud-out and flood cleanup
• Debris removal
• Sanitization of damaged homes
• Emotional and spiritual care through crisis-trained chaplains
This is the Church being the Church.
As Tammy Suitor, Manager of Canadian Disaster Relief, shared:
"For many families, the floodwaters may have receded, but the difficult work of recovery is only beginning... Through the compassion of our volunteers and supporters, we have the opportunity to serve people in practical ways while sharing the hope found in Jesus Christ."
What a beautiful picture of the Gospel in action.
How You Can Help
If you are physically able, I want to encourage you to consider volunteering for a day or more in the coming weeks.
No special construction skills are required. Volunteers will receive training and serve under experienced team leaders. The work is practical, meaningful, and makes an immediate difference for homeowners who simply cannot do this work on their own.
If you would like to serve:
• Register as a volunteer through Samaritan's Purse Canada's Disaster Relief program.
• You can also connect through Respond Ottawa, which is coordinating local church involvement and volunteer opportunities. info@respondottawa.ca
• You can also help by providing food for the volunteers. Please connect with Donna Rose at Sequoia Church donnarosecampbell@yahoo.ca
This is one of the ways God is inviting us to be His hands and feet in our city.
Jesus said, "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." (John 13:35) Love is more than words. Sometimes love looks like carrying soaked drywall, hauling debris to the curb, disinfecting a basement, listening to someone's story, or praying with a homeowner who's exhausted and discouraged.
The Gospel is always proclaimed with our lips, but it is often made believable through our lives.
Let's continue to be an externally focused church—one that doesn't wait for needs to come through our doors but willingly walks into our community with towels in our hands and the love of Christ in our hearts.
Please join me in praying for every family affected by these floods, for the volunteers serving them, and that many would experience not only restored homes, but the hope, peace, and love found in Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace,
Ryan
One of the healthiest signs of a growing church isn't simply what happens inside its walls—it's the difference it makes outside them.
Author and church leader Eric Swanson, in The Externally Focused Church, writes:
"The church exists for the sake of those who are not yet part of it."
That simple statement is both inspiring and challenging. Jesus never intended His Church to become inward-focused, preoccupied with our own comfort, preferences, or programs. Instead, He calls us to be a people who move toward others with compassion, serving our communities in tangible ways that point people to Him.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus consistently noticed those others overlooked. He touched the untouchable, welcomed the outsider, fed the hungry, healed the broken, and met practical needs while proclaiming the good news of God's Kingdom. He didn't ask people to come to Him first—He often went to them.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to do the same.
One of our 8 Core Practices at Sequoia is Serving Like Jesus. We believe that every act of service, no matter how ordinary it seems, can become an extraordinary expression of God's love. When we serve with humility and compassion, we become a visible demonstration of the Gospel.
That opportunity is right in front of us. Serving Our Ottawa Neighbours
In the aftermath of the record-breaking rainfall that struck Ottawa on July 1, more than 6,000 homes were flooded. While we're deeply grateful that no lives were lost, many families are still facing the overwhelming task of cleaning out damaged basements and beginning the long process of rebuilding.
The City of Ottawa has identified approximately 200 highly vulnerable households—primarily seniors, individuals with mobility challenges, and families without the physical or financial ability to complete the cleanup themselves.
At the City's invitation, Samaritan's Purse Canada has deployed its Disaster Relief Unit along with trained disaster relief staff. Working alongside local churches and Respond Ottawa, volunteers are providing:
• Mud-out and flood cleanup
• Debris removal
• Sanitization of damaged homes
• Emotional and spiritual care through crisis-trained chaplains
This is the Church being the Church.
As Tammy Suitor, Manager of Canadian Disaster Relief, shared:
"For many families, the floodwaters may have receded, but the difficult work of recovery is only beginning... Through the compassion of our volunteers and supporters, we have the opportunity to serve people in practical ways while sharing the hope found in Jesus Christ."
What a beautiful picture of the Gospel in action.
How You Can Help
If you are physically able, I want to encourage you to consider volunteering for a day or more in the coming weeks.
No special construction skills are required. Volunteers will receive training and serve under experienced team leaders. The work is practical, meaningful, and makes an immediate difference for homeowners who simply cannot do this work on their own.
If you would like to serve:
• Register as a volunteer through Samaritan's Purse Canada's Disaster Relief program.
• You can also connect through Respond Ottawa, which is coordinating local church involvement and volunteer opportunities. info@respondottawa.ca
• You can also help by providing food for the volunteers. Please connect with Donna Rose at Sequoia Church donnarosecampbell@yahoo.ca
This is one of the ways God is inviting us to be His hands and feet in our city.
Jesus said, "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." (John 13:35) Love is more than words. Sometimes love looks like carrying soaked drywall, hauling debris to the curb, disinfecting a basement, listening to someone's story, or praying with a homeowner who's exhausted and discouraged.
The Gospel is always proclaimed with our lips, but it is often made believable through our lives.
Let's continue to be an externally focused church—one that doesn't wait for needs to come through our doors but willingly walks into our community with towels in our hands and the love of Christ in our hearts.
Please join me in praying for every family affected by these floods, for the volunteers serving them, and that many would experience not only restored homes, but the hope, peace, and love found in Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace,
Ryan