Citylight Church is not just a Sunday morning worship gathering, but a people mobilized in every corner of our city to bring the light of the gospel to a hurting world. Our primary vehicle for living on mission in Omaha is through City Groups ... missional communities that multiply disciples of Jesus. City Groups are a community of Christ followers that are being spiritually transformed through the reading of God’s Word, living out biblical fellowship as a family, and intentionally pursuing mission for the purpose of demonstrating and declaring the gospel to specific neighborhoods and networks in the city.
One City Group led by Al Koenig and Jim & Traci Eisele, recently answered the call to serve their neighbor. An email from West Serving Team Coordinator, Karen Cogdill, was sent with the ask to help gather residents at Montclair Nursing Home for an Independence Day celebration.
“Al approached our City Group and asked if any of us would want to come and sing,” Jim described. “We helped celebrate with the residents in Montclair’s parking lot. There were people who came out to be a part of that event who hadn’t been out of their beds or room in over a year.”
Traci shared, “I’m a health care provider, a nurse, and seeing their smiles on their faces and seeing the impact on them being outside of the nursing home and into the fresh air was amazing. I asked them how the fresh air made them feel, to breath it in and singing the songs ... Many said they were refreshed, and it filled their heart with gratitude. It filled my heart! It was beautiful.”
Serving their neighbors opened their eyes to how beautiful God is and the wonderful privilege it is to serve his people. It encouraged them to continue stepping out of their comfort and into God’s kingdom plan.
“There are so many people that we can reach on an ongoing basis,” Traci exclaimed.
“We just need to be more open and to not knowing until we say yes of what can transpire. And we witnessed it!”
“The main thing that struck me it was all simple,” Jim described how serving the residents didn’t require a big plan nor lots of time. “I take it for granted ... Going outside and being outside. Not everyone can do that. By just being part of a small difference and the huge impact it can have on someone’s life and to be able to do something that I take for granted was amazing.”
Another sweet reminder by serving their neighbors at Montclair? Do not be afraid.
“Don’t be afraid because you don’t know what God has planned,” Traci said with encouragement. “So, just say yes! Know God will provide and will show you opportunities ... He will blow you away! God provided everything for us. It was perfect. Everyone in our City Group was grateful and we were grateful, and it filled our hearts with his love as much as it did the residents.”
“Yes! I had to get out of my comfort zone,” Jim shared. “But in doing it, I realized I was answering what God wanted me to do ... and that was to serve and bless someone. God did all the effort. I did very little.”
Both Traci and Jim and their City Group were changed by serving others. They continue looking for more opportunities to serve especially with their sweet neighbors at Montclair. They invite everyone into the call to serve. Because they were changed and made better and stronger in answering the call, they also want everyone in their church family to experience this blessing.
“It was one thing for us to go and serve,” Jim concluded, “but really what warmed my heart is seeing that Al is gifted in music and I enjoy singing but that’s not what Montclair asked. God put it on Al’s heart to sing with others and Al followed that. And then God put it on my heart to sing. It was a series of people answering God’s call and using their talents and gifts to be able to serve an underserved population. The activities director there said they have never had anything like this happen since he had been there. It warmed his heart and encouraged him.”
If you or your City Group wants to serve their neighbor but unsure how or where, visit https://citylightomaha.org/serve.
Or contact Karen Cogdill for ideas and opportunities not listed, karen.cogdill@citylightomaha.org.