Open My Eyes, Lord: Developing Eyes for Outreach
Loriana Sekarski
Loriana Sekarski is the founder and president of BONSAI, a consulting company that transforms leaders (and businesses) into the best version of themselves. Outside of BONSAI, Loriana serves as an adjunct professor at Washington University's graduate student program. Additionally, she's fine-tuning her passion project, TakeFlight, a program that addresses domestic abuse within the Christian community.
A few weeks ago on a Sunday, we had a mainline water break that cut off water to our entire town of about 10,000 people. As we scrambled to figure out our water situation, we realized some students might be struggling in the university dorms nearby. When we texted to ask, students reported back that access to drinking water and inability to use the bathrooms were both issues.
We bought the remaining bottles of water we could find in a nearby town. It is amazing how quickly supplies dry up (pun intended) during a crisis like this. We reached out to someone connected to the college ministry to share what a great outreach opportunity this was. Their response was, “How? Why?”
Standing in a parking lot handing out bottles of water to students was a great way to demonstrate Jesus’ love. We also invited a couple of students over to our home to use our bathroom, which led to a long conversation that allowed us to connect on a deeper level and share God’s impact on our lives.
The students had a need. We saw it and met it. And in that intersection, Jesus got the glory.
The lack of response by different groups, and the question we received back from our contacts in college ministry, made me realize not everyone sees these opportunities as readily. Like Jesus, these outreach opportunities aren’t hidden, but we must seek them out and be ready to act.
This can be a first step to Organic Outreach—learning to see more clearly where you as an individual, as a family, or as a church can step in and meet a need. In the process of meeting that need, you can show God’s love to another person and take the opportunity to share naturally what God is doing in your life.
"As we scrambled to figure out our water situation, we realized some students might be struggling in the university dorms nearby. When we texted to ask, students reported back that access to drinking water and inability to use the bathrooms were both issues."
As different situations or events occur, these are some questions you might start asking to help identify outreach opportunities:
- What immediate needs might this situation create?
- What might be second-order consequences or other downstream needs that aren’t as obvious?
- Who might be in need?
- Who might be in need that might be overlooked? Whose needs might be assumed to be covered when they are not?
- Who might be afraid because of the situation?
- Who might need someone to listen?
- What is one small thing I can do to let someone know they are seen?
- How can I help just one person?
- If I were in their situation, what might I consider helpful?
- What might send a message of hope and encouragement?
- Do others who are already helping need something themselves?
- What is not getting done due to this situation that I could step in to help with?
One important thing to remember about outreach is you don’t have to worry about solving the entire problem. Identify a small opportunity to help and meet that need.
At the start of our recent outreach opportunity, we only had 48 bottles of water, as supplies were running out in neighboring towns. But for each person who received a bottle of water, we saw a big smile because they were not forgotten. Someone cared, and a door was opened for us to show Jesus’ love to others.
When you stay alert to outreach opportunities around you and identify simple ways to show love to others, you will be amazed at the number of opportunities you’re given to share how God has impacted your life.
