Photo by Sandie Clarke for Unsplash
In the modern Western Church, often the focal point of church life is the Sunday morning gathering. We become so focused on what God is doing in our own congregation that sometimes we can miss what He’s doing outside our church walls. Stepping out into the community can come second to filling the pews. But is this the calling of the Church? Can we be faithful to Christ and yet, simultaneously reduce the act of making disciples to making small talk on Sunday morning?
One small church in Hilliard, Ohio makes disciples by working alongside other churches to bring the local community into Christ-centered relationships in tangible and practical ways. A ministry that is crucial in this endeavor is the church’s gardening ministry.
Irma Chon is one of the leaders of this ministry and the pastor of family and community outreach at Cornerstone Christian Fellowship. Her passion is to reach the local community, specifically the refugees that make up the community, with the love of Christ. One way that she accomplishes this is through the gardening ministry.
About fifteen years ago, one woman who was a member of Upper Arlington Lutheran Church saw the community’s need for families to have access to fresh vegetables and created a gardening ministry as a solution. Sadly, because of an inability to maintain the ministry, after a few years she had to leave it dormant. Chon heard about the situation and got her church and community volunteers involved to revive the ministry.
Today, Chon stands as one of the leaders of the garden, along with a fellow believer who is a part of a Catholic church in the community. Chon commented on the significance of the joint effort the garden has become, explaining that three different churches from three different denominations all work together to make the ministry possible.
“The garden ministry is a beautiful picture of partnership in a community when churches will partner together in order to impact the community,” Chon said.
What has drawn the three churches to this garden is the shared vision that it represents. First and foremost, the goal is to distribute fresh vegetables. However, this is just one aspect of the bigger goal. Chon explained that the purpose of the garden is for believers to share their lives with the local community.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 says, “Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our very lives as well.” Chon expressed that this sharing of lives is the primary goal of the garden.
“You do have opportunities to share the Gospel with people, but it usually comes after we share our lives. We share lives together, we eat together, we hear about each other's lives, and then, [the garden] gives us the opportunity to share the love of Christ — sometimes it’s the Gospel message, but sometimes it’s just a reason why we do what we do.”
A volunteer building a relationship with a Lebanese woman by speaking Arabic with her. The garden creates a comfortable space where volunteers can engage with many different people from the community. Photo courtesy of Irma Chon.
This sharing of lives has not only affected the outside community, but the church itself. Chon explained that this garden has shown her church that the ministry of their church should not solely be focused on what happens on a Sunday morning.
“The ministry of the church has to be outside the walls of the church,” she said.
The garden has taken people from the pews and into the world. They are building relationships and walking alongside people who need to experience the love of Jesus. The garden is good for fresh vegetables, but it is precious for the relationships it cultivates.
Children from the church and the local community meet for their kids garden club. This is just one example of how the gardening ministry engages people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds. Photo courtesy of Irma Chon.
Chon expressed a deep desire for churches to join hers in meeting needs and building relationships.
“Get to know your neighbor; they have a name,” she said. “Take time to get to know who your neighbors are. The people you work with, the people in your community— get to know them because when you do, that stigma, that stereotype, those fears will start to come down, and you will realize they are people just like us.”
Go out and make disciples. Co-labor with Christ in His work of unconditionally loving people and bringing them salvation.
Emma grew up in Central Asia, but now lives in South Carolina. She is pursuing an Interdisciplinary degree with concentrations in Christian Studies and English Literature. She loves integrating her love for theology and literature through authentic storytelling that reflects God and His work in the world.
