An Outward-Facing Church

Immanuel Reformed Church in Paramount, California, is a large congregation that understands the full scope of what it means to be an outward-facing church. It was started in the 1950s to minister to Dutch dairy farmers who were living in the region. Over time, the surrounding neighborhood demographics changed drastically, and suddenly the church was isolated and alone with an aging population and a service in Dutch. They made the decision to switch the service to English and to start serving their community by picking days when they would paint houses, clean up parks and neighborhoods, and serve in any way they could. Over time, the church grew and the city was transformed. Generosity is more than simply giving money; it is also properly using our time and talents. And contentment in Christ should lead to an outward focus, individually and as a community (“Emmanuel Reformed Church,” March 2014, http://logoscms.com/files?download=888).