There is a story about a downtown soup kitchen, located in a church basement, that was run by an order of the Jesuits. One day a young seminary student came to the soup kitchen as a requirement for his evangelism class. He spent the entire day helping an elderly Jesuit provide assistance to the street people who lived around the church. It was a particularly busy day and he was exhausted by the time the kitchen was scheduled to close. He tidied up the kitchen and went to the main door of the facility—relieved that he could finally lock it for the evening. As he was closing the massive oak door, he glanced down the deserted street to see a disheveled, homeless man racing down the street trying to get to the soup kitchen before it closed. Under his breath he uttered the expletive, “Jesus Christ…” Behind him the elderly Jesuit commented, “Could be son, could be” (see Matthew 25:31-45).

I think this story reflects my “philosophy” of ministry. I firmly believe that we as Christians have, through baptism, been ordained to function as the “hands and feet” of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ. We have been called to carry on the work that Jesus began 2,000 years ago.

Humanity has been offered an incredible gift, that of a restored relationship with the loving Triune God. The very origin of the universe loves each and every one of us so much so that he came to this earth to live among us (Philippians 2). This loving God, continues to reach down to us to invite us accept that gift. When we respond to this offer, it allows us the freedom to share this same love with others.

Therefore the purpose of a congregation is not to be a closed group of people separate from those outside the physical walls of some building sporting a cross or a steeple. Instead, “church” is all about engaging our neighbours and revealing to them the presentness of God’s Kingdom in this needy world.

Bill Hall

Bill has been a pastor of the Worldwide Church of God in Northwest Saskatchewan for 11 years. He currently pastors in Battleford, Lloydminster, Tisdale and at Bridge City Community Church in Saskatoon (since June 2008). He is also editor of the Worldwide Church of God Canada denominational magazine Northern Light.

Bill is the Director of the Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre a food bank located in North Battleford. He is the current Executive Director of the Food Banks of Saskatchewan and is one of two Saskatchewan representatives on the Member Council of Food Banks Canada. He has been directly involved in food banking for the past 6 years, having been one of the founding members of the Food Bank in North Battleford.

Bill has always had a passion to help others which was fueled by a 6 month term working with refugees in Northern Thailand after the Indochina wars in the 1980’s.