For many of the approximately 100 community people who come in for fellowship and friendship \u2013 and a three course meal each Thursday evening, this is their \u2018church\u2019. Revive church plant (Melbourne, Australia) has a praise and commitment time each Saturday evening, a bunch of small groups and mid-week church, prayer fellowship every Monday evening, and has just started a school for young people who \u2018have been asked to leave all other schools\u2019! \u2018These people are our friends,\u2019 I regularly hear volunteers at the Caf\u00e9 and Revive say. \u2018These are the people that Jesus would be spending time with!\u2019<\/p>\n
Revive church started as the vision of young adults, many of whom had disconnected from church but wanted to grow spiritually. Through their Bible reading, prayer and reflection, as well as inviting their unchurched friends to worship services \u2013 they were increasingly impressed that Jesus wanted them to relate to the hungry and needy. (Matt 25) There was a growing conviction that the gospel must be real \u2013 and make a difference in people\u2019s lives, addressing the injustices of society. Having attended an inspirational conference \u2013 and after making up some chicken sandwiches, some headed out late one Saturday night to \u2018feed the homeless\u2019! Most they approached on the streets were not homeless \u2013 and even feared they were about to be assaulted! Then a social worker from the community spoke in their worship service about feeding the broken and addicted. A number went from that worship time to help him at the Dining Room \u2013 a community meal for homeless and addicted people, each Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n
They now see that this was an important step \u2013 connecting with what is already happening in the community, learning from those already serving. \u2018We learnt how the community related, what was needed, and we could see something that was working,\u2019 says planter Julie Judd. \u2018Out of our involvement in the Dinning Room we identified a need for families with children.\u2019 That is where the idea of Vive Caf\u00e9 started. Teams of volunteers have trained in relating to people in poverty and with addictions, and in food handling laws and \u2018safe places\u2019 for the vulnerable. Shopping centers, local newspaper offices and commercial restaurants have provided funding and meals \u2013 and also widened the team of volunteers from the community.<\/p>\n
It is not a soup kitchen \u2013 but a meal for fellowship in the community. This is the only church (gathering) that these people know of! In the midst of the noise \u2013 chatter, music, kids running and playing, volunteers serving, clothes and food being distributed \u2013 there is \u2018Peace\u2019!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For many of the approximately 100 community people who come in for fellowship and friendship \u2013 and a three course meal each Thursday evening, this is their \u2018church\u2019. Revive church plant (Melbourne, Australia) has a praise and commitment time each Saturday evening, a bunch of small groups and mid-week church, prayer fellowship every Monday evening,… Continue reading