Several years ago, our family was driving north out of Phoenix, where we were living at the time. It was early on a Saturday morning toward the end of June, and most of northern Arizona was experiencing massive wildfires. As we came over one of the many hills in the mountain range, we drove into a complete whiteout—something you typically see in the winter months. This was the first time we had experienced a wildfire like this. We had seen them from a distance, but up until now, we had never driven through this much smoke. The truck immediately smelled like smoke; we couldn’t wait to escape the smoke-covered mountains. We were about 80-90 miles away from the massive wildfire, yet still felt the effects of it. I can only imagine what the people closer to the fire felt—I hope I never have to experience something like it.
Imagine the impact that would have on just three people.
According to the Department of Forestry and Wildfire Management, 2,519 wildfires destroyed 978,519 acres in Arizona in 2020. * The destruction caused by these fires was incredible. Families and communities experienced immense loss. Living in Arizona, we would often hear about the cause of these fires, anything from a lightning strike, a trailer chain sparking by hitting the road, or a tire blowout. One spark is all it takes to start a wildfire; a tiny spark has enough power to leave a path of destruction that takes years for the forest and desert to recover from. On another occasion, while driving through the mountains, we saw the aftermath of a wildfire. There were charred trees and bushes as far as we could see, once again, all caused by a tiny spark.
At Rosedale Network of Churches, we have a desire to see disciple-making churches thriving in every neighborhood in our world. It’s easy to look at this vision and become overwhelmed with this idea. I will be honest, it is a lofty vision, but by God’s grace, we can do it. Sure, if we focus on the end goal, we are going to get discouraged and feel like we are not doing what we set out to do. Remember, it just takes a tiny spark to start a wildfire, just like those sparks, tiny acts of love and service can shift the culture of a neighborhood. Imagine if you chose three people in your circle of influence who do not have a relationship with Jesus and committed to praying for them. What if you committed to reaching out once a week, encouraging them, and recognizing the “gold” in their life? Imagine the impact that would have on just three people. If you are consistent and committed to reaching out, there is a good chance they will give their lives to Christ. They will then take the love they have experienced and share that with people they are connected to. Before too long, those tiny acts of love and service have a huge Kingdom impact.
While living in Phoenix, Arizona, my wife and I, along with our team, began to connect with a local elementary school by supplying breakfast to teachers and staff once a month. This simple act of love and service led to us partnering with six Title I elementary schools in the downtown Phoenix area. We served these schools in many ways, like running homework clubs, painting murals, and hosting events for staff and families. What encouraged us most was that people began to ask for prayer. They began to ask for advice on things they were facing in life and it even led to conversations about God’s love for them. We are still connecting with some of the school staff and discussing their need for Jesus, and we have been gone for two years. Never underestimate the power of a “tiny” act of love or service—God can take it and transform an entire neighborhood.
What are you going to do to spark a movement?
* https://dffm.az.gov/intelligence
