Being the Church in a Season of Need
If you have been part of Hood River Alliance for long, you have likely heard us say many times that we are becoming a people of love and depth in a culture of individualism and superficiality through the practice of community. This is one of our Rule of Life statements, and we have an opportunity to step into this in a very tangible way this week.
As of right now, those who receive SNAP food benefits, will not be receiving their November allotment, which will create real challenges for individuals and families both inside our church and our community at large. As followers of Jesus, we see this not as a crisis to observe, but as a sacred invitation and opportunity to live out our calling—to Practice the Way of Jesus.
In Acts 2 we are given a beautiful and compelling vision of the church: “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” The early church didn’t just attend gatherings—they belonged to one another. Their resources were shared, their tables were open, and their hearts were knit together in love. This was not charity—it was family. It was the Kingdom of God breaking into the world through ordinary people who trusted Jesus with everything they had.
We don’t want this opportunity to love our family in a tangible way to pass us by, so this Sunday, we will receive a special offering for the Benevolence Fund. The offering will be dedicated to helping fill the gap created by the reduction of SNAP benefits. These funds will go directly toward providing groceries and essential support to individuals and families within our church and local community.
But this is not simply about financial giving—this is about living as the family of God. We encourage you to lean into the Lord and ask how He might creatively invite you to love your neighbor during this season:
Invite someone you know over for dinner.
Prepare an extra meal to share.
Send friends home with an abundance of leftovers as a gesture of love and belonging.
This is not charity—it is the kingdom of God expressed through shared life. It is loving one another, belonging to one another, bearing burdens with one another. It is the church being a living picture of Jesus’ love in a world of isolation and scarcity.
If You or Someone You Know Is in Need
If you, or someone you know, is experiencing a gap in food resources this month, we would be honored to share what we have. This is not charity—it is simply an opportunity for spiritual formation of a people who belong to one another in love. In the Kingdom of God, giving and receiving are equally sacred. One is not greater than the other. Both are acts of worship and expressions of our shared life in Christ.
Email: community@hralliance.org
Call: 541-386-2812
Stop by to talk with us in person — we would love to have a chat with you.