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On a cool Florida evening, while taking our puppy outside before bed, I greeted our neighbor Andreas walking his pup. Our dogs pulled towards each other like magnets, and we were soon engaged in a late-night chat in our front yard. 

I had just finished watching an episode of “The Chosen” and I wanted to tell him about it, but I chickened out.  It’s after ten, I reasoned; this can’t possibly be a good time for a deep conversation with a neighbor. I’m tired. He’s probably not interested in spiritual things. I assumed. Deep down, I knew I was making excuses.  We finished our talk and I headed to bed.

The next day, I couldn't stop thinking I had missed an opportunity. What did I have to lose? He knows I'm a Christian. So I prayed, confessing my unwillingness to talk about Christ, and asked for boldness and another opportunity to connect with Andreas.

Melody began praying for her neighbors and developing relationships four years ago. She started a neighborhood Bible study one year ago. What you are about to read is a poetic reflection that you don’t have to do big things, but one little thing at a time. Since she began, Melody has seen fourteen women join her in Bible study and five have come to Christ. She hosted a Christmas gathering where thirty participated. In her Easter outreach twenty attended. This doesn’t happen overnight but in micro-decisions and a commitment to pray moment by moment and day by day.

How it all began. . .

One little prayer 
Awoke in my heart
Full of hopes and dreams
Not clear how to start.

It took me three years to get up enough courage and capacity to start my first Bible study on my street.  I loved my neighbors through acts of kindness, purposefully pursued them with hospitality, and boldly stepped out in faith to invite them to a Bible study, but when they came together, I noticed a huge tendency towards having a visiting session and not a Bible study group.  Here is an example of a few questions that can arise in a Bible study setting,

“Is the organic food movement all a scam? I saw a documentary on Netflix…” “Have I ever told you how my husband and I met?”  “Is the HOA unjust?  I think owners, not renters get citations.”  

PLANT - WORK - PRAY
A three-fold template for how to love our neighbors as ourselves, from Jeremiah 29:5,7:

Did you know 70% of your unchurched friends, neighbors, and family would go to church if someone they knew invited them?  Take a few moments and write down ten people that qualify with these criteria: 1. You know them, 2. They don’t attend or go to church.  

(Polite pause)

We know Valentine's is a special time of year and we want to help you know how to use it as an opportunity for loving the people right where you live, work, or connect. I have designed a guide to help! Having a guide helps keep my thoughts organized in one place. It's really just a way for me to stop missing important details when I want to have a purpose-driven gathering for others.  I'm an ideas person, so I put a ton of details as potential considerations. Some may be unnecessary to your situation; just leave those blank and move to something that would be helpful.