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Liz, I’m sharing this with anyone that will listen. After those Next Step teams prayed for me, the doctors continued to become more and more surprised. At the beginning of this summer, I was inches away from having a heart attack.

‘I think God put Next Step in my life for exactly this time,’ she said, ‘He knew that it would have been nearly impossible to deal with my cancelled surgery alone. The groups have been able to encourage and pray with me, which has been the only thing that has kept my spirits up the past few weeks.’

After swapping missions, it was a no – brainer. Whatever Neighborhood Alliance was leading, we wanted to be a part of it. Neighborhood Alliance saw a clear fit for us in working with their Senior Meal Delivery Program.

The hope is that these weekly events can be a first step in getting families and individuals connected with their community- illustrating that we all exist within something bigger than ourselves, and that we each have a part to play. There is power in community, in knowing your neighbors, and in viewing your common space with ownership. We hope this block party can be a starting point in bringing a little bit of heaven down to earth.

‘How do you find projects?  How do you choose which projects Next Step volunteers will work on during their mission trip?’   These are questions that I am often asked in preparing volunteers to…

I so wish I could share every reflection from homeowners and community partners with each of you who gave their time to serve this summer. Your investment means more than you may ever know. But to give you a snapshot- I’ll share some celebrations around a couple of key statistics:

Mrs. Ward added, ‘The most memorable part of this experience was the hugs, dancing around my dining room with the kids, laughing, crying, and just the feeling of love like I’ve never felt it before, without any judgement.’

As Mr. Bill witnessed over 70 people fill the outdoor lawn space at the Mexican Mutual Club, pride radiated from his face. Not only was Next Step able to bless Mr. Bill with their physical labor on the worksite, but he was able to bless them with an experience they would not forget.

I’m excited that the Little Hearts kids will be involved in the whole process. For them, they will get to witness what it looks like to build something from the ground up. I especially am looking forward to its completion when the kids are able to take ownership of the park as their own.

One of the coolest privileges of living in a community is getting the opportunity to see the Lord work through different groups and individuals year round. During the summer months we are surely blessed…

‘Liz, this is Will. You put my mom’s ramp on the house this summer. I just wanted to let you know my mom passed away two days ago. I just wanted to tell you…

But here’s the thing, dreaming is only the first step. It provides us an end goal, but also begs the question ‘So how do we get there?’ Here in Lorain we have been engaging in a series of community conversations around that very question.

Read more about long-term spiritual growth in the communities we serve alongside.

During this time of celebrating an incredible summer of ministry, let us be aware to enter this next season with a new anticipation, realizing that maybe our mission experience does not have to end with the summer trips. Perhaps this is merely where it begins.

Be encouraged, friends, as we learn through construction that mess is a VITAL part of restoration. That without demolishing the old, the new cannot take shape. Without spending hours digging post holes in the mud, Ms. Dora would not have her new and beautiful wheelchair ramp.

You see, the projects themselves are not where the true value lies, but rather in what is being built alongside of every roof, ramp, and porch – real and genuine relationships.

Taking a moment to consider the thousands of students and community members who will have the opportunity to take their next steps in faith this summer grounds me back to the heart beat of this mission- to encounter and embody Jesus Christ through service.

Our community is compiled of amazing individuals with talents, gifts, and strengths. If we can collectively commit as individuals to applying these skills in an immediate time frame, I am convinced we will see movement here in Lorain.

During our time in partnership with this community we have engaged in several different types of outreach all with great intentions of serving the community, connecting with homeowners, and sharing the love of Christ. But, to be very honest, some of these well-intentioned ideas have had different-than-expected impacts on the community.

As professionals in the trade, this body of water represented an area of great confidence and comfort in the lives of these men. Ironically- it’s where Jesus chose to shake them in a way that would alter the course of their lives forever. When they let Jesus take the lead, even the most mundane arena- their workplace- was transformed into grounds for a miracle to occur.

At first, this time felt unproductive as Carole’s situation seemed to remain stagnant. But as the weeks go on and I continue to experience this friendship transform the both of us- I am more and more convinced that God just might have been on to something in choosing presence as His most powerful expression of love.

If you have ever felt at a loss regarding what Living on Mission looks like after your mission trip, you are certainly not alone! Read more to learn about the five week Living on Mission challenge.

As a representative of my community, the task of delivering our volunteers a comprehensive picture of the work the Lord is doing year-round in Lorain County is always tricky. Throughout their trip, Next Step…

‘Where short term missions collide with long term community development.’