written by Erin Hoy
The Kinsey Road house church in Xenia has had recent opportunities to build relationships not only with their local community but also with a neighboring house church.
In July, this house church partnered with Athletes in Action (AIA) to host a free sports camp in their neighborhood. Over the course of three days, approximately thirty kids from Xenia attended the camp.
Each day, the kids were divided into age-specific groups and then rotated through various sports stations. Athletes in Action interns taught volleyball, basketball, baseball, and soccer skills. The evenings ended with a snack and devotional, which included challenges on integrity and character related to sports skills.
The children’s parents were invited to stay, which provided opportunities to build relationships, have spiritual conversations, and expand interest in the house church. The event also brought the community together. Neighbors who had not seen each other in a long time were able to reconnect.
The AIA interns had a great time and want to make this an annual event. It gave them a chance to put into practice things that they have been learning this summer.
The Kinsey Road house church has grown from this experience on several levels. The children invited many of the neighborhood kids to this event, which enabled them to have an active role in house church ministry. In addition, the house church was able to work together as a team, encourage one another, and be united in prayer for the event. These kinds of events also serve to uncover spiritual gifts and build community through shared experience.
The sports camp challenged the Kinsey Road house church to create opportunities to engage others with the Gospel, and it is hopefully just a starting point for future ministry opportunities. Now that connections have been made, the group can follow up with people and continue to foster those relationships.
Recent ministry opportunities have also bridged relationships between neighboring house churches. The week before the sports camp, the Kinsey Road house church supported the Prem Place house church in their neighborhood outreaches. Members of the Prem Place house church then attended and supported the sports camp. Working together has deepened friendships and there have already been conversations about ways to partner together in the future to reach Xenia for Christ.