Last week, LifeWise Academy Cherokee was invited to give a five-minute “speed date” presentation alongside nine other nonprofits at the monthly Cherokee Christian Ministerial Association luncheon. Our LifeWise Program Director invited me to come along and help share the story.

We set up our LifeWise table, enjoyed a fabulous lunch, and then the presentations began.

I wasn’t sure what to expect.

But I left encouraged, challenged, and reminded of something important: God is active and on the move among His people in my own backyard!

1. The Lord is Active and on the Move – It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the needs of the world. Pick up your phone, read the paper, watch the news—and suddenly the weight of everything feels like it belongs on our shoulders.

It doesn’t.

We are not called to carry every need. We are called to be faithful to the places and people God puts in front of us.

Around that luncheon table were people answering God’s call in very practical ways: supporting families, tutoring children, serving senior adults, providing transportation, meeting medical needs, and so much more.

God is already doing something. Where might He be inviting us to join Him? Safe Passage & Trail Life

2. We Don’t Have to Reinvent Every Wheel – Churches are really good at teaching God’s people to love their neighbors. But we can be even more effective when we partner with people who are already in the trenches.

One organization serving single moms to dream again shared that their greatest need right now is tutors—from elementary math to English and chemistry. Serenade Heights

Another is serving senior adults who need rides to appointments and helping people living in their vehicles. Stand Up for Seniors

Someone is already doing the work and made a way. Maybe our job is to ask, “How can we help?” The Hope Center

3. Sometimes We Need to Go Where the People Are – I was especially encouraged by a mobile medical ministry bringing free medical services into the community. For families without reliable transportation—or whose schedules make a traditional medical office difficult—going to them matters. Bethesda Community Clinic

God’s people are using their gifts, experience, education, and even family partnerships to meet people right where they are. Encompass Ministries

4. Our Voices Matter – Our Christian community has gathered multiple voices to help elect local officials who share a Biblical worldview. If anyone says Christians should not be involved in local politics, they don’t know history. Every person, which means every elected official, has a worldview. I’d prefer to support candidates who share a Biblical worldview. Take Action Cherokee

“All politics are local.” Tip O’Neill, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

5. The Body of Christ Is Showing Up

That may have been my biggest takeaway. The Body of Christ is answering God’s call to love neighbors in so many ways, across all ages and stages of life. And sometimes what looks like a little offering becomes much more when the Lord gets His hands on it.

If this is happening in my backyard, it’s happening in yours. Convoy of Hope and Matthew 25:40 Car Care

Not every organization will have a website, but many will have some kind of social media presence. Schedule an hour and dive into the pool of people in your community who are already doing God’s work.

Learn about them. Make a phone call. Ask how your church can partner. You don’t have to make any promises, but learn what the Lord is already doing to serve the least and the lost of your neighbors.

Consider showing up once — to simply to bless someone with the ministry of your presence.

Keep a little resource notebook of local organizations you can recommend when a family in your church has a particular need.

Because someone has already started from a sacred scratch.

Look around, listen well, pray faithfully, and join the good work God is already doing.

We are better together and in the words of one of the presenters, “It takes an army.”

“What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.” 1 Corinthians 14:26