A Church Burning

Zion Church burnt to the ground on June 9th, 2007.

Saturday is FoodNet day for me! I think I talked a little bit about FoodNet before but for those of you who are new it's basically a bunch of sites around Lincoln that stores like Trader Joe's, Panera, Super Saver etc. send the food that they can't sell anymore - it isn't bad necessarily, just past the 'shelf life.' I volunteer at a site and help set up and such and then anyone who wants to - college kids, homeless, single-mom, literally anyone can go through and get food. They don't have to be low-income, anyone and everyone is welcome. Waste not, want not. :) For you thrifty college folk - this is literally how I get the majority of my groceries and it is awesome.

Anyway! Today whilst working I was talking to two ladies who have been volunteering at FoodNet for years and they were remembering - "Remember that one Saturday that we had to move FoodNet across the street because the church was burning? We moved across the street into the park and kept handing out food we watched our church literally burn to the ground."

What!? Who are these crazy people who would keep doing what they were doing like everything was normal while their church was burning down!? I'll tell you! That building that burnt down? It wasn't the church. It was a building.

You know where the church was?

Across the street, handing out food to people who needed it. A church isn't about a building - it isn't about fancy windows or pulpits or organs or crucifixes. WE are the church - WE are the body of Christ. And I was extremely...moved by how obvious these ladies and the other congregation members (you can read more about it - I'll put some news links at the bottom of this post) knew that and lived that. Even when these two ladies talked about the fire, there was no sadness, no regret, in fact the one said - "I remember being so thankful that day because a whole bunch of younger folks showed up to help when we really needed them."

Remember that - your church isn't the building you worship in - WE are the church.

Read More:

NEWS: Zion Church Fire Started in Basement Kitchen
NEWS: Zion Church Growing in New Home After Fire
FoodNet Incorporation
10 Bible Verses About the Church