BY PASTOR MARK LEE
Pastor Mark Lee of Vantage Point Church in Eastvale
During the warm months of 1967, thousands of people from across the United States converged upon the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco as part of a hippie counterculture movement that became known as, “The Summer of Love.”
47 years later, VantagePoint Church created its own version of the Summer of Love. The goal of the campaign was simple: To be living proof of a loving God. From giving away water, coffee, and Redbox rentals to hosting a football and cheerleading camp, church members were committed to serving the residents of Eastvale.
One of the many benefits of this special campaign was that it helped promote the importance of community. Researchers have repeatedly found that people with strong social connections have happier lives, less stress-related health problems, lower risk of mental illness, and faster recovery from trauma or illness.
So, how do you foster a greater sense of connectedness? The answer is twofold. First, you need to be real. While we often feel the need to present a perfect image to the outside world, the truth is that you can only be loved to the extent you are known. In joining our lives with others, we also need to be accepting. Realness doesn’t happen without acceptance. After all, who wants to open themselves up if they know they will get hurt?
Psalms 133:1 says, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.” There is power in community. Whether you get to know your neighbor, become involved in your city, or simply open your heart to another person, you will be blessed.
VantagePoint Church meets at Roosevelt High School on Sundays at 8:30, 10, and 11:30 a.m.
