The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: “If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?” But the good Samaritan reversed the question: “If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?”
– Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
First Christian Church serves everyday issues:
There’s not a one size fits all mission that will address every need in Fort Smith. So, we have developed a routine calendar to best impact a number of groups. We volunteer at Hope Campus, have a special needs Easter egg hunt, host the Artemis Project for a fall adoption day, assist Antioch Food Pantry on some of their high-demand days, and have collections (cans, blankets, Christmas toys for underprivileged kids) throughout the year. While this doesn’t solve everything for everyone, we are glad to be able to help make a meaningful impact where and when we can.
Our Strategy for Missions:
“Short-term missions” have come under fire in the last several years. Terms like “voluntourism” and “toxic charity” have woken many up to the reality that churches that mean well do not always do well. Mission trips can easily become more about a vacation and a photo op than about making a change. As a response, we strive to do the most good we can with two priorities: (1) Use short missions to respond to crises. Short-term mission work still has validity when disasters strike. Things like floods and fires need folks to jump on it right then and there. (2) Form strategic partnerships with local nonprofits for long-term issues. Many of the issues we see today will not be solved with one trip. Likewise, they will not be solved by one church. We work to maintain close partnerships with groups already doing this work so that together we can chip away at these larger issues.
How you can get involved:
Missions and collections arise throughout the year. So, the easiest way to get involved is to join us on Sundays. By joining with us, you will get to rub elbows with folks accustomed to doing good work. You’ll have a heads-up about a strategic time and place to make a difference in the community. Just the same, this will help get you in a sustainable groove – no more worrying if you’re not doing enough or getting burnt out trying to do it all at once. Alternatively, a good number of folks here volunteer with another group outside of church. Getting to know them can help plug you into another mission. Further still, use the button below to find ways to serve independently.