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What
We Do
Operation
Inasmuch Is . . .
One
great day of ministry to people in need by church members
in their community.
Operation
Inasmuch, Inc. . . .
Equips
Christian congregations and faith-based groups to mobilize
their members in hands-on compassion ministry to people
in need in their community;
Strengthens
local, Christian, mainstream churches through implementations
of the biblical mandate to be externally focused in
the use of their resources and the priorities of their
work;
Makes God's
love and grace as supremely presented in His only Son,
Jesus, known to people who are hurting and lonely and
sick and oppressed (Matt. 25);
Unites like-minded
believers across denominational, racial and cultural
lines to seve the greater good in their community (See
Terms of Collaboration elsewhere on this website).
Impact
on Congregations
Most
congregational leaders want the answer to another question: Does
it edify and transform the congregation? The
experiences of congregations involved in Operation Inasmuch
verify that it does just that. Specifically,
. . .
It facilitates brotherhood.
One leader opined:
“The thing that is most appealing to me
is the community focus and the ecumenical effort [in
which congregations of various denominations worked
together in an Operation Inasmuch].”
It
mobilizes large numbers of people.
Participation ranges from 25 percent of average
Sunday attendance on the low end to 125 percent on the
high end depending on the number of projects offered
and the quality of planning and recruitment.
It
energizes a congregation.
One lay leader says:
“Our day devoted to helping people at their
point of need resulted in spiritual growth for most
everyone who participated.
Members experienced spiritual renewal and continued
commitment to respond to the needs of others in our
community.”
It
builds fellowship.
“I firmly believe God sent Operation Inasmuch
into our midst at a time when we needed a unifying experience
in our fellowship.
It did the trick!
If I had to choose any one ministry that would
revitalize a congregation, bring old friends together,
and alert us to the many needs around us, it would have
to be Operation Inasmuch.”
It
broadens a congregation’s understanding of missions. “We’ve always
been a missions-minded church, but helping people realize
that missions happens right across the street and down
the road has been an educational experience.”
It
enhances involvement in other mission causes.
One pastor says:
“Our people got turned on to missions.
Now we’ve taken a mission trip to Honduras
and everyone who went was involved in Operation Inasmuch.”
It
authenticates a Christian witness.
One congregation leaves a card with each
recipient of an Operation Inasmuch project.
It reads in part:
“What we have done for you today, we have
done because of our love for the Lord Jesus Christ. If you, too, believe in Him, . . . we ask that you serve someone
else in His name.”
It
gives laypersons prominence in ministry.
Due to the particular skills required in
the projects, laypersons emerge as leaders more than
followers. They
discover they have talents, which are valuable to the
Kingdom.
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Matthew
25:40
