A low income family living in Detroit struggling to find affordable housing. An underprivileged community without access to medical care or education. Recent college graduates working in a new environment battling the “quarterlife crisis” and loneliness. A national government struggling to gain its footing on the world scene. The AIDS crisis ravishing millions in Africa
What do all of the above have in common? The burden of Jesus Christ.
The greatest love story ever told is that of the God of all creation entering into humanity to redeem and restore it into absolute beauty and spender. It has always been God’s desire to bestow on His children “a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:3). And we at HMCC believe that God has chosen His Church to be the instrument that brings radical transformation to the world – into all spheres of society, particularly those of great suffering and pain.
On September 23, 2007, the Transformasphere Movement was officially birthed out of obedience to God to bring Christ’s restorative power outside the four walls of the church and into the spheres of (c)ommerce, (h)ealthcare, (a)rts & media, (r)eligious institutions, (g)overnment, (e)ducation, and (d)omestic issues.
And since that time, our church has rallied together to go beyond the walls with our resources and talents and into spheres where we can make significant impacts. A few examples since the end of September:
• Our single adult ministry took a full Saturday off (the day of the “big game”) to work on a Habitat for Humanity project in inner city Detroit.
• Dental students from the Medical Outreach Ministry provided an interactive teaching session on basic oral care to an underprivileged community.
• A church small group rented out a local café in order to dialogue with young professionals in Ann Arbor on the topic of purpose in life.
• Some members, wanting to get involved in the political process, filmed questions and posted them on YouTube for the upcoming Republican YouTube presidential debate. One question was featured on CNN.
• Burdened for the global AIDS crisis, members hosted an AIDS awareness event in the community and gave a moving presentation to other members at an ACCESS gathering.
This is the church.