Neighboring

Churches and organizations often focus on “outreach” as an essential part of their mission. However, “outreach” implies that the ones reaching out have something of value to give to or bring to the other, who obviously have something lacking. The term and practice of outreach often unwittingly set up unbalanced systems, where the powerful give to the powerless, the haves give to the have nots, and where there is often a lack of mutuality and equality. Neighboring, on the other hand, is primarily a relational term which implies that we are equals to begin with, with each of us having both gifts to share and needs to be addressed.   

Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor.    Romans 15:2