Compassion ministry begins with something far simpler than most churches expect! You do not need to have every answer. You do not need a perfectly polished strategy, a massive budget, or a groundbreaking program. More often than not, people simply need someone willing to sit with them, listen to them, and love them. Real compassion sees people not as projects to fix, but as image bearers to value. Biblical compassion is not rooted in pity, but in the love of God flowing through the people of God. In a world that often moves too fast to notice suffering, the local church has the opportunity to slow down long enough to truly see people.
One example of this can be seen in the story of April Benner from Cambridge, Md. When April wandered into the community breakfast at BCM/D church plant Garden Church, she was simply looking for a meal. Instead, she was met with kindness, love, compassion, and dignity. Through the kindness of the people of God, she encountered the love of God. April put her faith in Jesus that day, was baptized shortly after, and since then has led 10 people to Jesus who have also been baptized. She now serves monthly at the community breakfast herself. April was not just someone in need; she was an image bearer deeply loved by Jesus. There are hundreds of thousands of people just like April across our two-state convention.
According to recent census data, approximately 7.1% of families in Maryland and 7.3% of families in Delaware live below the poverty line. While every community experiences poverty differently, no community is untouched by it. Some neighborhoods experience visible and generational poverty, while others hide it behind closed doors and quiet struggles. Yet Scripture speaks clearly about the responsibility of God’s people to care for those who are hurting. Jesus says in Matthew 25:35–36, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me” (ESV). Compassion ministry is not a side assignment for a few gifted people in the church. It is part of the visible witness of the Gospel.
The encouraging reality is that every church can take meaningful steps toward loving the hurting and the poor in their community. For some churches, that may look like hosting a weekly meal, partnering with local schools, or supporting foster families. For others, it may begin with simply learning the names and stories of struggling neighbors. Compassion ministry does not always start with large-scale resources; often, it starts with availability. When churches consistently choose to show up with humility, presence, generosity, and Gospel hope, communities begin to see a clearer picture of Jesus!
Stories like April’s are exactly what the Compassion Ministries Offering (CMO) exists to multiply. Beginning this year, 100% of the CMO goes directly back into BCM/D churches like Garden Church—equipping them with the training, resources, and grants to start, sustain, and grow ministries that meet real needs in real neighborhoods across Maryland and Delaware. As we approach the CMO Week of Prayer, September 13–20, we’re asking every BCM/D church to pray about how the Lord might be leading you to give. Learn more and give at bcmd.org/cmo.
