Illustration by Mitzi Cartee

Sometimes neighbors meet by accident: "I believe this is your son's ball." Other times they come together through a crisis: "We heard the siren. Can we help?" But nothing is more exciting than when neighbors come together because of a desire to know God; and so God draws them to Himself and to each other.

We had sold our home of eight years and moved into a rental house. While John worked in the front yard, he met the families to our right and straight across from us. That's when he made a remarkable discovery: They were all related to us—in Christ!

We decided to pool our resources and claim our neighborhood for the Lord. John asked the others, "Would you be interested in starting a neighborhood Bible study?" None of us had ever attempted such a thing before. It would be a step of growth, in God's perfect timing.

Mapping the Future

At our first meeting we found that we barely knew the people who lived to our left, let alone the families down the street. Our homes are set back from the street, and hedges and fences create further barriers to neighborly interaction. We asked God to show us where to begin.

"I think we should make a map of the street. We can fill in people's names as we get to know them," suggested Len. "Then we can begin praying for the families by name."

So we began praying for our street and the lives it represented. We asked God to help us build bridges to the people we lived beside but didn't even know. Our lives were so busy, full of church commitments and family obligations, that we could not agree on a day to pass out flyers inviting our neighbors to a block party. We continued to pray. Three months passed. Then one day, John drew the line.

"I'm going out this Sunday afternoon. If anyone can join me, that would be fine. But I think we need to get this thing moving."

The Invitation

On Super Bowl Sunday, we set out with neon orange flyers in hand. We had 20 minutes to snag people's attention before the game started.

John boldly knocked on the first door. I stood back, holding my breath, contemplating a hasty retreat. But as soon as the door opened, I underwent a tremendous transformation! I saw my neighbors through the eyes of Christ. Never had I felt such great compassion! I knew Jesus stood among us.

John started speaking. His voice cracked now and then. "Hi. We're your neighbors, John and Lynn Hallimore. We're fairly new to the neighborhood and haven't had a chance to meet many people. We're handing out invitations to an adult Bible study that will meet in our home in two weeks. All the information is on this flyer. Also, a week from Monday we're having a get-together with the neighbors at our house, and we'd love for you to come."

Once John broke the ice, I piped up: "Even if you wouldn't be interested in the Bible study, come meet your neighbors. We're surprised how many of us don't know each other!"

John nodded and continued: "We're also making a map of our block with people's names and phone numbers. Would you like to participate in that? If so, we'll bring you a completed map next week."

A Change of Focus

I was braced for rejection. Although the Bible tells story after story about the crowds that followed Jesus, I had focused on the accounts where Christ was betrayed, turned away, scoffed at, and rejected. I forgot that although Jesus had no wealth, He had good friends. His company was sought. He drew people to Himself and to the Father.

My unbalanced viewpoint was so influenced by the fact that "the world hated Christ and knew Him not" that I was completely shocked when our neighbors seemed happy to see us. They said things like:

"You're our neighbor? Come in!"

"I can't believe it. You came at the perfect time in my life."

"I would love to come to a Bible study. Could I borrow a Bible?"

"I've really needed something like this. I guess now's the time to start."

In 20 minutes, John and I met five families. The following evening we met nine more. We looked forward to the block party.

An Unlikely Setting

Our rental home needed paint. The back deck was large but ugly. Weeds sprang up all over the unfinished yard. It was an unlikely place to hold a block party, but it was the only home available on our planned date. So we spread out worn lawn chairs, filled the ice chest with sodas, and waited.

I prayed, "Lord, never in a million years would I have desired to entertain guests in such a sorry setting. But we felt You ask. We have done as much as we can, the rest is up to You."

A half hour passed. No one showed.

Two hours later, our kitchen counter was laden with finger food brought by the neighbors who milled about our family room and deck, deeply engrossed in conversation, miraculously oblivious to their surroundings.

In between developing the neighborhood map and initiating monthly socials, we began building bridges of friendship. John and I made a point of taking neighborhood walks at least once a week. I know this sounds simple. But with our hectic schedules, we had to make it a conscious choice. Inevitably, we stopped to visit at one house or another.

Likewise, I made a personal commitment to serve one neighbor each week. One week I baby-sat for Charlotte while she went to a doctor appointment. Another time I stopped in to visit Vera, a widow. I invited two young moms to our church's Victorian tea. When I didn't keep that weekly contact as my focus, days slipped by into a morgue of useless good intentions.

Surprises!

Monday nights took on new meaning as neighbors gathered in our home for a six-week Bible study in the book of John. The first night of the study, 18 people squashed into the living room and perched on a row of balcony seats (barstools) in the hall.

We discovered we had more Christians on our block than nonChristians. The Christians were generally so involved in their churches (as we were) that they weren't aware of each other's existence! Nor were we familiar with those who lived next door but didn't know Christ. This realization shook us and further fueled our desire to become bridge builders.

Another surprise: The people we had pegged never to darken the door, did! (And a few we counted on never showed.) Each week God faithfully brought at least one unsaved person to our group. And we rejoiced in watching Him work as we continued to walk outside our comfort zone, dependent on Him.

The Bible study grew into something more than just a study. It uncovered opportunities to minister to people's needs on a broader scale. We had in our neighborhood two widows, two single parents, one woman whose husband was in a convalescent home, a recovering alcoholic, a man with terminal cancer, and a young couple far from their family on the East Coast—just to name a few.

Networking

After our initial social, people began networking. And as the Spirit of God worked among us, a sense of community replaced isolation.

We received a note from a member of the Bible study, saying, "I am so thankful for this study. I can't tell you how important it is to me. I have fallen in love with Jesus anew. He's become so vivid and real."

I remember walking Chris (a yet-to-be-believer) home and having her ask self-consciously, "Did you guys think I was stupid when I cried during prayer? I can't believe I did that! But I never had anyone pray for me by name before."

Another member confided, "I used to feel so alone. Now I know all my neighbors! And I feel safer than I have for a long time."

Personal Perks

One Monday night, John and I were so keyed up we could hardly sleep. "It's like God is tapping me on the shoulder saying, ‘This is what I meant by following Me,'" John said. "It's totally awesome."

Watching God work among those who lived on our street became the most exciting thing in our lives! It became a hands-on learning experience for our children, too. When we collected small gifts for Vera, our 15-year-old asked, "Mom, can we go to the store? I want to buy something for Vera." When Jericho overheard Billie say she didn't have the time to sweep her driveway, he waited for her to leave for work, then swept the walks clean.

When people asked, "So what's new?" we eagerly shared about our neighborhood study. Friends, family, and church members kept close tabs on developments. They, more than anyone, knew us to be flawed, ordinary humans. They knew our enthusiasm to be unusual, to be something lit by a supernatural touch by Someone greater than ourselves.

Friends at church claimed, "I wish I could live on a street like yours! It sounds so inviting."

Another friend confided over coffee, "I've often thought of reaching my neighbors for Christ. But when Pat and I tried in the past, the results weren't the same as yours. People did reject us. They looked at us like we were space aliens. But you know, maybe it's because our focus was on passing out tracts and not on establishing relationships or meeting needs. Maybe we could try again."

Overcoming the Greatest Obstacle

My heart went out to her. For I believe the greatest obstacle in forming our neighborhood Bible study was not busy schedules, diverse denominations, lack of child care, or insufficient seating. The greatest obstacle was my expectations.

I could not help feeling responsible for the outcome of the study. How many would come to know Christ? Surely this would determine whether we had succeeded or not!

Then God redirected my thinking through Lev. 19:18: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Rather than allowing me to fret about who would or would not accept Christ, God set my focus on how many I could love, and the ways I could show God's faithfulness and care. For those were things within my reach and control.

Our rental house is a temporary setting. But it has made a lasting impact on my heart.

God is teaching me to look ahead. When our new home is built, we want to reach our future neighbors for Christ. We already know of two Christian families who live in our new subdivision. It could happen again!

Of course, the results may not be the same. Maybe these new folks won't be so happy to see us. They might look at us like we're space aliens. Maybe they won't be feeling lonely and isolated. Maybe they won't care to know about God. But how will we know if we never try to find out? Besides, God does not expect me to be successful in all I attempt to do for Him—only to be faithful to do my best.

Despite all the exciting possibilities that lie in the future, I will miss sharing daily life with the neighbors I have grown to love. Yet I am confident that God will continue to build in the lives on our block.

Lynn Hallimore is a freelance author who attends Lakeside Church of Folsom, where she serves as a youth sponsor and Sunday school substitute. She wrote this article because her experience "was too good not to share!"

Lynn and her husband hope someday to become involved in short-term missions. Her favorite people are those who love God and laughter.