Run to the BrokennessSample

Day 4: Respond to Community Crisis:

Every community will face crisis. The question is not if—but when. And when it comes, the world takes notice of who steps in. Sometimes, the greatest opportunity for the Church isn’t in our programs or preaching—it’s in how we show up when everything falls apart.

The local church has always been called to run toward the brokenness. But in times of crisis, that call becomes urgent. Whether the need is visible—like hunger, loss, or violence—or hidden beneath layers of grief, fear, or isolation, these moments reveal who we are. Crisis has a way of collapsing the space between mission statements and lived mission. When everything shakes, people aren’t looking for a perfect sermon—they’re looking for presence.

Philippians 4:19 (NIV) gives us this powerful promise: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” We often quote this verse in personal contexts, but it also applies to our churches. If God has called your community to respond, He will provide everything you need to do it—whether it’s resources, volunteers, courage, or creativity. The provision follows the obedience.

That’s what happened when one church turned its sanctuary into a storehouse during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. What began as curbside prayer turned into a feeding program that impacted thousands. And just when the money ran out, God sent a half-million-dollar grant to keep it going. Why? Because they didn’t retreat from the crisis—they ran to it.

But sometimes, the pain isn’t global—it’s deeply local and heartbreakingly personal. The story of Rubi, a fourteen-year-old girl lost to violence at a Christian school, is one such example. Her church didn’t distance itself because it “wasn’t their school.” They stepped in with prayer, meals, presence, and eventually, purpose. What started as a tragedy became a movement of hope, reaching thousands through the simple act of remembering and responding.

When we respond to crisis, we don’t just meet practical needs—we reveal the heart of God. That’s why Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9:12-13 (NIV):

“This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God…”

People may not remember your church’s best sermon. But they will remember who brought groceries when their fridge was empty. Who helped their child with a backpack, a bike, or a warm coat. Who prayed with them at the curb or wept with them in the school office.

That kind of presence changes perceptions. And it creates access points for the gospel that no billboard ever could.

And here’s the good news: you don’t have to be big to be bold. You just have to be first.

First to see the need.
First to make the call.
First to show up with no strings attached.

That’s how trust is built. That’s how influence is earned. That’s how the Church becomes essential again—not just on Sunday, but in the moments when people need it most.

Don’t wait to be asked. Show up.
Don’t calculate the risk. Lead with compassion.
Don’t overthink it. Obey the nudge.

Because when the local church runs to the brokenness—before the headlines fade, before the systems respond, before the dust settles—we remind the world that Jesus still enters the pain.

And when we do, our service doesn’t just supply needs—it overflows with thanksgiving to God.