Inhabiting the World is a grassroots ministry about people helping people. Grassroots refers to the source or basic building blocks of a society. Ministry is service. A grassroots ministry is a source-to-need ministry, or as close as we can get to a source-to-need ministry. The ideal grassroots ministry would be, the one with the gift giving directly to the one with the need. The intent of Inhabiting the World is to get the gift and the need as close as possible. We are not the intermediary for your gifts. Give them directly to the person in need or the people ministering to the needs firsthand.

The idea is to start backyard missions and ministries. There are a lot of missions to people and places across the globe, and they are great and serve a purpose; but there are needs in our own backyards. How big is your backyard? That may depend on your perspective and your gifts. One person’s backyard may be their neighborhood, another’s their town, and another’s their county, etc. Grassroots ministries can start small and grow.

James wrote to us, “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit” (James 2:15-16)? James is addressing someone you see and speak with, and is saying to use your faith to help someone with a need that you have seen with your own eyes. Share what you have.

You do not need a big building or a lot of money to start a grassroots backyard mission. You just need to share the good things that you already have. If you do not have money or food but have time, share your time. If all you have to share is one extra place at the table, find one person who needs that place. You may not be able to deduct it from your taxes, but you may find a friend. Start small and dream, and involve your neighbors.

Along with the backyard missions we also need backyard church. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). I’m not talking about church politics, but over the fence prayers for one another; and neighbors getting together to praise and worship. The grassroots needs are both physical and spiritual. Also, I am not talking about replacing the current church families of any of the parties, but adding to what we already have. But, I am also talking about reaching those not associated with a body of believers.

The ministry is grassroots helps, evangelism, discipleship, and worship of God in our own neighborhoods, cities, and towns. It involves finding the talents within you, our families, our friends, and our neighbors to minister (serve) one another as we serve God. It starts with a kind gesture or word to a neighbor in need or asking a neighbor to pray with you for the neighborhood. It is outside the walls of what we think of as the church. It is the body of Christ without walls.