Mission 500: Putting Faith Into Action in Las Vegas
By Angela Rawls
On Sunday, August 2, hundreds of children and families gathered at Abundant Life church in Las Vegas for the second annual Mission 500 Shoe Drive, an outreach that provided more than 500 pairs of new shoes, free haircuts, prayer, and encouragement to families preparing for the new school year.
Mission 500 grew from the vision of Michael Richardson, an employee of Safe Haven Behavioral Health, who saw an opportunity to make a difference by meeting one of the most basic back-to-school needs: a new pair of shoes.
Now in its second year, Mission 500 brought together Abundant Life church, Safe Haven Behavioral Health, volunteers, local barbers, donors, and community supporters. Angela Rawls, co-owner of Safe Haven Behavioral Health, joined Richardson and the Abundant Life church family in helping bring the outreach to life.
Every pair of shoes distributed was new and made possible by individuals who donated shoes or contributed funds toward their purchase. Throughout the event, children eagerly searched for the perfect pair, while local barbers volunteered their talents to provide free haircuts.
But Mission 500 was about more than shoes.
The pastor of Abundant Life church ministered to those in attendance and prayed for families, reminding them that the church cared not only about their physical needs but also their spiritual well-being.
Matthew 25:40 reminds us, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (KJV).
Those words came alive throughout Mission 500—in volunteers helping children find the right shoe size, barbers giving their talents, prayers offered over families, and parents leaving with one less back-to-school expense to carry.
Sometimes ministry looks like a sermon.
Sometimes it looks like a prayer.
Sometimes it looks like a barber giving a child a fresh haircut.
And sometimes it looks like placing a new pair of shoes into the hands of a child and reminding that child that someone cares.
That is the heart of Mission 500: faith put into action, one family, one prayer, and one pair of shoes at a time.
The Stewardship of Service: Sharing the Gospel Through Your Work
By Erin Jenkins
In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul described what stewardship of service looks like. He told the Corinthians, “I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them” (verse 19). He also said he would “become all things to all people…for the sake of the gospel” (verses 22-23, ESV). In his ministry, Paul used every opportunity to serve others and share the gospel, whether with believers or nonbelievers.
We are called to do the same. Having a career outside pastoral ministry or Bible work does not mean we cannot share the gospel in our daily work. Some of us are teachers, healthcare professionals, grocery workers, Uber drivers, and laypersons. We are all entrusted with a stewardship of service and given our own gift: the work God has given us to do and the ability He gives us for it (1 Corinthians 9:17; 7:7).
In my work as a psychiatric professional, people come to me every day with mental health challenges, including serious mental illnesses. Although there are boundaries to directly sharing the gospel in my work, I do not hide that I am a Christian. That allows me to listen openly and “become all things to all people” (1 Corinthians 9:22). At the start of my day, I pray for a double portion of the Spirit so that I may “see” people with a different set of eyes. People often come to me hopeless, desperate, and at their wits’ end. When someone tells me they are suffering mentally and emotionally, I offer hope where I can and prayer to those open to it. Sometimes that means being a spiritual counselor, but most times it means being an open ear. Even when clients do not express an interest in the Bible, I provide compassionate care so they may see Jesus through me. I have had long-term clients say when they find out I am Christian, “I knew there was something about you,” or “You are an answer to my prayers.”
And that is what Paul meant when speaking to the Christian church. In these situations, God places us where He equips us with the desire, education, and Spirit to share the gospel through our work and the love of Christ. You do not need theological training or professional schooling to share God’s love in service to others. So ask yourself: how can the work I do become an opportunity to serve others?
