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 Basically, a mayor tells pastors to obey God.

Twenty pastors met with the mayor of a major metropolitan city to find out what they could do for the city.  They were thinking fix homelessness, help the schools, start medical clinics or food banks.  To their surprise and embarrassment the mayor simply said, “If you could just figure out a way to become a great community of neighbors.”  He was reflecting Matthew 22:39 where Jesus says the second greatest commandment is, "Love your neighbor as yourself."

The mayor said government programs are not the most effective way to address social issues.  He said continued relationships are more effective than programs because they are organic and ongoing.  The mayor explained if neighbors are in relationship with each other, the elderly shut in gets cared for by their neighbor, and at-risk kids gets mentored by a mom or dad who lives on the block.*

In 1 John 4:19 it says, “We love because he first loved us.”  God’s love so satisfies our souls, it compels us to share that love with others.  If your soul is unsatisfied, come join us at Heartland Vineyard Church sometime and discover the more you are designed for: to love God’s presence and love God’s people.

During Covid, a Gahanna, Ohio resident, Cris Ferrante, who now attends Heartland Vineyard Church started organizing weekly food truck nights, so the neighborhood could socialize outside.  It continues still and has grown.  What was a nameless, faceless suburban housing development now functions like a village.

The Columbus Dispatch published a front page story about the weekly gatherings.  USA Today republished the story, and other major newspaper outlets carried it.

In the article, Heartland Vineyard Church pastor Kerry Davis is quoted, “People are dying for community right now.  In the hysteria and fear, people want to be comforted, and they want to be loved.”  From the seed of these neighborhood gatherings, Heartland Vineyard Church was planted.

This summer, the Gahanna mayor after attending a food truck night asked the Uniquely Gahanna magazine to write an article about the gatherings. It begins, “In a time where packed calendars and digital distractions often take priority over face-to-face connection, it’s easy to feel like that sense of community has taken a back seat.  But residents like Cris realize that building community is still possible with a little effort and a lot of heart.”

Cris realized that we don’t need to bust our tails figuring out how to do great things for God; we can simply do good things with God.  In God’s story we are all just bit players in his mission to draw all men to himself in love.

* Taken from the book The Art Of Neighboring