Because the greatest legacy is not what Hands at Work build, it’s who is built. It’s the people. It’s the local church activated and transformed. It’s who the church and community members are becoming as they experience Christ’s love for them and are compelled to share this love with one another.
From the beginning Hands at Work’s vision has been simple: to see the local church effectively caring for the most vulnerable in its community. This is achieved through the mission statement to “challenge, encourage, develop and support the ministry of servanthood among those in need”.
The ministry of servanthood can be defined as living out the Gospel through humble, faithful service, being the hands and feet of Christ in the world. Emmanuel’s words in the video remind us that the goal of Hands at Work was never the food or the buildings, these were the tools, not the treasure. The treasure is a servant’s heart, alive in someone who chooses to serve. Meaning they choose to put the needs of others before their own, using their gifts and resources to reflect God’s love and bring healing, justice, and hope to their community. This ensures that the community’s care will outlast Hand at Work’s presence.
In practice this looks like a neighbour who notices a need and responds, a Pastor who opens his home to the orphan, a young person who chooses to serve rather than be served. It’s the local church activated, loving and serving. But this is not limited to only the local church in Africa. As members of the church here in Australia, we are called to live out this ministry of servanthood to our neighbours and our communities.
Take a look below at how God is transforming some of our community member’s hearts in Australia, who have been impacted by the ministry of servanthood in Africa.