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Surprised by Grace

Rev. Greg Henneman, Director of Healthy Eating and Living, reflects on the 'divine economy of abundance' at CD4AP:

We call it a divine economy of God’s abundance. It could more simply be called faith. A faith I am still learning to live in to.

Every week at Community Development For All People, I’ve seen this practice in action. Opportunities are lifted up in prayer and prayers are answered. This may not be a new concept, I’ve just never seen it so deeply ingrained as organizational praxis.

On a recent morning, only three people were around to unload 10,000 pounds of produce. How would we process, stock, and distribute food to a hundred people? By mid-morning the market was bustling with volunteers, some I had never seen before who worked tirelessly. We went from undermanned to overwhelmed. A divine economy of God’s abundance.

That same morning, I was sharing with our graduating dietitian our need for someone to teach nutrition classes over the summer. A couple of hours later I had an email from a perspective student intern. A divine economy of God’s abundance.

The best way to describe what I do on a daily basis at CD4AP is that I connect an abundance of resources with opportunities to build the kingdom of God. I sit on a treasure of resources that I am unaware of, and am continually surprised by, and I dispense grace. Not a bad gig.

Together, we live into God's divine economy of abundance. Join us in building the front porch to the kingdom of God on the South Side.

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Rev. Greg Henneman

The Rev. Gregory S. Henneman, a Church and Community Worker missionary commissioned through the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, serves at the Church and Community Development for All People in Columbus, Ohio. At C4AP he directs the Health Eating and Living (H.E.A.L.) programs and manages the Fresh Market.

About This Blog

Read and comment on a range of personal reflections and perspectives about poverty and Ministry with the Poor. Our goal is to attract diverse voices and points of view from United Methodists and friends, including people and communities living in conditions of poverty, other experts, religious leaders, community organizers, advocates, policy makers, volunteers, and all engaged in Ministry with the Poor.