DCC – Seeking transformation
Our Biblical mandate
So why go to through all this change at DCC? If people are regularly coming for food, isn’t that a ministry in itself?
Whilst feeding the poor is indeed a biblical mandate, the reality is many people come to DCC because they are experiencing social isolation.
In the Bible, we see that God created the world in perfect harmony[1] – there were healthy interdependent relationships between humans and God, their selves, and the rest of creation[2]. When sin entered the world, each of these relationships were broken and poverty emerged[3]. Poverty is not merely a lack of money or resources, it means the absence of shalom, meaning a lack of complete relational reconciliation. Shalom is the fullest flourishing in every dimension – physical, emotional, social, and spiritual – when all relationships are right, perfect, and filled with joy[4]. To re-establish this, God therefore sent Jesus with a mission and a message of relational reconciliation, to restore all that sin had damaged and reconcile his people and all of creation to God.
Throughout the Bible, and through Jesus’ ministry, we see a clear mandate to love our neighbour as ourselves[5]. While we are called to love all people, there is special attention given to the poor and the most marginalised and isolated members of society where shalom is absent[6]. As disciples, alleviating poverty is therefore about seeking to restore these relationships, to outwork love and restoration meaningfully in our neighbourhoods. So whilst providing for physical needs is indeed important, it makes up only one component of the bigger story of Jesus in peoples’ lives.
Pathway for Transformation
God’s heart for the poor and socially isolated coming to DCC is therefore to enter into meaningful and restorative social connections. When people are enabled to participate and contribute to something that is bigger than themselves with others that they trust, it can enables people to find meaning and purpose. Our heart at DCC is that people can come regularly to spaces with others and feel like they can feel accepted and welcomed. Jesus came with forgiveness, kindness and gentleness, and sees us for who we really are – people who are formed in God’s image, are deeply valuable and have something to contribute in our community.
