How Vibrant Communities of Jesus Followers (VCJF) Transform Lives
Spring 2025 Board Meeting Field Report Summary
"As I sat and listened to the field report summary during my March 2025, OM USA board meeting, I am compelled to share (with permission) the transformational impact of Generous Living, given the global outreach I am currently engaged in with the Journey of Joy and Generosity," - Dr Ray Charles, Board Member, OM USA (See below)
A Growing Culture of Giving
Generosity emerged as a standout theme in our 2024 field reports. Across diverse communities worldwide, VCJF groups are demonstrating Christ's love through acts of kindness and generosity that are creating ripple effects throughout their communities.
Business Leaders Embracing Generosity
Our B4T (Business for Transformation) initiatives are witnessing a remarkable shift among participating businesspeople. Field leaders report "a major change among the businesspeople, a move toward generosity" as they integrate faith values into their business practices.
Southern African Impact
SportsLink leaders in Southern Africa highlight how "VCJF groups are making a tangible and sustainable difference in their societies." These groups actively serve their communities by:
- Showing love to the elderly through charity work
- Promoting generosity and kindness through practical community engagement
Southeast Asian Transformation
In Southeast Asia, our Body of Christ groups demonstrate remarkable generosity despite their own challenging circumstances:
"Our Body of Christ group comes from a very poor and marginalized community. Their generosity and kindness towards their own people grew by sharing rice, cooking oil and other essential items. They also started to visit other poor families to care for and pray for them. Thus, our Small Groups began to extend grace towards others in their community."
"Our Body of Christ group comes from a very poor and marginalized community. Their generosity and kindness towards their own people grew by sharing rice, cooking oil and other essential items. They also started to visit other poor families to care for and pray for them. Thus, our Small Groups began to extend grace towards others in their community."
Bulgarian Border Ministry
Our teams serving Muslim communities near the Turkish border in Bulgaria report increasing community involvement:
"The Turkish-speaking Bulgarian community, two hours east of us, they are taking care of their communities more and more. They are handing out food boxes; helping needy people, serving the community; more people are coming to the church and faith."
"The Turkish-speaking Bulgarian community, two hours east of us, they are taking care of their communities more and more. They are handing out food boxes; helping needy people, serving the community; more people are coming to the church and faith."
Sudanese Refugees in Egypt
Perhaps most remarkable is the multiplication effect happening among Sudanese refugee communities in Egypt:
"We can see that giving is a church function that has started to take place in more of the groups among Sudanese refugees (Body of Christ and the VCJF) than before, them as communities trying to help people around them with their means. Although small on the surface, it has a huge impact in the families around them and we can see that those having an impact in their communities are the streams multiplying the most."
"We can see that giving is a church function that has started to take place in more of the groups among Sudanese refugees (Body of Christ and the VCJF) than before, them as communities trying to help people around them with their means. Although small on the surface, it has a huge impact in the families around them and we can see that those having an impact in their communities are the streams multiplying the most."
The Ripple Effect
The impact extends beyond the immediate Christian community. Our field leader in Egypt notes:
"It is quite remarkable when we see Muslims trying to imitate Jesus followers by receiving people into their homes to live with them. It didn't happen before, but when they saw Christians do this, they felt compelled to follow."
This powerful testimony demonstrates how authentic Christian generosity can transform not just individual lives but entire communities, crossing religious and cultural boundaries.
"It is quite remarkable when we see Muslims trying to imitate Jesus followers by receiving people into their homes to live with them. It didn't happen before, but when they saw Christians do this, they felt compelled to follow."
This powerful testimony demonstrates how authentic Christian generosity can transform not just individual lives but entire communities, crossing religious and cultural boundaries.
5 Comments
Generosity is a heart issue more so than a behavioral issue
It's all about community!
I really appreciated the article. Christ love is being shown practically where people see and receive expressions of love where their needs are of a concern and through this the gospel can also be proclaimed
Amen! There is a story of early followers of The Way that was converting people from the pagan Roman gods all due to their generosity! May we change the world the way they did.
This report is a powerful testament to the transformative impact of Vibrant Communities of Jesus Followers—not only in meeting needs but in multiplying disciples and expanding God’s kingdom. The rhythm of blessing is clearly at work here: receiving God’s grace, being blessed in community, becoming a blessing to others, and witnessing the multiplication of His love across cultures and nations.
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nI have personally seen the profound impact of Business for Transformation (B4T) in Indonesia, where faith-infused generosity is not just providing for needs but multiplying blessing among the least reached. As God’s people learn to collaborate—across businesses, churches, and communities—the result is a movement of generosity where discipleship and sustainable impact go hand in hand. When the generosity of God overflows, blessing is never stagnant—it is passed on and multiplied.
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nIt is especially moving to see how generosity flows even from communities facing hardship. These stories remind me that true abundance comes not from material wealth but from living in the River of Grace, where blessing is not stored up but continually poured out. The Sudanese refugees in Egypt, the marginalized believers in Southeast Asia, and the Turkish-speaking Bulgarians near the border all reveal the heart of the gospel—a generosity that overflows even in scarcity, fueled by God’s provision.
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nThe impact doesn’t stop with believers. The report’s note about Muslims imitating this generosity is a powerful reminder that love in action speaks louder than words. When we live out the gospel with beautiful feet, walking in the footsteps of Jesus, others are drawn to follow.
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nThis also highlights the importance of partnership between nations. No one carries this mission alone. Just as Paul spoke of the Macedonian believers giving beyond their ability to support the wider church (2 Cor. 8:1-5), today we see communities around the world stepping into generosity—some giving financially, others through hospitality, prayer, and service. This is the body of Christ at work, each part strengthening the other so that the gospel advances in unity.
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nThis is not just a local movement—it is the same, near, and far people of God walking together to multiply blessing and disciple-making. It is a beautiful picture of the Great Commission in action, where generosity fuels partnership, partnership fuels disciple-making, and disciple-making leads to transformed communities.
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nMay we continue to quiet our hearts before God, ask how we can best serve (question), and boldly step into the quest of multiplying His blessing across borders and generations. Praying for these communities and for even greater ripple effects of God’s transforming love!