The Art of Neighboring | Week 5

The Art of Neighboring | Week 5 — Larry & Kim Strondak

This week the series gets personal, as Larry and Kim Strondak share what neighboring has actually looked like in their lives.

Larry tells the story of a neighbor who freely admitted to being a "bad neighbor" — and what happened when Larry stayed in relationship with him anyway. He also shares about the friendships that have quietly grown across his neighborhood over time, and a conviction the Lord brought him to along the way: that he had been putting the Great Commission ahead of the Greatest Commandment. Going out into all the world is a lot easier than loving the people on your own street.

Kim shares how the Lord met her in her corporate job and asked her to do something that made no business sense — love her competition instead of being driven by fear of them. Encouraged by her boss to build a "War Board," Kim made a Friendship Board instead. God used it not only to grow her business, but to teach her what it means to love her neighbors in the marketplace.

Two stories, one lesson: the command to love your neighbor doesn't stop at your property line, and it doesn't pause when you clock in.

"Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." — Mark 12:31