The Ministry of Proximity

Editorial by Chad Stuart

In 2017, when my family moved into our neighborhood in Maryland, our boys were 9, 7 and 5. Our street felt like a small-town movie: more than a dozen kids the same age, bikes on the roads, doorbells ringing— “Can your boys play?” Each afternoon, the children stitched families together with shared driveways and impromptu games of soccer or tag in front yards.

Nine years later, the kids are now teenagers, schedules are packed and some families have relocated. While the memories still echo in my mind, the connections have diminished. Here’s the uncomfortable truth I discovered in a simple exercise: I struggle to name several people who have lived near me for years. When the kids’ friendships faded, so did my relationships with their families.

This realization led me to a conviction: Resolve to be a neighbor.

A story from outside Denver motivated me to follow through on that conviction: A group of pastors asked local officials how churches could help their cities. The mayor of Arvada reportedly suggested focusing on creating a “neighboring movement,” emphasizing that relationships are more valuable than programs. Another official added a painful observation: In communities with many Christians, there’s little visible difference in everyday neighborliness compared to places with few Christians. This hit home.

When asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered with the Good Samaritan story—an outsider who met the physical, material and emo- tional needs that were right in front of him. The point is both expansive and insightfully practical: Yes, “neighbor” can include anyone, even an enemy, but if “neighbor” becomes everybody, it often becomes nobody. The Samaritan cared for the person in his path. And no one is more frequently in your path than the people who are right outside your front door.

So, let’s lower the bar on evangelism to something revolutionarily simple: Learn a name. Move from “Hey” to “Hey, Kate.” From “Hey, Kate” to “Hey, Kate, how are you holding up?” From polite nods to real presence. Evangelism doesn’t begin with a cold knock and a perfect script; it begins with familiarity, trust and the slow credibility of knowing a name.

Choose one simple habit that makes learning names possible: Get outside. Walk your neighborhood. Eat in the front yard. Put out extra chairs while your kids play with the neighbor kids. Make room for the unprogrammed ministry of proximity.

Acts 17:26 says God “determined … the boundaries of [our] dwelling place” (ESV). Where you live isn’t accidental. Your mission field is across the street—and your first step is remembering who lives there—this year and the years to come.

Chad Stuart is the pastor of the Spencerville church in Silver Spring, Md.