“Then those who are righteous will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and give you clothes to wear? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ Then the king will reply to them, ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’” — Matthew 25:37-40 (CEB)
At the Mennonite Mission Network booth during Follow Jesus ’25, we shared stickers featuring Matthew 25:35-36, a portion of the Scripture included above. At the core, I believe these verses highlight God’s command to love our neighbors. Jesus made it clear throughout the gospels, in these verses and many others, that we are called to care for one another. We are given many examples of how Christ served others, caring for their physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
Ultimately, Christ’s focus on serving was about being in relationship with others and connecting people to God. The commandment to love our neighbors is not just about providing food, water and clothes, or visiting those in need and welcoming the stranger; it moves us to truly know and care for our neighbors, recognizing we are all wonderfully created by God.
As part of the Anabaptist faith, we believe that community is the center of our lives. Therefore, we also care about the communities, organizations and movements that care for all of God’s creation. At Mission Network, we are deeply committed to partnerships that foster these connections. Our SOOP (Serving Opportunities with Our Partners) program reflects our call to partnership and our desire to provide flexible opportunities for individuals and families to join God’s work in the world. The SOOP program allows participants to serve as they are able, for the time that they have available. There is a place for everyone to learn, grow and share the abundance that comes from God. My prayer is that we will all heed the Spirit’s nudge and respond to God’s call to love and serve others.
Marisa Smucker
Executive Director