First Wayne Street is a church committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of Fort Wayne as we love God and love people by serving together. We desire to create a community of faith where hope is found, healing takes place and transformation happens.

We are committed to making disciples because this is the Great Commission Jesus gave His followers in Matthew 28:16- 20.

We are committed to love God and love people because these are the two Great Commandments Jesus taught us in Matthew 22:34-40.

We are committed to serve together because Jesus taught us through both his teaching and example.

Jesus taught that “those who want to be great must learn to serve” (Matthew 20:26) and that “those who want to be first must learn to be last” (Mark 9:35).

Jesus taught us that we love God in the way we love people, by feeding the hungry, giving water to those who are thirsty, providing clothes and shelter for those without, and meeting the needs of the least among us (Matthew 25:31-40).

I’ve come to believe that maybe one of the best ways we can fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Commandments is to be kind.

Acts of kindness often surprise me because they seem to be in such short supply these days. I recently started going out of my way to shop at a particular grocery store because of the kind and loving vibe that has been created in this special store. The workers are authentically pleasant and helpful. I encounter people stocking the shelves, working the cash register and bagging groceries who exude joy. I’m asked if I need assistance when I have a confused look on my face. The employees are genuine, patient and above all else … kind.

Every employee I’ve talked to so far has expressed how much they love working in this little grocery store. On a recent trip, one said, “Man, even if I’m having a bad morning, I find myself looking forward to coming to work because I know I’ll be around all these groovy people.”

Father Gregory Boyle, in his book “Tattoos on the Heart,” expresses the importance of love expressed through kindness. “There is no force in the world better able to alter anything from its course than love. Meeting the world with a loving heart will determine what we find there. We mistakenly place our trust, too often, in the righteousness of our wind, though we rarely get evidence that this ever transforms anything. Inmates and guards alike at Folsom Prison always said the same thing about the other: ‘I don’t want them to mistake my kindness for weakness.’ Sooner or later, we all discover that kindness is the only strength there is.”

Wouldn’t it be awesome if First Wayne Street United Methodist Church became known as “the kindest church in town”?

Today, and every day, if you can do anything, be kind!