So I want to give you a real simple, real practical, real way to love your neighbors. Here it is…Serve on your HOA board.<\/p>\n
OK, I am sure some may say, what is an HOA? Well I am glad \u00a0you asked that. Let’s depart with the acronyms and reveal the opportunity.<\/p>\n
HOA stands for H<\/span>ome O<\/span>wners A<\/span>ssociation. And, the HOA board is basically the governing body of your neighborhood association. They usually meet once a year, organize garage sales, work with government officials, help solve problems etc.<\/p>\n So if you really want to love your neighbors it starts with serving them…most HOA’s have needs for folks to serve as president, vice president, secretary or treasurer. Now this does take a bit of time and work, but what serving opportunity doesn’t. The time is minimal, about an hour a month. That is really not a lot of time, granted each HOA is a bit different, but it doesn’t take a whole lot of time, mostly it takes willingness. There is almost always a need, and part of loving your neighbors and serving the Lord is identifying needs in your neighborhood and seeking to serve and be a blessing…this is a very tangible way to love our neighbors.<\/p>\n Some of the blessing are you get to work with other neighbors to seek to improve your neighborhood, build community and serve one another. There is no doubt there are challenges be it covenant issues, disagreements between neighbors and things like that. However we must remember we are called to be salt and light and challenges should not stop us from serving especially when there are clear needs.<\/p>\n At the very least everyone should plan to attend their annual HOA meeting. Many take place in the community center. You should plan to attend so you can meet other neighbors, find out needs and consider serving. One of the best ways to get more info is to join Nextdoor.com and look at the minutes (if they are posted) from last year to get a feel for how you can serve and maybe even contact the HOA president.<\/p>\n If you live in some of the neighborhoods around the church, such as Bridlewood, Saddlebrook, Brookfield Farms, Brookfield Heights, Hawthorne, Eagles Nest,Lexington Farms, Meadowbrook, Highland Meadows, you should especially see how you can be a blessing in your neighborhood as it is so close to the church.<\/p>\n It is much easier to love your neighbors when you listen to them, get to know more than just 1 or 2, and seek to put yourself in a position to serve them. Being on the HOA board allows you an unique opportunity to do just that.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"