Area Communities Spread Love and Care in Shawnee

These past few months have been an absolute blast as Westside’s first Area Communities burst onto the scene, igniting a fire of love and connection in their neighborhoods. It’s inspiring to witness these communities embracing the vision to build genuine relationships and pour love into their communities!  

Earlier this summer, with the help of the City of Shawnee, our Riverview and Prairie Ridge Area Communities identified and began serving widows in their communities through the service of lawn care. While they care for people in their communities through service, they are building relationships and spreading the transformative love of Jesus.

Westsider Steve Weatherman mows a neighbor’s lawn in Shawnee.

In Riverview, a 67-year-old widow, the woman was grateful for the support–especially after the hot, humid weather arrived! Five families quickly raised their hands to help with regular mowing. They created a schedule to cover the remainder of summer, ensuring her lawn remained beautifully maintained. 

 “Our community has developed a good rapport with her, and it’s been an honor to witness these families circling this widow with love through service this summer,” said Steve Eggers, Riverview Area Community Shepherd.

In Prairie Ridge, the city of Shawnee was hopeful Westside also could help connect someone with mobility challenges widow whose late husband was a Korean War veteran. Without hesitation, the Prairie Ridge Area Shepherds Dave and Shannon Myres sprang into action and contacted the neighborhood captains (Steve and Renee Weatherman) for Woodsonia, where the woman lives. In a beautiful display of unity and care, several families quickly joined forces offering their time and energy to create a mowing schedule, and another family donated a mower that could be stored at the woman’s home. 

“It has been so exciting to see the members of the Prairie Ridge Area Community stepping forward to put their faith into action,” said Myres.

Westside, this is what it looks like when we wrap God’s family around our community!

You don’t need to be part of an area community to serve where you are planted when you see a need. Still, if you are excited to become part of the Area Community movement, visit westsidefamily.church/area-communities to learn more!