Skip to main content

it takes all kinds (back2school)



Take a look at the picture.  Our six back2school partners churches are represented, and if you’d spend a few minutes with us, you’d agree that it really does takes all kinds.  We are different, but we have similar vision.  We have different gifts, but we have a single mission.  We even disagree at times, but we can accomplish more together than we can than we can a part.

(left to right) Adam is the youth pastor from Danville, VA’s First Pentecostal Holiness Church.  Kirk is the pastor of Fairway Baptist Church in the Fairystone area of Bassett.  Jonathan is the new pastor at Axton’s Mt. Calvary PH Church.  I am the lead pastor of The Community Fellowship in Collinsville.  Johnny is the pastor of operations at Mercy Crossing in Martinsville.  Wait!  Missing from the picture is Carl who is the pastor of CrossPoint Church in Bassett.  This is an awesome group.  Some are Baptist.  Another is from the Church of God.  Two are Pentecostal.  This is a great, different and incredible group of people.

This coming weekend we will with great skill and huge passion serve over 2,000 students and their families.  Hundreds of volunteers have committed to being part of the  back2school team to serve students, and many on the team will have the opportunity to pray with students from preschool through high school.  This outreach will change lives.  It has the potential to impact many students.  I am sure that many of our team of volunteers will be changed forever.  All that will happen because a group of people got together to do something as the family of God to share the love of God with our community.

As I think about what we are going to experience I am overwhelmed with the goodness and the greatness of God.  Some of these people have never been a part of this event.  Some of them have several two or more years.  But all are ready to this together.  Together we really are stronger.  In our meetings to prepare for this event we have seen that it takes all kinds, and that fact makes us much stronger and gives us the ability to do much more.

He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

God put us together.  Today I was asked about how God brought us together, and it amazed me again at how God sought and connected those who are involved.  One connection happened over a political conversation.  Another connection was through a mutual friend that shared what had happened in the past.  Another connection was through one church’s experience to another church that wants to experience this outreach and touch their community.  One of the newest partners seemed to come out of nowhere, and it has been so awesome to watch it all come together.

We aren’t working together because we have to.  We are working together because God connected us together, and we are all reminded that God has a sense of humor.  We are also reminded that in God’s plan it takes all kinds.  We will impact these students from across our region with some things that will help them get ready for school, we pray help them see that God has a great plan for their future!

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

Pray with me for what will happen this Friday as we serve special needs students and their families and then on Saturday as we serve thousands of students.  This is going to be awesome, real awesome.  And I acknowledge the fact that it takes all kinds and that will give God even more glory!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns.  One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns.  When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.  Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns.  Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved.  Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?"  Beverly said, "Why yes I do."  Edith said, "Well, what do you

why is it Good Friday?

  Holy Week is the time we focus on God and His gift of salvation.  We come to Friday.  The day we remember the cross, Jesus’ death and all God has done for you and me   Why do they call this day “Good Friday” because it doesn’t seems good?   Jesus was treated as a criminal.  He was beaten so much that He could not recognize Him.  His pain would have been too much for you or me to endure.  That is especially from Scripture I’ve read or as in the movie the  Passion of the Christ .   Yet it is a good day.  It is Good Friday because God had our good in His heart.  What Jesus did that day changed our forever direction. Here are some thoughts that come to me:   He is Redemption and Redeemer   He too our Pain and Punishment   He is our Righteousness and Reality   He is the Savior and Life   All of those happened from the cross.  It was meant for the worst lawbreakers.  It was not meant for a Savior who never broke a law.  It was lifted high so that onlookers could see the price Jesus.   Look

Day 8 in Cuba

We have just come off and incredible weekend, and it is day 8 of the mission trip in Cuba.  Thank you to all who have been praying for this trip, the mission team and the impact it will have on those we serve.   Please don’t stop praying. Last week Alex and I served with a mission team in the mountains of southern Cuba.  There were several challenges, but God gave us safety, provision and opportunity to serve some of the sweetest people I have ever met.  No running water… sporadic electricity generated by a small, logo dammed up river, no transportation other than animals, limited food sources and more.  These people love the Lord and sharing their faith with others. Over the weekend we made our way back to Havana.  On Friday our vehicle broke down leaving us on the side of the road for several hours.  We then boarded a bus and rode 14 hours.  We arrived safely and even got some rest. Sunday was so, so good.  We visited two partner churches.  In the morning we were with one church that