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making a difference


Yesterday our local newspaper printed a story about our ministry working to open a homeless shelter in our community.  You can read the article at http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=40919. 

The story behind the story is this … over seven years ago a group of people came together to start a new church that meets the needs of people who were either not being served or who were under served here in our community.

The reason why we have chosen to meet needs is because we believe God loves people.  It really is that simple.  By our acts of kindness and by meeting needs we win the right to share God’s love with the people we encounter.  Life is much sweeter when we begin to live outside of ourselves practicing the art of selflessness.

Proverbs 31:8  NLT
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.

Titus 3:14  NLT
Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive.

If you are like me, you want to use your life to make a difference in this world.  We dream of doing big things when we are kids.  Things like becoming president, being a super hero, leading military victories and so much more when our minds were open to and excited about life.  Why cannot we keep dreaming and keep pushing as adults?

We can keep on dreaming and we must.  There are people around us with needs that you and I can meet on a regular basis.  It may be a simple as shoveling snow off a neighbors drive way or preparing a meal for someone who is recovering from surgery.  We make a difference when we give some of what we have to serve and meet needs that others have.

Whoever shows up most in someone’s life wins the battle for influence…Find a need and fill it; find a hurt and heal it. --- Matthew Barnett

Get some perspective on life by serving others.  Far too many people are so consumed with themselves and their situations that they are not able to see the pain of the people around them.  You’ve heard something like this before: I used to complain about my feet hurting until I met a man with no legs.  Perspective changes everything.

Matthew 5:16  NASB
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

I cannot believe that I get to do what I do.  The church I am blessed to lead is incredible, and we believe that our future is brighter than ever.  God is positioning us to be able to meet more needs than ever before.  Our back2school outreach in August will be the strongest it has ever been to serve thousands of students.  There are plans for a men’s homeless shelter in our community that we have been pushing for the last four years.  In the days ahead the church and our outreaches will move to a new campus that will allow us to have far greater impact than ever before.

What really is incredible is that every day I get the honor of inviting people to be part of this work.  By sharing our vision, the vision that God has given us, there are people, churches and organizations that share this vision with us.  I cannot wait to see what God does next.  Maybe God is calling you to be part of The Community Fellowship or to partner with us as we make a difference in the lives of the people who come our way.
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