Skip to main content

wrapping up #back2school 2016


But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”

We have come to the end of back2school 2016, and I want to give honor to those who have made a huge difference in being part of this year’s event.  I continue to be in awe of how things came together and all that God did.

First, I remind myself and each of you that the reason for back2school is to honor God and help students and their families meet our great and might God.  Thank you, God, for opening the doors, for providing the resources, for giving the wisdom and so much more.  All glory to our God!

Second, at The Community Fellowship there are many people that made this year’s event incredible.  I cannot name all the 200 of so volunteer team members, but every one played an important part.  Thank you Adrienne Hubbard for leading.  Thank you Jeannie Hopkins for working, serving and getting it done.  Thank you Michael Allen, Bonny Burnett, Cathy Rice, Jenn Rice, Joan Norman, Helen Joyce, Brandon Perez, Cindy Adams, Gloria Haynes, Adam Touchstone, Sean Hubbard, Betsy Hodges, Cindy Cox and others for working the last month with eyes to the goal and doing all it took.

Third, it really is incredible to look at all the churches that took part in making this year incredible.  So let me just name a few that went the distance: Rich Acres Christian (Pastor Tim Hunt), Vision Assembly (Pastor Marla Moore), Fairway (Pastor Kirk and Emily Montgomery), Mercy Church in Stuart (Pastor Johnny Brown), First Presbyterian in Martinsville (Pastor Mark and Tracy Hinchcliff and Jerry DeVault), Mercy Crossing (Pastor Jackie Poe and the incredible Dawn Toole), The Remnant in Danville, Broad Street Christian (Pastor Mark Parkinson), Calvary Christian (Pastor Mike Carrow), First Baptist Martinsville (Pastor John Fulcher), Starling Ave (Pastors Brian and Ashley Harrington), McCabe Memorial, Fort Trial Baptist, and more.  Notice this list contains all kinds of churches and from all different areas.  Together we give God all the glory.

Fourth and finally, I want to thank the 1,600 students and their families that we have been able to serve this year.  There were 141 students served on special needs day.  On Saturday over 1,300 students were served.  About 200 students in some low income housing areas were serve.  But there are more who are getting backpacks or supplies or shoes and more.  I honestly believe that the numbers of served will go way beyond these numbers, yet I ask each of us to make much of the reason we do this and not of the numbers.  It really is all about God.

Thank you to all who have made this year’s back2school incredible.  There are many stories to be shared.  I am still hearing them and excited about all that is ahead!

Want to share a story with me?  Send me an email to pastormh@gmail.com

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

wash feet, sharing hope

  John 13:4-5,14 NLT  So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow.  He served.  He valued and gave value to others.  That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet.  It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives.  Jesus said we should do this.  See the verse above.  Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

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 ...