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
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