Ephesians 3:20 NLT
Now all glory
to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work
within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Let you see what I am so excited about. The anticipation is overwhelming to say the
least. I believe that what will have
will be better than I can imagine and more will be accomplished than anyone has
planned for, that is anyone other than God.
This will be the sixth year of our back2school outreach, and it has been on my mind for a long
time. I love what we do as a church
serving those who have needs and accepting those who have a hard time being
accepting, but this one event takes more out of me and puts more energy back in
me more than anything else we do.
The first year we served over 150 kids. I remember my assistant, Susi, telling me
that we served a bunch of kids, but there were a few more that needs help. We prayed, told the church the need and
within minutes the need was met. All
those children were served in sweet ways.
Those were the early years of our church, and I cherish the pictures
from that event.
It didn’t take long for the event to grow especially as my
mentor and friend, Ron Pegram, as us to consider adding giving away shoes and
washing student’s feet to the mix. The
outcome has been incredible. There are
several sweet moments that rush to my mind at this point. One is of a teenage girl and her youth leader
serving a young girl and praying for her.
Another memory is of young Nick coming in quiet and withdrawn and
leaving with his head held high and excited.
Another memory I can’t get away from is of a 40-year-old man washing the
feet of a young boy, and as I looked back the man had tears flowing down his
face. This is a life changing event.
The anticipation is thick.
I am expecting God to show up and do some awesome things that no one
else can do. I believe that many of our
volunteers will never be the same and will pray with students like they never
have before. The three churches who will
be part of the event for the first time will have the DNA of their church
forever altered because of the great things God will do. Students will hear the truth, and they will
never be the same.
Who gets the credit?
God does. Who has provided all we
need and will provide in the days ahead?
God will. Who will make sure that
must happen does and who needs to be there will be there? God will.
And it will be awesome. I cannot
wait. Literally the anticipation is
huge.
Eight days from now over 2,000 students across our region and
their families will be offered love by more than 1,000 at six locations who are
prepared and prayed up because we all believe that God is going to show up and
do more than we have ever imagined. I
cannot wait!
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
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.
Pray for these:
Pray for the back2school outreach, the
six and for the 2,000 students we will serve on Saturday, August 3rd. Of those students there are more than 40
students who have special needs and will be served on Friday, August 2nd. Pray for them to find hope in Jesus.
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