Michael Harrison's e-devotion

So many thoughts moving through my mind and heart as we get even closer this year’s back2school outreach.  Lots to happen, but there are lots of opportunities to serve. There are many things I hold near to my heart. One of those is the calling from God to serve others and to lead others to serve.  It is the back2school outreach, in it’s 17th year, that exemplifies the magnitude of making a difference.   There are things that need to happen, and I want to remind you to full the gaps where you can.  The pack the bus event Friday, Saturday and Sunday is crucial to the success of this outreach.  Volunteers needed.  School supplies needed.  Pray and serve, please!   Isaiah 32:8 NLT 'But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity.'    B eing generous is a non negotiable.  Be generous in serving others.  Be generous with your time, your money and with your heart.   How will...

Why back2school?  Well, thank you for asking.  That is one of the first questions I asked myself about 20 years ago when missionary to the mountain areas of Appalachia Bill Barker spoke to our church.   I was almost mesmerized by his testimony of how some so simple and so easy made such a huge difference in the lives of kids living in places of poverty.  It was one year or so later that our church, The Community Fellowship, began.  That first summer, right before a new school year began, we served students helping them prepare for a school.   It was flat our incredible  The first year we served about 75 students.  The next year we served 500 students.  The next year we went to 1,000 students.  It started with just school supplies.  Then we added backpacks.  Later we added new shoes and socks.     And the rest is history, as the old saying goes.  Since that humble beginning in 2007 we have served for 17 years and ...

One of the most important things we can be is an influence.  Every one of us has influence over others.  But is that influence a good or bad thing? Think about it.  What mark do you want to leave on the lives of the people around you?  Some people are so self centered that all they think about themselves.  Others are always things about leaving a positive mark on the lives of the people they know and even the ones that they are around only a short time. Take a few minutes and read the following verses.  You either win or lose.  You either leave a positive or negative mark on others.  You either make people better or leave them worse than you found them. Read on.  These verses are eye opening. 2 Peter 1:5-9  NLT   In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self...

Hey Community Family and Friends Here is another item you can help with as we prepare for back2school.   It is an honor to give out clothing, but we are in need to help in the clothes closet and of specific items of clothes.   CLOTHING CLOSET work days ... Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 until 11am CLOTHING NEEDED ... Boys sizes 4-10 and Girls sizes 4-8.  Pants and shirts for both.   Thanks for your help.  It takes all of us to  demonstrate the love of God to our community  through this outreach and others. With GOD as my guide, Pastor Michael Harrison - James 1:5

Hey Community family and friends Your help is needed.  It is time for back2school 2023, and we are having a block party this Sunday from 4 till 7 at the church in Collinsville.  Below is a link that you can use to sign up to help.  Would you help as we need to know how many volunteers we will have? Sign Up Link:  https://forms.gle/kyfo5J3sWLtyVafe8 Also there is much going on as we continue to get ready to serve.  Here are the ways you can be part of making back2school a success: MONDAY, JULY 17. TODAY ... back2school night at Mustangs baseball game. Arrive at Hooker field at 6pm JULY 21-23. Pack the Bus at Walmart. Let us know when you would like to help.  Let us know when you would like to help! SUNDAY, JULY 23. Block Party at The Community Fellowship. 4-7pm. Lots of help needed.  Sign up to serve. TUESDAY, JULY 25. Registration. Volunteers arrive at 5:30pm TUESDAY, AUGUST 1. packing backpacks at our new campus. Begins at 6pm. FRIDAY, AUGUST 4. Special Needs day at The Community Fell...

  We finished our series on the 7 churches of Revelation yesterday at The Community Fellowship.  This has been a good series and eye opening for me. There were a few verses in the letter to the church at Laodicea that I want to draw your attention to.  Check these out and lets see what God has to say to each of us. Revelation 3:20  NLT   Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. That is great verse to know that God is pursuing us.  We use it to help people know that salvation comes only from Jesus.  But this letter to Laodicea was written to believers.   This church had pushed Jesus away, and He invites the people and the church to come back to Him.  The last part speaks of the evening meal where they not only shared food but spent time talking and building their relationship. God wants to spend time with us.  That is an invitation and is imp...

Connect kids the truth of the Gospel. That is one of the reasons why back2school is part of our church and why we help others invest in this important ministry.   It is all about the Gospel and winning the right to tell people about Jesus.  But we first have to serve others, share things with people and win the right to be heard.  When we serve children and meet their needs, we get the opportunity to serve families, and the people around these precious children. Matthew 19:14  NLT   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.” It was 17 years ago that we began the ministry we know as back2school.  I had heard of a wonderful work happening in very economically depressed areas of the Appalachian mountains.  There was a moment where I said “we can do that”.   The idea grew.  Things were added to it.  Others joined in.  Now over 36,000 students ha...