This verse has helped big time. Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
In other words, Jesus goes before us to get things ready for us to do.
I thought about how he has been bringing some things together:
It wasn't known at the time when RHCC adopted Mullendore Elementary, but that just happened to be where Jesus brought Billy Pope, RHCC member, to be prinicipal.
Kathy Handler, Birdville Independed School District, presented the "Backpacks For Kids" program into the BISD by partnering with RHCC. This will be the first BISD school to provide these nutritional meals to kids in our area. Of all the schools in BISD where it might have been introduced, Kathy identified Haltom Middle School, where God just happened to place Tad Conner, RHCC member, as vice principal.Not long after I was asked to join the staff at RHCC, conversations and prayers began about the church ministering in apartments. Before long, Al Dumois, a local apartment owner, called me to see if RHCC would help his management company and a young Christian couple plant seeds of kingdom life in the Hurst Gardens Apartments. It just so happens, that God brought this Christian couple to Hurst Gardens over a year ago as residents. They've been loving their neighbors in the way of Jesus for some time. Now we get to join them.
Recently, the door has been opened by the CEO of Samaritan House for RHCC to serve there in significant ways. Samaritan House is a residential facility addressing HIV/AIDS, homelessness, substance abuse, and crime. And it just so happens that Anna, an RHCC member, has been quietly and effectively serving there for several years. And Greg, another RHCC member, is a resident and employee. I'm working with him to involve Christian business owners, "Menders for the Master," RHCC teens, and others in serving in the inner city with Samaritan House.
Jesus is at work. RHCC just needs to notice where and follow him there.
2 comments:
Rusty,
Your blog is an inspiration. Upon finding you last post, one earlier, I called my partner, David Shelburne, and read it to him on the phone. (He is a little less computer savvy than me -believe it or not!) And I sent him a link.
You should know that David and I promote "Neighborhood Ministry" at Vandelia in Lubbock, where we church. David and I are both of a strong ecumenical persuasion and sensitive to the poverty culture. However, David is way more polished than me. I am way more edgy and dark.
You post on apartment ministry is exactly up his alley. I mean exactly. It is just the kind of thing he dreams of and promotes all over the Vandelia Village area.
So, you blog and that post especially, are deeply meaningful to us.
I saw where you visited my Neighborhood blog. I only just realized that the comment page was limited to "team members" -an error I have since corrected. Sorry about that.
I also linked your blog on my blogs.
Your work excites us here in Lubbock. We are enthused and hope to learn from your example. Keep up the good work.
Many blessings...
I'd love to find out more of what you're doing at Vandelia.
Glad to hear you have a kingdom perspective on things, rather than getting wrapped up in the various flavors of Christianity. We all have so much to learn!
And sensitivity to the poor is a wonderful classroom in which to learn about following Jesus.
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