Thursday, July 31, 2014
Why I love my church...
I love Southern Hills church of Christ. We had Vacation Bible School last week -- Joshua: Bringing Down the House. I have spent some time over the past couple of days thanking God for the things I saw that make me love this church. And that remind me as an elder that things are going really well.
We had as many adults as kids at VBS. As best I can tell, we had about 400 kids, 300 adults or so in class, and close to 200 adults involved in putting it on.
The VBS leadership was fantastic. Full-time staff members going above and beyond to pull this off. Volunteer leaders who put in hours and hours for months and months to make this happen. And work has already started on next year's: Daniel, the Mane Man. So thankful for the leadership team that met, prayed, worked, and gave God the glory. Volunteers who get it.
The musical was fantastic. God was honored and the gospel message taught. So many people using gifts and talents to pull this off. Lead performers, cast members, crew members. And everyone I talked to -- everyone -- gave glory to God.
Love those who taught, did crafts, led our kids around. It is challenging, exhausting, and time consuming. But that is where the real growth happens. In those classes. Sharing Bible stories. So many praying daily for the kids.
Love the support and Admin people. Those who fed the VBS staff, those who registered kids, those who made it a safe place to be. Smiling faces, first impressions, putting our best foot forward. All in the name of Jesus.
Loved the age span of the workers. High school thru workers in their 80's. Doing ministry together.
Loved seeing new Christians involved. Living out their faith. Sharing Jesus.
Loved how many families were all involved in one way or another. Parents, kids, even grandparents. Teaching, performing, serving, attending.
Love our elders. Some taught. Some were in the musical. Some worked in the support groups. Some just came to greet and love on people. Glad our elders didn't even blink when told the musical and lessons were going to be about Rahab.
Loved seeing the pure joy of Jesus every night.
Loved that this joy and excitement was coupled with prayer and pain for members coping with horrible health concerns. That's life in Christ.
Thrilled at the Facebook phenomenon going around now. Our members sending messages thanking each other for what the did. Community. Doing life together.
So happy that everyone was praying, inviting, and talking with the purpose of using this to bring people to Jesus.
And mostly happy that this is not something new for Southern Hills. This was a glimpse of our real heart. For as long as I have known this church, this is who we have been. Praising God, loving kids, teaching Bible, not caring what anyone else thinks, doing ministry together, praying, reaching the lost. And giving God the credit for all of it.
And I am not going to mention one name in this post. Because not a one of these people care about credit or glory. Love them.
So...
Go God.
We had as many adults as kids at VBS. As best I can tell, we had about 400 kids, 300 adults or so in class, and close to 200 adults involved in putting it on.
The VBS leadership was fantastic. Full-time staff members going above and beyond to pull this off. Volunteer leaders who put in hours and hours for months and months to make this happen. And work has already started on next year's: Daniel, the Mane Man. So thankful for the leadership team that met, prayed, worked, and gave God the glory. Volunteers who get it.
The musical was fantastic. God was honored and the gospel message taught. So many people using gifts and talents to pull this off. Lead performers, cast members, crew members. And everyone I talked to -- everyone -- gave glory to God.
Love those who taught, did crafts, led our kids around. It is challenging, exhausting, and time consuming. But that is where the real growth happens. In those classes. Sharing Bible stories. So many praying daily for the kids.
Love the support and Admin people. Those who fed the VBS staff, those who registered kids, those who made it a safe place to be. Smiling faces, first impressions, putting our best foot forward. All in the name of Jesus.
Loved the age span of the workers. High school thru workers in their 80's. Doing ministry together.
Loved seeing new Christians involved. Living out their faith. Sharing Jesus.
Loved how many families were all involved in one way or another. Parents, kids, even grandparents. Teaching, performing, serving, attending.
Love our elders. Some taught. Some were in the musical. Some worked in the support groups. Some just came to greet and love on people. Glad our elders didn't even blink when told the musical and lessons were going to be about Rahab.
Loved seeing the pure joy of Jesus every night.
Loved that this joy and excitement was coupled with prayer and pain for members coping with horrible health concerns. That's life in Christ.
Thrilled at the Facebook phenomenon going around now. Our members sending messages thanking each other for what the did. Community. Doing life together.
So happy that everyone was praying, inviting, and talking with the purpose of using this to bring people to Jesus.
And mostly happy that this is not something new for Southern Hills. This was a glimpse of our real heart. For as long as I have known this church, this is who we have been. Praising God, loving kids, teaching Bible, not caring what anyone else thinks, doing ministry together, praying, reaching the lost. And giving God the credit for all of it.
And I am not going to mention one name in this post. Because not a one of these people care about credit or glory. Love them.
So...
Go God.
