I fell in love again last night at Community Connections

I fell in love again last night at Community Connections and I wanted to share with you the why. I met a man by the name of John about two weeks ago and he is a relatively new to the program and yet he has a great compassion to want to volunteer and serve others. Several times he mentioned to me and the registration staff that he enjoyed coming so much because of the love the volunteers showed to the people; I believe kindness was the actual word he used.

As usual I was blessed several times as I served last night; God has a sense of humour that way. He takes the way the world works and turns it upside down. Another one of those times was when Cathie one of my co-workers also pointed out the shear generosity of those who have great need. One of our clients was kind enough to offer another bus fare as he mentioned he could not stay too long because the transfer he had would run out.

At the end of the evening I had an opportunity to drive John home as he himself had no bus fare. It was great getting to know him and his life story. He himself is a walking miracle, for there was a time in his life when he was pronounced dead. John explained to me that he used to ride horses for a living and was a jockey, totally understandable as he has the perfect stature and accent for it. His story however turned from inspiring to tragic as he describe the day in which he became disabled due to a fall on the track. His ribs were broken, his lungs punctured and he was crushed by the horse he was riding. He doesn't know how but they were able to get his heart going again. Of course there is some permanent damage from this accident, but it is evidenced in the physical only as his spirit is so big.

He joked with me that on that day neither the devil nor God wanted him. It was at this point that I fell in love again. I explained to him that of course God wanted him and in fact wants everyone to come to him, know him, and have a relationship with him. I asked him if he knew that God was delaying his return so that none should die without this relationship. He didn't give me a reply to that question, but he did say that he would consider coming to one of the services on Saturday or Sunday.

 

I fell in love again at the beauty of an individual experiencing that love of Christ which begins in the tiniest of places and in the smallest of things. I sensed in this man a great yearning in his heart and spirit as we spoke together on the five minute trip to his home. I was amazed at the quick and deep connection that we were able to make. I know that the Holy Spirit was at work and it was a wonder to be a part of that. I have been serving with Community Connections for almost five years now and have seen the ministry experience great change. I write this letter now to APC and the church members in order to tell them that the harvest is great but the reapers are few.

Although we have more volunteers than ever, what we truly need are people to do what I did with John. We have to connect with these people one on one, get to know them, understand them and listen to their life stories. We need to let them know who God is, what he is like and how they too can have a relationship with him that will change them forever. Currently we have enough people to serve their physical needs, but we could use more people to talk them, get to know them and share not only the gospel, but Christ’s love for them. I know that 2015 is the year of invitation, but I challenge you today to prepare yourself for the ministry of 2015 by participating and interacting with people now. The love we feel with Christ is the love we need to share with others and I invite you to help the Community Connection Ministry to do just that; connect.

For the Record

Once again I hear those dreaded words echoing in my head, “Oh Ed, you are such a good man.” I know it sounds like I am complaining again or just trying to be difficult, but no matter how many times I hear those words I cringe. The big question is why?

The answer is simple, I AM NOT! Did you hear me I said I AM NOT!

The ministry I am involved with allows me to serve the community which is great. Community Connections has the privilege to be able to assist those in need and partner with the food bank to engage people who need a helping hand. Like most people in ministry I felt as if I was called to help, not by any person but the spirit that dwells within. While I am actually serving by lifting or packing or serving the food you have to understand that it is not for me, nor is it for the clients I see week to week. I do it for the Lord. Don’t get me wrong I still love the people; but I don’t do it for them, if I did I probably would have stopped long ago. You see we are all imperfect and flawed living in a broken world. To view myself as a “Good Man” or accept a compliment of such origin is to lift myself up beyond my rightful status.

Mark 10:18

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

I am; and will remain until the day I die or see my Saviour, a sinner. I am just one of many who needs to be saved and continues to be saved on a daily bases. It’s not that I think people should not be grateful, or express their gratitude, it just that I don’t want it to be missed placed. God is to be praise for without him I would remain the same unloving, self-centered person I was, caring only for my fleshly wants and apparent needs. Only because of him have I changed and now serve in gratitude for the greatest gift of all, life. And actually when I think about it I haven’t really changed that much, it is more of my perspective that has changed, and a deepening knowledge of my need to be saved.

Galatians 5:13

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

So please if you see me serving or doing something you would classify as “Good” give Christ the praise and Glory, for I am still a sinner and the same as everyone else. To those close to me I wish to say thank you for sharing the burden of ministry, the joy I feel as we work as a team is difficult to express. But you are like family to me and I love you all. Let us not forget that it is Christ in us that needs to do this work and that we are called to be his hands and feet.  I am glad that I could set the record straight.

A posting by the daily bread on Feb 21,2013 also backs up this point.

Jars of Clay

February 21, 2013 — by Joe Stowell

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Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn

Read: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15

We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. —2 Corinthians 4:7

Bible in a Year:
Numbers 1-3; Mark 3

When you buy a nice piece of jewelry, it is often tucked into a setting of black- or dark-colored velvet. I think it’s designed that way so that your attention is immediately drawn to the beauty of the jewelry. If the packaging were highly decorated, it would compete with the beauty of the treasure.
It reminds me of Paul’s comments about the ministry of Jesus through us, when he said, “We have this treasure in jars of clay” (2 Cor. 4:7 niv). It’s easy to forget that we are the packaging and His work is the treasure. So we adorn our jars of clay, taking credit for the things we do to serve Christ. We seek to bring glory to ourselves when we’ve forgiven someone, or shown mercy, or given generously. The problem is, when we start seeking affirmation and praise for good deeds, we compete with the brilliance of the treasure of God working through us.
When we do things for Christ, it’s not about us but about His glory. The less obvious we are, the more brilliant He becomes. Which is why, Paul says, the treasure has been put in jars of clay so that God would be the one to be glorified. Besides, since when are jars of clay significant? It’s what’s inside that counts!

Help us not to cloud God’s glory
Nor with self His light to dim;
May each thought to Christ be captive,
Emptied to be filled with Him. —Anon.

Let the brilliance of the treasure of Christ shine through you as you live for Him.

Interview with Agincourt Pentecostal Church (APC)

This is an interview I participated in to bring new awareness of the Community Connections Ministry to Agincourt Pentecostal Church. The Ministry is a partnership between the Church and the Food Bank which delivers to the community hot food and groceries and also support to the Baymills and Chester Le Communities.

How is your heart for ministry?

Last night after serving at Community Connections I had a discussion with my wife on the exciting changes which are happening. More people are volunteering, the volunteers and community are bonding and I think a lot of the reason for this is the heart of the people serving. Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill Church timely posted one of his Resurgence Leadership videos that talks all about this issue and if you are considering ministry I urge you to watch it.

Performance and results matter, but so does the heart. In this session, Pastor Mark shares the importance of leaders asking the heart questions to their people.

Questions

Do you really love the people you're led by, you lead, and you serve?

Are you really on board with your church, ministry, or business?

Who do you need to have a face-to-face conversation with about their heart? About your heart?

What is Community Connections?

Community Connections put simply is a ministry that has partnered with the Food Bank to distribute food to the community. Of course it is much more than just feeding people, it allows us to care for their needs and engage them on a personal level.

To the volunteers, CC is a place where we can use our gifts of the spirit to help others; it is a tangible way to show our love of Christ and share it with the community. Our vision is to have so many volunteers that we can talk one on one with everyone we serve and share our testimonies with them. We want the love of Christ to be translated through us into every action.

The bottom line is this, we want to make a positive impact on our community and let them know that we are not just a social club or a privileged group of people. We are just like them, broken, hungry, and lost and in need of a Saviour.

One of my favorite sayings that describes this state; I can’t remember who coined it first,  “I am just one hungry person, telling another hungry person, where I have found bread.”

John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

A Call to Converge for Volunteers