This past weekend was awesome! We took a team of 9 people from Bridges of Hope Fellowship to The Summit Church in Knoxville, Tennessee for a mission trip. www.thesummitlive.tv
The Summit is a new church plant that is one year old. They have leased a store building and needed help to pour new life into an old structure. They called it "Extreme Makeover: Church Edition." There were 100 volunteers who descended upon the building to serve the church through all types of construction. It was covered by two different television crews out of Knoxville, WBIR and WVLT. WBIR interviewed me about our involvement in the project and I was happy to obligue.
For our team, this was a first for about 4 of our people. We had the privilege of sowing into the ministry and community of others. I had never pulled wire before, but I have now. My crew (Natalie, Dwight, Cathy & Steven Clayton) pulled metal clad wiring throughout the walls for the entire children's ministry builidng. My knees are certainly feeling it after being on the hard concrete floors for two days. Next time I'll know to take some knee pads. Oh well, you live and learn!
The trip was great for our people. We had great fellowship down there and back. We had church as well as laughed so hard that we literally cried. I can't wait for the next trip.
So, in my opinion, missional is where you actually engage the community in missions hands-on and get outside of the four walls of the church. Whereas, mission-minded is where you talk about missions and give to missions, but never put it into action. I am working hard to model for the people at Bridges of Hope the servant leader model of a pastor. I want to serve along side of our people, not dictate to them how to serve.
Thanks guys for making it a great weekend of service to God and The Summit! I think everyone should go on a mission trip. Your life will never be the same!
Our pastor, David Clark and the elders of the church (Boones Creek Christian) have started a "hands and feet of Christ" thing. Where every few months huge sign up posters are place around the sanctuary for people to sign up to do work in the community in the name of Jesus. IE painting the county school behind our building, feeding the people a Ronald Mcdonald House, serving as maintenance for Interfaith Hospitality Network, Working with Coalition for kids as tutors, and after school care providers, cleaning/moving out furniture in a local low income housing unit after a major infestation of bedbugs, building Habitat houses, driving the residents of aformentioned housing complex to the Wal-Mart once a week, taking cancer patients to their treaments... There are soooo many. It has really brought our church into the community in the name of Jesus and has unified us in our prupose-- to be His hands and feet". It is such an amazing experience, I always want to sign up for everything, but with 2 little ones it is not possible. I am a pretty good cook, so I stick with the cooking ones + I can cook with the girls around. We usually have over 300 people who sign up to help on at least one project. There is always a sign for prayer partners for those unable to help too.
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