Last Sunday was such a joy for me! I love seeing people serving joyfully! When we say at CAC that we desire to be a church that seeks to Serve Your World, it’s not just a fancy catch phrase to make us appear as a caring people. We hold three values highly — To Love Jesus as our wonderful Lord and Savior — To Grow Together as we seek to become more like Jesus — And to Serve Your World in the manner that Jesus served His world. A fully devoted follower of Jesus recognizes these principles taught in the Bible, and understands the importance of each one in developing us into the person that God desires for us to be.
Most Sundays we have the Love and Grow portion tattooed over everything we do. We are all about Loving Jesus in our worship services… we are in Grow Together mode as we hear and apply God’s Word through the outlets of preaching, Sunday School, Children’s Church and Small Groups. And while some folks do serve on an average Sunday in a specific ministry, and I am so grateful for them, those ministries are really for the benefit of… well… us as a church.
Last Sunday was different. We took the focus off what we normally do and instead said, “Let’s make sure our community knows that God loves them… as we love them in His name.” I hope this isn’t sinful… but last Sunday I was so proud to be one of the pastors of this church! I spent the first part of the day driving from site to site, snapping pictures and encouraging our folks, and as I saw our people loving and serving so well… in those matching blue T shirts… I thought over and over… these are MY people! These are the folks that I want to do life with!
So, if you were part of Serve Your World Day… Thank you. Thank you for demonstrating so clearly to those in our community the love of Christ. As you pulled weeds, picked up trash, spread mulch, served a meal, assembled a gift basket, engaged in conversation and prayed for people rest assured that God was honored… and pleased. A big shout-out to those of you who came and served as families! Parents, what a great example you set for your children at Serve Your World Day! May your children grow up learning the joy of serving the King!
I also want to thank you personally. When you support something like Serve Your World Day it communicates that you believe in Bart, Austin and myself as your pastors, because you demonstrate a desire to follow our leadership. Listen, leadership in ANY fashion is hard, and the church is no different — thank you for believing in us and the vision that we believe God has for us as a church. Serve Your World Day is not simply an event like Lunch Bunch or a Church Chili Cookoff — it is something that we believe is deeply significant and vital for our Church Family.
So, if I can borrow from the Apostle Paul I would say to you, “I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you.” 1 Corinthians 1:4 Thank you for serving! Thank you for using your gifts! Thank you for BEING the Church!
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