ACROSS THE STREET, ACROSS THE STATE, ACROSS THE OCEAN

In Acts 1:8 we read a beautifully inspired and very interesting verse. The basic idea is that when you receive God’s Holy Spirit you will be witnesses for him in Jerusalem (at home), in Judea (still close to home but different) in Samaria (OK, the differences are more obvious) and the uttermost part of the world (now we are talking different). So basically, we are doing outreach and loving on people if they are across the street, across the bridge, across the state line or across the ocean blue!

We get to see that lived out here at James Island Baptist. You love your neighbors well. We give literally a ton of jelly and pancake syrup to our underserved neighbors on James Island. We also give thousands of dollars to help pay utilities, buy medicine, etc. Several of our members volunteer in service and go face to face with neighbors!

We also do across the bridge. We have one Connection Group that prepares “mercy bags” to help those who hold up cardboard signs at intersections. They have put together a strategic list of items homeless people might need. We got the list from some of our formally homeless friends!

This past Sunday we had maybe around 40 Ukrainians worshipping and praying at JIBC. When I walked up to say hello after our service they said “Hi Pastor Tom, we just finished praying for you and your church family!” Most of the Ukrainians come from across the river.

We just sent our fourth truck load of blessings to Western North Carolina. Charles and Judy Dillon and Chip were here for a few days. One of our Connection Groups put together a drive and got us going to give 21 tanks of propane; Dean Kelly gave carpet to outfit at least 10 of the mini homes; JIBC sent tea urns, baking pans, 50 Bibles, bags of children’s materials, on and on. You sent Charles and Judy with us on their first mission trip to New Orleans after Katrina. They loved it so much they have served as volunteers for the last 20 years. Now they are in Western North Carolina. That was a great investment!

Sunday, we had a commissioning service for Amanda and Lyla. They are going to Uganda, Africa. It would take me a minute to find Uganda. But they are going in Jesus’ Name and we wanted to bless them in their Great Commission Trip. Keep them in your prayers. God provided them with enough money to purchase hundreds of Bibles for the children at the orphanage.

So, we continually focus outward: across the street, across the bridges, across the state line and across the ocean blue. Reason Number 7,893 why I love our church family! Well done good and faithful servants, well done.

Pastor Tom