First, the Transition House-180 Ministry. By the time you read this article, we will have our first resident living in the Transition House at JIBC. Our volunteer Director, Marsha Cline spent her first night there this past Sunday night. She will begin making it her home and will be the live in ‘house mom.” We have an interview for our second resident this week and could place the third any time we are ready. I think we might start with two and get our feet wet, so to speak. Thank you to all who prayed, worked, donated time, labor, and finances. Here it is, up and running with a waiting list to get in. Praise the Lord.
Second, Celebrate Recovery. I knew this ministry could be strong in time, but I had no idea it could do so well so quickly. We have a great team leading this ministry, and in almost every way, it is a text-book example of how Celebrate Recovery should be run. Last Sunday we had 40 adults. It is a little like nailing jello to the wall, but with enough creativity, you can nail jello! With God all things are possible.
Third, 40 Days in the Word of God. We have done several 40 Day church wide spiritual campaigns before. All of them were worthwhile, and all of them proved to be productive. So I wondered how this one would go. Wow. We have had great response. David Johnson is new to our staff leading Worship and Connection Groups. In the middle of getting settled into his new home and city, we give him one of the largest, most difficult ministries to tackle. He has done a good job. Don’t hold up the standard of perfection, except to Jesus. The rest of us are due grace and prayers as we lead and equip the saints to do the work of Christ.
I am very excited when I see what is happening. There are far more than these three ministries. Weekly, our church family joins together to help disciple children, youth, and adults through Bible Study, Awana, Youth Worship, Children’s worship, etc, etc. We are not just spinning our wheels maintaining the status quo of committees we have always had, doing what we have always done, and getting the same results we have always gotten. We are making headway, taking the Light of the World into dark places, and seeing individuals and families rescued, neighborhoods getting better as lives are changed, and believers engage in serving. You are the salt that makes a difference. You are the light shining in your neighborhood.
Pastor Tom
