I am so grateful for a church family that is growing to be more and more outwardly focused. It is the temptation of every believer and every church of local believers to become inwardly focused. It is a slow drift and before we know it we start asking “What about us?” or “What about me?” I think of what God has been able to do at JIBC without too much effort…because God was at work. Think of launching a Chinese church of 100 adults. Pretty cool, right? When the Chinese Church was here at JIBC they flourished because you gave freely. You opened your hearts and the church. We did not charge them a penny and we ended up being the ones blessed beyond measure. How about the Hispanic Church, Luz Y Verdad? They are averaging right around 100 including youth and children. They have grown from a small group to becoming, perhaps the strongest (not the biggest) Hispanic Church in Charleston. Their praise band just played for a gathering of churches hosted by the North American Mission Board. They have their own youth and children’s program and their praise band has made their own praise CD. They feed over 60 families every week with food from the Low Country Food Bank. You sponsor them by providing their worship, mission and educational space….at no charge. And that comes so very natural to you. How about the Transition House? Over 30 women have come through that ministry. It seems so natural to you but remember it is, according to our partners at the Charleston Center, the only one in Charleston that does what we do. I know…it comes so natural to you to take on the giants. A conservative estimate would be $250,000 worth of support you give to just those three ministries. You do it at basically at no charge and you do it so naturally. I could go on and on talking about Celebrate Recovery, the 17 who went with Susan to the Lowcountry Orphan Relief, the 2,000 pounds of jelly you give each year to James Island Outreach and the hours of volunteer labor and leadership, JIBC members who go around the globe serving Him, Connection Groups taking on the great needs of Youth in our community, The WMU building bridges of love to local schools with prayer, and on and on. To God be the Glory. You do it and it seems to come so naturally I think some might believe all churches are doing these things. I wish they were but I am afraid that is not the reality. You are a blessed people and have experienced the grace and presence of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. You experience Him on such a regular basis it seems to come naturally. The truth is it is SUPER-NATURAL. Thank you for being so generous with your blessings. You can see, in more ways that I can show, how it is making a difference. Glory to God Alone!
Pastor Tom
