Archives for April 2009

Yesterday was a Millvale day. Our newest church plant, Element Church, is beginning this Sunday and we had the opportunity to invest in this community for a whole day. For those who didn’t have work that day, we went to a personal care home in the morning. We played Bingo, made crafts, frosted cookies, laughed, talked, and prayed for people. It was some of the most fun all week.

In the afternoon we helped clean up the ‘soon-to-be’ Millvale library. We were moved by Brian’s (the library guy) vision for the place. The work was crazy (tearing down ceilings, bagging up tons of scrap wood, tearing up carpet, and painting. It was amazing. So fulfilling to invest a few hours in such a great cause.

In the evening we all met up and went door-to-door, passing out flyers for Element Church. Can’t wait for what God is going to do  through this church.

As for today:

Daily verse to memorize: II Corinthians 4:5

“For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.”

Daily Challenge: Share the Gospel

As you look at today’s challenge, are you scared to death? If so, perfect. You’re just the right kind of person for this mission. It is eternally important that we become people who share the Gospel with those who don’t believe. While serving people and meeting earthly needs are good and necessary, it will not save their souls. We need to introduce them to Jesus Christ. The best way I’ve found to do this is by seeing each and every person you encounter as genuinely interesting. Being interested in who they are, whether good or bad, will open the door to sharing the Gospel. To simply confront someone and begin preaching to them in our culture is not only intrusive but also not always effective. Ask God for an opportunity today to talk about Christ with someone at work. Maybe it’s the same person you’ve been ministering to all week. You are now a preacher of the Gospel!

What an amazing day yesterday! So many testimonies from people reaching out! I am totally loving this experience, even though I’m not sleeping very much and drinking too much coffee and Red Bull.

Verse to memorize – II Corinthians 2:14

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.”

Daily Challenge: Prayer

The challenge today is to pray for someone at work. The goal is one person but feel free to pray for as many as the Holy Spirit places on your heart. Pray for a co-worker who is struggling with a difficult relationship. Pray for someone who is sick to be made well. This is not personal, alone prayer. This is out loud and heart to heart. Be sure to ask if it is OK and then proceed. Be ready to share with your small group who and what you prayed for today. Let’s believe for God to use us today as He spreads the fragrance of the His knowledge through our lives.

Today begins our Young Adult “Missions Trip to Nowhere” – a missions trip with 30 young adults focusing on outreach in their everyday lives. Each day involves a verse of Scripture to memorize and a particular outreach challenge. I thought I would share each day what we are doing. Feel free to join with us in this experience.

Verse to memorize – II Corinthians 5:20

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

Challenge for the day:

Think through something kind that you could do for a coworker(s) today. Take someone out to lunch. Bring coffee in for your office. Bring someone a small gift. Wash someone’s car. Be creative. The goal is to financially and relationally invest in someone. If they ask what is going on, feel free to explain what you are doing this week. Be ready to share with your small group what you did today. Go forth as ambassadors of Christ!

“‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’ Now you love yourself suitably when you love God better than yourself. What, then, you aim at in yourself you must aim at in your neighbor, namely, that he may love God with a perfect affection. For you do not love him as yourself, unless you try to draw him to that good which you are yourself pursuing. For this is the one good which has room for all to pursue it along with thee. From this precept proceed the duties of human society.”

– Augustine