Fall...okay...not quite Fall..but September is HERE with the distant promise of cooler weather - which also means that most kids are back in school, regular schedules are back in place, college students are back in town and people are settling in to their church again!
If history is any indication of what we can expect - then we can expect ALOT more people coming to Hope. There are so many new families looking to get their families grounded in God, college students far from home needing a "church-home", people just looking to see if God really is real and THE ONE they can trust in - for the first time or again. So, we must be ready for them all - for the ONE that God brings across our paths. I hear from so many people that share their first experience in coming to Hope was so warm, welcoming, friendly and easy! Now that's what I call the ultimate "easy button"!!
I remember after attending Hope a couple months, I began serving as a 4th & 5th Grade Small Group Leader. My thought was that I was "babysitting kids" since I had zero background in church - growing up a Buddhist. Then one day, someone asked me "What is your ministry, Mary Ann?". I was confused. I didn't go to preacher school - as I loving referred to seminary since I did not know the word "seminary". I can't be a minister or have a ministry.
Boy was I wrong!!
Serving God in a way that reaches out to another human being for the purpose of HIS ultimate plan - Love HIM - Love OTHERS - so that as many people as possible come to really KNOW HIM because of what YOU did in their lives....to me - that's ministry!
Not working out the schedules, showing up for "my commitment time", checking off some list of "to do's" - while they are all part of getting things done - MINISTRY is being available - TOTALLY - CRAZY - SACRIFICIALLY - for HIM!
When He calls - I want to be ready to GO.
First Impressions is indeed a Ministry - Loving and accepting anyone that God brings through our doors, across our paths, to our counters, by our seats, on the shuttle, in the parking lot, eating together and sitting on benches.
Don't miss out on the blessings!
