Caring for Others

My heart is grateful today - LFC is making a difference and caring for others the best we can. The we is not me - it is not a few people we call staff - it is Person2Person members, Life Transformation Group leaders and people just like you, who have decided to make a difference in this world. I wanted to simply write some thoughts of what I am feeling today....so here goes:
People just like you, who have signed up to help with our Harvest Party tomorrow night. Others who have decided to volunteer to clean, answer phones, share a prayer with someone (through our prayer team) or with someone in their neighborhood. People just like us willing to throw a party for High School students following the Big Game (Lompoc vs. Cabrillo) - people just like you who have many things to do and other vital places to place their time and attention and yet see LFC as a worthy investment. Thank You. One pastor in our area took his pulpit to a new level by "blasting" anyone who celebrates Halloween or has anything to do with it. Well, I am not blasting anyone, rather I am grateful for the churches in our town and county that are providing wholesome activities for children and families to attend. I may not know theology as deeply as he does - nor have the life experience that he possesses, but I do know that when LFC has a Block Party, we do it heart-first and with a desire to allow people to see the love or Christ in our serving. We don't celebrate Halloween but Harvest. And it really is Harvest, you know. Farmers are working in the fields, and God is working in hearts. In the past three weeks we have seen over 40 people say 'Yes' to Jesus for the very first time. It takes many hands and hearts to pull this type of thing off and it takes many hearts willing to give and serve and release resources to build a great church. People who are loving God out loud. They serve in the nursery, run our sound system, our computers, sweep, clean, serve our children and our youth, lead us in worship, fill communion cups and break the bread into pieces and they sit with others who have lost their way - they are caring for others. I could ramble on about them but I will simply say: thank you.
On that subject:
I had the privilege of meeting with a group of ministry professionals this morning - military chaplains and those who care for others in an ongoing manner. As we shared together it was very clear that people are in need and often times find their way into crisis. We were reminded that our world is hurting and often times people determine to hurt alone. Rarely are we given those gifts in which someone shares their pain and even the dark corner of their heart is opened to us. By nature humans are selfish and closed systems. Those in the clinical world are so vital and I never discount what they provide but they have only come around in the last 100 - 200 years. Prior to that, where did people go? They went to the church and to the pastor / parson who provided some divine guidance and directive prayer for their lives. Often times these churches were very small and it was easy for one or two people to handle the requests. With a church our size, it is impossible for one or two persons to handle the requests and also the needs have grown more complex and the issues more twisted and tangled than years ago. Yet, at the core of all the problems then and now is a need for men and woman, boys and girls to know God.
Ephesians 2:12
remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. (NIV)
Remember that! We all had or currently have a time in which we were or are without hope and without God in the world. Again, I am not against clinical professionals and believe counseling has it's place. But quite often people look for degrees and initials following someone's name rather than check to see if they know God and if their life is giving way to fruit that proves this relationship is real and current.
I pray you will find people you can help and those you can serve. Even if you have no formal training or initials following your name. You have a heart that God can fill and use to minister life and grace to others.
I pray you will find ways to care for others and even yourself. To make sure you are filled with God. Those without hope and without God need our help, so that they may find Him too.
The church at large does not get it all right - but we are making a difference and for the most part we are lead by people who care for others, who go the extra mile and who serve from the depth of their heart. I believe more and more people will be coming to LFC and churches just like her to have their needs met. I pray we can equip you to make sure they are cared for and that their needs are met - their greatest need of finding God and biblical truth to change their lives and eternities.
Needing you,
Pastor Bernie