Day 18
Pastors Mario's suggestion to tighten our message came to mind immediately when we learned of the opportunity to share our vision with the ministers of the panhandle. You will recall from "Vision" the last time we were asked to share our vision it was less than sharp; more of a dull ramble. Over the past weeks we worked on honing our vision, but was it ready for prime-time? Below is our best effort to capture our vision in two minutes or less.
Please note, although a portion of this was share with the District Council, the entire vision was not. Until the moment we were called forward we were unsure if we would have the opportunity to speak. We relied heavily on the Holy Spirit to provide the words, and we were just happy not to stammer or drool in front of the large congregation.
Over the past five years, our ministry to the homeless of Tallahassee has prospered, not from our keen insights, education, or abilities. Our homeless ministry has prospered because, God, through Pastor Larry, introduced us to servant leadership.
Through servant leadership we have connected with the homeless community, we are trusted and have a voice. Meeting the needs of those experiencing homelessness is good work, important work, blessed work, it has allowed us to grow and relationships to form, but it is not enough. God expects more.
Like Ezekiel, we stand in the valley of dry bones. The homeless are the cast-offs of our society, the broken, the once was, the never was, and the might have been. As God did in the desert, He will do again. God will knit those we serve back together, He will create an army, and by their example our neighbors will know His glory, our neighbors will know our God is mighty to save.
Our church will marry relationship ministry with the opportunity for those we serve to stand in the presence of God, receive forgiveness and be transformed. It was the opportunity we were given, it is the invitation God gives to every man woman and child. We will hold church. We will worship, expect God to speak, witness lives impacted, and celebrate salvation.
We expect those we serve grasp salvation with both hands and join our ranks. Through servant-hood they will discover their purpose and their strength. For some, it will be a long walk back, but we are dedicated to seeing every willing prodigal home. God ask nothing less from us.
Thank you for this opportunity, thank you for your support, thank you for modeling what it is to be men and women of God. Most of all, thank you for accepting us into your family when we returned home.
I said, "O Sovereign LORD, you alone know."
4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.' "
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' " 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.
Through servant leadership we have connected with the homeless community, we are trusted and have a voice. Meeting the needs of those experiencing homelessness is good work, important work, blessed work, it has allowed us to grow and relationships to form, but it is not enough. God expects more.
Like Ezekiel, we stand in the valley of dry bones. The homeless are the cast-offs of our society, the broken, the once was, the never was, and the might have been. As God did in the desert, He will do again. God will knit those we serve back together, He will create an army, and by their example our neighbors will know His glory, our neighbors will know our God is mighty to save.
Our church will marry relationship ministry with the opportunity for those we serve to stand in the presence of God, receive forgiveness and be transformed. It was the opportunity we were given, it is the invitation God gives to every man woman and child. We will hold church. We will worship, expect God to speak, witness lives impacted, and celebrate salvation.
We expect those we serve grasp salvation with both hands and join our ranks. Through servant-hood they will discover their purpose and their strength. For some, it will be a long walk back, but we are dedicated to seeing every willing prodigal home. God ask nothing less from us.
Thank you for this opportunity, thank you for your support, thank you for modeling what it is to be men and women of God. Most of all, thank you for accepting us into your family when we returned home.
Ezekiel 37
The Valley of Dry Bones
1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"I said, "O Sovereign LORD, you alone know."
4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.' "
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' " 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.
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