Over the past four years in youth ministry I have discovered a passion for serving. I have seen how actually doing Jesus transforms lives, not just talking Jesus. In fact, it was my first mission trip to Philadelphia, PA with 16 students that sealed my faith and my heart in ministry. Four years later I've relived that mission experience three more times and have led/participated in countless other service experiences that have touched my heart, changed my world view, and allowed Jesus to clearly move and show himself in the world I live in. And now, He has blessed me with a job where these types of things are in the job description!
Really, when you think about it, it all makes sense and is pretty easy to understand. In the bible we are told that Jesus is the model for us. We were created in His image and we all have the ability to be Christ like. When we are Christ like in action and word we tap into Him and that is heaven! So when we are caring for others, serving those less fortunate, and fighting for injustice in a peaceful manner we are becoming Christ like and tapping into heaven. For brief moments of time, the kingdom is coming near and not only can you feel that, so can the others around you. You are opening the proverbial flood gates that we as sinful humans have built up and allowing the kingdom to flow through the way it should. In the end, it is nothing short of a miracle and the feelings, relationships, and experiences that come out of that kingdom presence can only be described as a miracle.
This past weekend Solid Rock (our youth ministry) had our monthly MD (Mission Day). The idea was to go on a scavenger hunt around town with a list of things like canned goods, toothbrushes, toothpaste, socks, soap, etc. and see which team could collect the most for the Christian Sharing Center. Each item had a point value and each team had $25 that they could spend. They could also collect money donations that would go to the Sharing Center. When we first gathered moral was low. The students didn't seem to be all that excited about a scavenger hunt and they hate asking for food or money! The adults had a similar view, but they were more concerned about time and where they were going to go. But like always, everyone rallied and off they went to their separate cars, speeding out of the parking lot because whoever got to the "hour long light" leaving the church would have such an advantage! I was home base and backup so I began to prepare things for the rest of our evening and get some work done. Two hours flew by and the next thing I knew the herd of students came rushing up the stairs to make sure they were all on time, hands filled with bags, that were filled with all kinds of donated items! Just two hours ago, there was 9 students slowly walking down the stairs, tired and unexcited along with 6 adults and all of a sudden those 9 students and 6 adults were smiling, laughing, and full of joy! Then we began counting. I was amazed at how much these students had gotten donated from just knocking on doors and asking for things. 484 items!!! 9 students, 2 hours! And then the biggest shock of them all...they begin pulling out wads of cash! People had given these students money to donate as well! $95 in total!!! Honestly, when making the scavenger hunt I just put the cash on their as a last minute "what the hell" type thing. I really didn't expect the students to get money donated, but they did, and a lot!! In the end every student told me how much fun they had and the adults the same. I heard stories of the relationships built in the 2 hours stuffed in a car and all the joy that they brought, even to people's homes that they went and stopped at! The only way I can explain this 180 is a miracle, a miracle of God, moving through these students as the Holy Spirit as they became like Christ and the kingdom drew closer, the sin pushed away and God reached out and touched everyone involved!
It is these experiences that confirm my faith that God does exist and that it is possible for us to reach the kingdom. I had said on a mission trip in 2009, if everyone could experience what we had just experienced then maybe we would be that much closer to heaven, because what we had experienced that week was heaven. It is my prayer that everyone is able to let go of their own needs at some point and lift up those who are truly in need, serve like Jesus, break down the sin even just for a moment, and let the kingdom come near. All it takes is one time for this miracle to happen, then you become addicted and there is no turning back...and it is awesome!
May the kingdom be brought close to you, whether through the serve you are doing or the service others are doing for you so that you might find the comfort and joy that the kingdom brings!
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