moving quickly

I am thankful I am part of a church that knows how to make decisions quickly and move forward especially in matters where lives are at stake. In roughly 24 hours we were able to make a decision about what our first response will be to the tragedy in Haiti. We believe this is the best way for our community to help in a tangible way.

New Community will be putting together hygiene kits for the people of Haiti. We are partnering with the United Methodist Committee on Relief to accomplish this. (Just a side note we are not a Methodist community and I love the fact that denominational lines do not stop the move of God.) UMCOR will be handling all the logistics of putting the kits in Haiti which makes doing this project so much easier.

So here is the deal, Sunday there will be Zip-loc style bags placed in the auditorium on each seat. The bag will contain a note that basically says “each kit costs $12.” You can give as little or as much as you like to help purchase the supplies for a hygiene kit. Literally we are asking people to put the money in the bag and at the conclusion of our gathering someone will collect the bags from you as you leave.

All money placed in the bag will be used for the hygiene kits. Volunteers will go out next week and purchase all the supplies. I know you may ask, “can I just bring in some ____________ (insert hygiene item)?” We specifically did not want to ask people to bring in hygiene items, because inevitably we will not have enough of certain items to make complete kits. By asking you to fund the kits a few volunteers will be able to buy enough of the items to ensure we have complete kits. In addition, we have already begin to get retailers in the local area to partner with us in discounting the product…which is awesome.

Once all the items are purchased those who are interested in helping put the kits together will have an opportunity. More information will follow about that soon.

I am praying for a pouring out of generosity. I cannot imagine what our Haitian brothers and sisters are facing. Losing all they have, facing the death of loved ones, and realizing it will be years before they recover. There is so much they need and a hygiene kit will not even begin to scratch the surface. However, I love what Karen Slappey said to me earlier today. “If we do nothing else but provide a band aid to a mother who is desperately trying to comfort her child…then so be it.” I know when Madi has a ‘boo boo’ a band-aid seems to make it all better.  So by providing a band-aid we can comfort both child and mother.

I pray you and your family will find 12 bucks each so that we together can be the hands and feet of Christ serving a hurting people…with something simple like a hygiene kit.

We ask too little

What do you say when you prayed for 7 people to be immersed into Christ on a Sunday you are challenging people to clothe themselves with Christ (Galatians 3:27) and God calls 24 to accept that call and put on the savior? You stand amazed! You realize you have too little faith. This was me today because I prayed that God would call 7 people to answer the call to be baptized into Christ and he had such bigger plans. This morning blew me away. It was by the far the greatest day in my short ministry of just around 10 years. At the end of the service we all gathered in a huge circle around the room and prayed and people cheered (not seeker sensitive, I know). I stood by Marianne and held her hand as I led the prayer because I could not have imagined not sharing that moment with God’s ordained partner for my life.

Today’s awesomeness had nothing to do with me or my efforts. Actually I felt like todays gathering prior to the end was average and mediocre. I felt the worship was good but not great and I sensed my message was missing the mark in energy, clarity and flow. Even while I was teaching I was saying in my head, ‘dude Saxton, what is wrong with you, get it together, this is supposed to be an important day.’ It reminded me yet again that ministry, preaching, church leadership, etc is NOT about me or how I feel about it.

So today 24 people ranging from 8 to 55 years of age decided to put on Christ, to take the gift of his armor and step into the battle of their lives. This unbelievable outpouring from God had nothing to do with me or Jay but was only the power of God to save people from their desperation. He loves his people and wants them to win in the spiritual warfare they face continuously so he gave them Jesus to guarantee the victory!

I hope I will remember this lesson and always ask our Father for more especially when it comes to his church!

Chaplain Darren Turner

This morning as I was working for this weekends teaching I ran across a series of articles in the ajc about Chaplain Darren Turner. He is in Iraq serving men who are facing some of the hardest stuff that people have ever faced. Reading through some of the articles I felt strangely emotional. It is easy to think that ministry is hard or difficult but then I read what this guy is doing for the kingdom and something stirs deep in me. It is an appreciation for what he is doing and a prayer of protection over him and his two children in Richmond Hill, GA with their mother. I viewed the images from the series and this one just chewed up my heart.

I think of sacrificing for the kingdom and what comes to mind is missing dinner with my family or working without a day off for a few weeks. I think of Chaplain Turner in this photo with his son clutched to him begging him not to go and tears well up in my eyes. I see the anguish on his face and my heart breaks for him. I see the resolute wife sitting by him and I am thankful Darren has her.

I am impressed and amazed by this man because knowing how much I love Madi and just imagining this scene with me on the couch makes me think of all types of ways I would avoid leaving my family. Head to Canada, Mexico, shoot myself in the foot, anything to keep from leaving my child and wife.
But Darren Turner is a warrior for the kingdom of God sacrificing all the joys of his life for the ultimate joy of Life.

Father, I ask your divine blessing on Darren Turner and the men he serves. May you protect them with your right hand. May you comfort Darren’s men through his efforts and may they see your grace and beauty in the ugly place they inhabit. May all of us who are called to be warriors for you be willing to leave it all behind, even that which we love most.
Amen

Darren Turner – Warrior For God.