You remember the old song, "There will be showers of blessing..."- well today was one of those showers of blessing kind of days. God really sent the fragrant rains down upon CFA. It was a great day!
We learned that the truck of blessings was on its way to Columbus from Michigan and was set to arrive around Noon. Convoy of Hope had arranged with this benevolent company (The LECO Corporation) to drop the load off at our church. Let me tell you...IT WAS A MAJOR LOAD OF BLESSINGS! Huge. Gigantic. Awesome...get the picture?
The owner of the company (a vivacious older woman named Mrs. Warren) and two of her executive staff flew down and arrived before the big shipment came. We showed them around our HOPE Outreach Ministry Center, then our wounded church, as well as visiting several of our immediate neighbors. They were able to visually process what the residents of Columbus have been facing for almost a month. I sensed that they were very pleased to be a big part of the reconstruction of our community, as well as provide a major boost to our city. I can't begin to explain how these blessings will provide the encouragement, inspiration and opportunity to let the residents continue on in the work of rebuilding their homes and our city. Lord, thanks so much for Convoy of Hope and LECO Corporation. They worked together to impact a hurting city with love and HOPE!
When the big red semi-truck rolled into the parking lot there was an upswing of relief that sent wonderful shock waves throughout the entire fleet of workers that had assembled to move these valuable relief goods into our fellowship hall. The city fork lift that the Mayor approved was on time...Monty whipped that machine into action and started unloading the skids from the 52 foot long semi...workers carried hand held items into the HOPE Center...then the relay from the front of our old sanctuary was moved by hand trucks that were staffed by Pastor Joel and his crew of energetic teenagers. WOW! You should have seen the action, the sweat, the buzz that this created right off of busy Tenth Street. People noticed something BIG taking place @ CFA. Can't wait to generate the excitement for Monday's HOPE Outreach Day! We are going to take this blessing and stretch it out all over our flood stricken community. Thanks Lord for this miraculous blessing from above!
Then to follow that up we received another unexpected blessing from a group of compassionate employees and residents of the Miller's Merry Manor senior citizen's center. They came to drop off their donations which was another HUGE blessing: food, mops, brooms, cleaners, etc. Bam...bam...bam...we got hit many times with both little and big BLESSINGS that energized our HOPE Outreach Ministry Center. Lord, we are reaping the promise of "give and it shall be given unto you, pressed down, shaken together and running over!!" You know what...our annual theme is coming true right before our very eyes: BEYOND ALL LIMITS for the glory of God!
To add to that, people in the community are recognizing the enormous contributions our HOPE Center is making to the hurting in our city. People are dropping off supplies, clothes (we've had to cut back on these...was overwhelming our space), food, donations and even some appliances too. One couple brought a washer and dryer and there was a lady who had just came in that had lost all her appliances. Can you believe it? God is moving in mighty ways in our little community of Columbus, Indiana. God has not forgotten us. He knows where we live. He knows what we need...even before we ask!! He will take care of us because He is a great and mighty God!
The people keep coming into our center for relief supplies...clothes...cleaning supplies... shoes... water...toiletries...and HOPE! We keep walking them out with prayers, boxes and bags of goods and supplies and leave them with the HOPE found in Jesus Christ. Outside of Him, there's nothing but darkness and despondency. Look to Jesus my friend...He will meet your every need. Trust me on this...I can tell you the honest truth...I'm witnessing it daily here at CFA and the HOPE Outreach Ministry Center.
Happy to have my staff all back in action today: Pastor Joel, Kristy and Allison showed up on her day off (there's a real trooper for ya!). Each one was busily working doing their part to assist me in this increasingly complex situation of both reconstruction, ministry, outreach, cleaning, loving, typing, bookkeeping, leading, etc. Lord, thanks for a great staff that you've assembled for me!
I'm constantly answering phone calls from people all over the country, as well as the county. Contractors need to connect with me. Church members want to encourage me. Estimates and bids continue to amaze me. Ministry matters more convincingly. Progress and future plans are astounding me. Can't believe what God has accomplished with HIS MASTER PLAN through the Flood of '08. I don't want to tell you everything...but let me just say that we will have a much-improved facility, a much more functional ministry center, a more technologically advanced church, new mechanical systems, improvements in so many areas and meeting all the new codes as well. You won't recognize this place when we convene to rededicate this REGIONAL MINISTRY CENTER all for the glory of God and His kingdom. You won't want to miss this once in a lifetime event. I'm gonna plan this one big. We're going to pull out all the stops on this one. I'm going to invite everyone to our celebration...anyone that had a part in the recovering and rebuilding process. The tons of people that I've met along this wild journey of faith...they will be invited, and I'm just guessing they're going to come to see what God has done right here @ CFA.
The element of FAITH is right now what I'm growing in. I have such FAITH to believe that God will provide the shortfall of what bills remain when the flood insurance money has been used up. I just sense that God wants to pay all the bills that we will incur so we won't have to take on any more debt. I've worked so hard to eliminate the mountain of our previous mortgage debt that I believe we won't have to take out any more loans for this rebuilding project!
Would you agree with me on the following faith statements. I'm believing out loud, OK:
- Lord, I'm trusting you to provide the resources for our church to rebuild and recover from this disaster DEBT FREE! Move in the hearts and lives of pastors, board members, laypeople, community leaders, and other friends of CFA to send offerings to our FLOOD FUND: www.columbusfirstassembly.org
- Lord, I'm trusting in you to guide the contractors and workers that we have chosen to rebuild this regional worship center beyond all limits for your glory and honor!
- Lord, I'm trusting in you to help grow our church in the midst of this amazing outreach and relief effort that you have led us into!
- Lord, I'm believing expectantly for the harvest to be enlarged through the ministries of our church beyond anything that we have ever experienced before!
- Lord, I'm asking that you would bless the HOPE Outreach next Monday and let hundreds, even a thousand people, come through our ministry center to receive your blessings of love and HOPE.
- Lord, I'm asking that you would include every member of our fellowship into the fields of this harvest to multiply our efforts and reach more people at this momentous window of opportunity that has been opened up to us.
Loving this crazy ride of twists and turns.
Love to all.
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