On Wednesday of this week, the Woods Chapel Church staff had a staff retreat. Usually on days like this we have a speaker come in and learn some cutting edge ideas about growing churches. Sometimes we take tests to learn about ourselves.
On Wednesday, we didnt do any of that. Instead, we all loaded up in the shuttle bus and went to tour some of our mission partners. Our first stop was at the Westport UMC where we visited with Pastor Eric Huffman. We saw the homeless ministry "neighbor to neighbor" in action and spent a few moments with those whom the program serves. Next we went to Camino Verdad Verdida on Independence Avenue. Pastor Gustavo and his wife served us a very nice lunch and then we toured the building and listened to all of the things that they are doing in ministry. Our last stop was Hillcrest Transitional Housing in Independence. Director Cotton Sivils gave us a tour of the building and explained how the program works to help get needy people back on their feet.
The decision to spend the day visiting these ministries turned out to be a very valuable one. It is one thing to hear about a ministry, it is another thing to see it in person. It is one thing to hear about homeless people, it is another thing altogether to see their world and visit with them in person. I am sure that the staff will now be more informed, more passionate advocates for these mission outposts.
If there is anyway that you can get out into the community even for a short time and visit one of our mission sites, I think you will be blessed. If you are down and discouraged and life is weighing heavy on you, a trip like this will provide you with a whole new perspective.
We are blessed beyond imagination. We live in mansions. We have so much, they need so much. How easy it is for us to forget.
It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
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