We are just about out the door for our trip to PA for Thanksgiving … but what an amazing day!!!!

As I’ve shared, for quite a while I have been praying – as well as many of you – as to how we can not only help those in need but connect with them relationally too.

The theme for the 40 Days of Community this week if Reaching Out Together … and … God helped us make some connections today. I truly believe that when we step out in faith and trust God — and just move out in the community for Him, things happen – e.g., this Saturday’s outreach!

GOD AT WORK IN A LOCAL GERMANTOWN APARTMENT – PREPARING THEM FOR OUR SATURDAY OUTREACH

As some of you know, we have gone out and connected with people living in the local Germantown Apts. And, God has given us a special heart for those in need in these communities.

Just today, I prayed and then went over to one of those apartments to meet with the management about giving away some food to needy families there. They were so excited that someone would do this!!! Then, some of the other staff came over in the office and about 4 or 5 staff people were there as I just shared our hearts to help as a church and how I believed that God had led us to them to help. I also had a chance to share about our church and Christ’s love too.

One of the staff persons – with tears in her eyes said this … “Pastor, in 16 years of me working here, I have never experienced anything like this …” I was speechless … and just so overwhelmed with a sense of God at work … When I left, one the workers said that she can’t wait for Saturday! She’s also coming to our church with her three little kids! She didn’t know we were there at the Regal.

ONLY ONE APARTMENT – IMAGINE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH ALL OF THE APARTMENTS HERE — JUST IN GERMANTOWN!

You guys … this is only one apartment!!! Can you imagine what we can do as we reach out together to all the other ones — and not just once … but develop and ongoing relationship!!! There’s virtually no limit in what we can do — people are not only physically hungry – but emotionally hungry, relationally hungry, educationally hungry and so on and on and on … And, perhaps more than anything else — they’re spiritually hungry and need Jesus!

GROCERY STORE CONTACTS US EARLY – AHEAD OF SCHEDULE - WITH FOOD

I got home to get ready to travel for Thanksgiving and the phone rang. It was our ministry partners that are connecting us with local grocery stores to get food. We were supposed to connect with him about getting food this Friday night. But, one store is calling now for a pickup. That’s incredible. So, immediately I got on the phone here and connected with our team of people picking up food and one of our teammates is going right now to get the food. I called the grocery store and the manager was so happy to help and give it to us! I shared with her about the apartment here and what happened. She was thrilled!!!!! God is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE LOCAL FOOD BACK MINISTRY CHALLENGES US

The Ministry Coordinator that is working with us from the local food bank ministry said this to me today … “Dan, this is going to mushroom …” It will grow … as we step out as a church … God is looking for those who will trust Him and be willing to help the needy. Remember what we talked about during Sunday — we just need a little bit of faith … when we have a little bit of faith in a big God – big things tend to happen! (Hebrews 11:1,6)

CLOSING THOUGHTS

This is the first time for us doing this. It’s so encouraging to be in the middle of experiencing God at work already – and it’s not even Saturday! I wish that all of you could have been there to see the faces of these folks at this apartment. It would truly encourage you to step out and give of yourself to help others — who not only need it — but are appreciative of someone living out what Jesus did here on earth - with them!

We love you all! See you Saturday morning at the Germantown Panera Bread – at either 8 am to help bag groceries or at 10 am to head out!!!

Love in Christ,

Dan & Laura