My Spiritual Journey

I’m a pastor’s kid, so my spiritual beginnings were doomed from the start.😉 In truth, I had a great spiritual upbringing. My parents were not the oppressive type, so I had the freedom to think, believe and explore my faith as I grew up. At age 8 I was led by my Sunday School teacher to follow Jesus. It was as genuine as a decision by an 8 year old can be. I was baptized a few years later at age 12. Again, a genuine decision, but it soon became clear that I didn’t totally understand the implications of those decisions.

As I moved into my teen years I gave into some of the cultural and peer pressures that were rampant in the 1980’s. I wasn’t a total rebel. I went to church, I was involved in our youth ministry, but I was living a double life, one person at school, another at church. This carried over into my early years at Anderson University. Living as the good, Church of God pastor’s kid most of the time, but also dipping my toe into the wilder side of college life occasionally. Nothing too extreme, but just enough to keep God at a safe distance.

Late in my college years and continuing into the early years of my marriage to Michelle, I began to draw a little closer to God and wrestle with a sense of calling. To what I didn’t exactly know. I didn’t want to be a pastor, I knew that life and it didn’t appeal to me. So I launched into 10 years of work as a social worker and probation officer. It was during these years that God began to soften my heart and strengthen my convictions about what it meant to actually help people become the people that they wanted to be and, more importantly, that God created them to be.

A key step for both Michelle and I was when we were invited to help launch a new church plant in Noblesville, IN: New Life Community Church. It was exhilarating to be on the leading edge of a brand new work that God was birthing. During these years my faith solidified, became my own and began to point me clearly toward a ministry calling. I was given the opportunity to lead, teach and serve in ways that were preparing me for the years ahead.

At a key time of listening and responding to God I was led to 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. These verses began to crystallize some of my convictions about ministry:

[16] So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. [17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! [18] All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: [19] that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. [20] We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. [21] God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

I now knew that whatever ministry I would be involved with would be driven by the ministry of reconciliation that God has called His people to carry out across this world. I spent the next 10 years as an Associate Pastor followed by 10 years as a Lead Pastor leading, teaching, calling and challenging the people I served to become ambassadors of reconciliation wherever they lived and worked.

God has been so faithful to me and my family. He has seen us through high and low times of pastoral ministry. He has led me to people and ministries that have expanded my understanding of “Church” and exposed me to the ministry of reconciliation in new and powerful ways.

My life verse is John 3:30 – He must become greater, I must become less. I have experienced this verse happening in me spiritually, emotionally, even physically. I have literally felt the stretching and changing that must happen in me if Jesus is to be seen more than me. A humbling but ultimately satisfying process that I am deeply grateful for.

The Church: A Perspective

Last weekend Michelle and I were in Asheville, NC for a Heart for Lebanon meeting. We extended the weekend and explored the area a little bit. Great weekend away.  Sunday we went to church with Tom & Chris Atema at a new church plant that Tom is doing some coaching with, One Focus Church. For the message they showed a video of Andy Stanley in his Brand: NEW series. As he always does, Andy's message challenged me and reignited some questions and wrestling matches I've had about "church" for many years. 

I've often told people that I question if the "institutional" church is even biblical. I don't think it is. I don't mean that it is sinful or wrong, just not the "church" as Jesus intended. He began an "Ecclesia"...a gathering or congregation of people who follow Him. The word "church" comes from a German word which means a building, structure or gathering PLACE, not people. 

The Old Testament covenant established the "temple model" of worship, sacrifice and relating to God. This model was built around keeping the 600+ laws God gave Moses. The best example would be that all believers (who were men) must be circumcised. When Jesus came He established a NEW covenant that did away with the temple model and fulfilled the requirements of the Law for those who put their faith in Jesus and His death and resurrection. However, in the immediate aftermath of Jesus' resurrection and ascension, Many Jewish Christians attempted to merge the temple model with New Covenant faith and theology. The Apostle Paul preached, wrote and taught against the merging of these two approaches to faith. He knew that faith in Jesus was to bring freedom, whereas the temple model approach brought bondage to the Law.

So here's the rub:  We are still attached to the temple model today. The Roman Catholic Church was largely responsible for bringing Christianity to the Western world and they had merged the temple model with faith in Jesus. So many realities of the institutional church today are aspects of the temple model of faith:  Needing to go to a place to meet with God / The establishment of many written and unwritten rules in order to be a part of the church / A mindset that I have to DO certain things often enough to prove that I actually believe (go to church, give money, don't sin, etc).

Listen to what the Apostle Paul said to the church in Galatia about this issue (read all of Galatians, chapter 5 for a much more detailed account of Paul's teaching on this subject)...  

Galatians 5:6 - For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Paul is saying that the requirements of the Law and the keeping of those rules holds no value anymore to those who follow Jesus!  He says that under the New Covenant that Jesus established, the ONLY THING that matters is "faith expressing itself through love"!  WOW!  No more rule-keeping - No more guilt - No more failure to keep the law - No more of anything except our faith in Jesus expressing itself through our love for God and for other people!! Jesus said that this was the greatest...and only...commandment!  Love God completely and love people authentically (the way you would want to be loved)! In this way, our faith brings freedom...not enslavement to rules! God says through Jesus, "I've got your back, I know you aren't perfect, stop worrying about it and love me as best you can and love others the way you want to be loved"!

So the "institutional church" is largely built on the temple model of a place and the keeping of laws and rules. That is NOT the Ecclesia that Jesus began. That group of people shared their faith, not as a program, but as a natural outflow of the freedom, forgiveness and new life they had experienced. The faith spread person to person and house to house organically. People saw how the early believers loved each other and wanted to be a part of them (Acts 2:42-47). 

So I'm still wrestling with how to lead as a Pastor under this reality. Lord lead me and reform your Ecclesia!

Sunday Mornings

In Psalm 73 a man named Asaph, a worship leader in the Old Testament Temple, said this, "But as for me, my feet had almost slipped. I had nearly lost my foothold...until I entered the sanctuary of God". So often this is my Sunday morning experience, especially in the last couple of years.  

No matter what my successes or failures have been leading up to Sunday, it seems that when I intentionally come into God's presence with God's people with the motivation to worship Him, my spirit, my demeanor, my attitude often changes. I've always been grateful for this reality. But even more grateful in recent weeks and months.

The last 24 months have easily been the most challenging of my nearly 20 years of pastoral ministry.  Leading necessary change that some did not like (and so they left the church), dealing with and trying to resolve conflicts in marriages and between believers, attacks from the outside by people and by the enemy of our souls. There have been several times I was tempted to quit. Only through the power of God and the encouragement of friends and family have I been sustained.

So during a given week I'm dealing with all of these challenging things and then I come to Saturday night. I'm down, discouraged, I don't even want to think about having to get in front of people and preach, encourage, instruct and lead. Somehow I drag myself out of bed Sunday morning and make my way to the church. Just entering the building doesn't do it (our buildings are not the modern day Temple, if you didn't know). Just praying and studying my message notes doesn't do it. Going through all the pre-service preparation doesn't do it. Then, I walk in as the worship center is filling with people and something begins to change. 

You see, the Bible clearly says in the New Testament that WE are the Temple of God, the Holy Spirit lives in us! God's presence, which used to dwell in the OT Temple, now resides in each follower of Jesus! Listen to these words of the Apostle Paul from 1 Corinthians 3:16-17:  "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple."

God is just as passionate and protective of His Temple now as He was thousands of years ago, but today that Temple is you and me!

So what is it that happens on Sunday morning that always seems to right my spirit and redirect my heart?  God's collective presence increases as all of these "temples" of God gather to worship Him! My soul is literally joined with many others who genuinely want to worship and celebrate our God, the One who lives in us!

So I'm grateful for Sunday morning. No matter what the week has been like, if I come with an open heart and a willing spirit, I will meet with God and His people. 

"But as for me, my feet had almost slipped. I had nearly lost my foothold...until I entered the sanctuary of God". (Psalm 73:2; 17)

The Title of My Blog

Less is More

Over the last 20 years or so I've consistently said that my life verse is John 3:30 - He must become greater, I must become less. - I still find myself wrestling with what this verse means to me and why I resonate with it.  Here's some random thoughts:

• My name is John, the gospel is John, hmmm, interesting 😇
• When i was in elementary school my favorite time of the day was 3:30 because that's what time we got out of school each day!
• I'm not good at memorization and this is a short verse
• These words were spoken by...wait for it...a guy named "John" (the Baptist)
• Maybe I want people to think I'm both very spiritual and very humble (even if sometimes I'm neither)

More often than not, if pressed to give an answer to why I hold this as my life verse, I say something like this: "Because I know myself pretty well. I like for people to like me. I like getting positive attention. It just so happens that as a pastor, someone hands me a microphone once per week or so and for some reason people come, sit and listen. So I know that I could start thinking that this life, this world, my ministry, all of it revolves around me. But here's the thing, I know it doesn't. I know that everything revolves around the life, ministry and person of Jesus. I want my life, ministry, relationships and world to revolve around Him too. My default, human tendency is to make all of this about me. So I must intentionally and consistently make Jesus greater and me less as best I can."

Somehow God works out a human equation that says this:  "If you will love me with all that you are (make Him greater) and love others the way you would want to be loved (make myself less), I will make more of your life than you could possibly imagine!"

So in that heavenly equation:  Less is More 

So there you go. The title of my blog. 

January Teaching Series!

Beginning Sunday, January 8 @ 10:30 a.m.

One of Town Center Church's values says this: We value safe, healthy, authentic relationships. 

Anyone who has navigated family relationships, friendships, work relationships or church relationships knows this value is easier said than lived.

Jesus called us to engage our culture and world as He did. Whether we are doing it successfully or not, we can take steps forward and get better at producing safe, healthy and authentic relationships in our lives.

Join us beginning January 8 as we dig into several aspects of engaging others in safe, healthy and authentic ways. These are the RULES OF ENGAGEMENT.

Jan 8 - Engaging Others with Grace & Truth
Jan 15 - Boundaries: Where I End and Others Begin
Jan 22 - Social Media: Virtual -vs- Authentic
Jan 29 - A Healing Community

Join us each Sunday at 10:30 and learn to engage others well!

Christmas Teaching Series!

Beginning Sunday, December 4 @ 10:30 a.m.

Children love Christmas! It's easy to see why! Presents, family, great food, time off school. But there is another reason children love Christmas...it has some mystery and wonder about it. Lighted trees, decorated and shining! Houses and yards shimmering with the season! How does Santa Claus get down that chimney? Do reindeer really fly? Where did this stocking full of candy and fun come from? How did those presents get under the tree?

Above all else, children are reminded of the reason and purpose of the Christmas celebration. There's even more mysterry and wonder in this! A baby born in a manger. People seeing stars and hearing angels sing about this new-born baby. People traveling from afar to see this coming King. They can relate to a baby. They feel wonder, excitement and anticipation that this baby may have some impact on their lives.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. [9] An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. [10] But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. [11] Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ* the Lord. [12] This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”[13] Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,[14] “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:8-14)

All of this produces emotions and reactions that make Christmas through the eyes of a child something very special indeed!

Christmas is one of those times we long to be a child again. We know this isn't literally possible, but it is possible to see Christmas through their eyes! WE INVITE YOU TO DO JUST THAT THIS CHRISTMAS! Experience wonder, fun, hope and joy!

Merry Christmas from Town Center Church!

November Teaching Series!

Beginning Sunday, November 6 @ 10:30a

Jesus spoke these challenging and even ominous words in Matthew 7:13-14...

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Here is the reality:  We all must choose which gate, which road, which path we will walk through this life.  Hopefully we choose one that leads to eternal life!

But that choice is not a one time, one moment choice.

We choose our way each day with every small choice we make.  For example, will we choose...

Purpose or Comfort?
Trust or Control?
Commitment or Regret?
Important or Urgent?

Which of these would you choose?

Join us for this important series as we look at just a few of the choices we can make that lead to LIFE!

Jesus said that He came so that we could have life in all of its fullness!

Finish this sentence:  I choose...

GROW - Mission & Vision 2017

Beginning Sunday, October, 2 - 10:30a

Did you know that all living things have a life cycle?

Whether plant, animal or human being, we all have a beginning, a middle and an end.

Jesus often used the symbolism of a plant, tree or vine to help us understand our relationship to Him. For example, He said, "“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

The life cycle for most trees or plants looks something like this:
- Planted
- Rooted
- Branching Out
- Dying to Multiply

We believe this is one powerful way to think about how Jesus is calling His people to live in this world: Be planted - Become rooted - Branch out - Sacrifice so multiplication can happen.

Sunday, October 2 we will share a fresh mission and vision with Town Center Church that we believe will point us toward the preferred future that God has for us and for the community of Mooresville!

We hope you will be a part of this new thing that God is about to spring up in Mooresville!

Not Just Black or White

• Politics
• Refugees
• Religion
• Race

Beginning August 14 - 10:30 a.m.

POLITICS - REFUGEES - RELIGION - RACE

All of these are in the headlines almost daily. You will find people on all sides of each issue inside and outside of churches.

Politics: Who has God's vote?
Refugees: Who would Jesus let in?
Religion: What is religion?
Race: Which lives matter?

Galatians 3:28 says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

This verse is communicating that humans sometimes divide over issues and lines that God doesn't recognize or see. Things that humans see as black or white may not be either one.

Join us for this important series as we call all followers of Jesus to rise above the divisions of politics, the refugee crisis, religion and race. Help us act on the call of God to set ourselves apart from the world in how we respond during these cultural crisis times.

Summer Teaching Series!

Beginning Sunday, June 5 @ 10:30 a.m.

Many years ago, in Old Testament times, God told His people, "You shall have no other gods before me". This was the first of the 10 Commandments. It was the first because God knew that the only way He could save them and reconcile them was for them to remain in relationship with Him. 

Over the next 1400 years here's how the relationship between God and His people went...
...They began to worship other gods and God would allow suffering and hardship to come upon them
...They would return to God and He would forgive them
...They would again begin to worship other gods and God would allow suffering and hardship to come upon them
...They would return to God and He would forgive them

And it pretty much went that way until, at just the right time, God sent His Son, Jesus. This changed everything! He offered forgiveness once and for all, for all people, for all time! All people had to do was believe and follow Him.

But one thing about humanity didn't change...

...We still kept giving in to the temptation to worship other gods...to worship idols instead of the One, True God. And people are still worshipping idols today, in all parts of the world, maybe even in your home!

Join us this summer as we look at some of the gods...idols...that God must battle in order to win our hearts and lives.

Celebrate Sundays in May!

Spring Teaching Series!

NEW!

Beginning

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Town Center Church

Mooresville, Indiana

9am & 11am

"...if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"(2 Cor. 5:17)

Do you need something NEW to happen in your life?

Do you need for something in your life to be made NEW?

Do you need to be made NEW?

We just concluded a series that asserts that "Jesus Changes Everything". If that is true, and there are things in your life that need to change, then the question might be, "Can Jesus make my life or my circumstances new?" Better yet, "Can Jesus make ME new?"

We hope you will join us as we trust that Jesus actually can change everything and procalim that He can make all things new! You! Your life! Your circumstances!

Join us beginning Sunday, April 3rd!

Easter Teaching Series

Beginning Sunday, March 6 - 9am & 11am

There have been many events in human history that changed our world or some portion of it significantly...World Wars, Natural Disasters, Disease, Political Decisions, just to name a few.

There have been very few events in human history that we could say "changed everything". Many would be hard-pressed to identify the one event that most changed our world.

At Town Center Church we believe identifying the one event that most changed "everything" for all humanity and all creation is not difficult. In fact, we believe that there really was only one event...really, One Person, that changed everything for everyone both now and for eternity.

We believe the life, death and resurrection of Jesus...the Son of God...changed everything. Or better said, created the possibility of changing everything for everyone.

We hope you will join us this Easter season as we look at how Jesus' life, death and resurrection changed everything for...
...Our Life
...Our Death
...Our Eternity

Our prayer is that you will meet Jesus, respond to His invitation, and declare along with us..."This Changes Everything"!

February Teaching Series!

Sundays in February - 9am & 11am

Dating...Sex...Marriage...our culture has a lot to say about each of them. God has spoken about these too.

In this series of messages we hope to shed some light on basic Biblical truths about these challenging areas of life. The questions about dating, sex and marriage are endless...

Should I date? If so, how should I go about it? How intimate should I get with the person I'm dating? Is it OK to remain single? How do I know when I've found "The One"?

Is sex good? Is sex bad? Why is our culture so obsessed with it? Can I have sex before I get married? Should I feel guilty if I already have? I'm married, why doesn't my spouse want sex?

Who created marriage? Why is it such a big deal to some people? What about gay marriage? Can I get a divorce and still be a Christian? Will marriage bring me the happiness I seek?

Join us as we share some uncensored thoughts about dating, sex and marriage.

January, 2016 Teaching Series!

Beginning Sunday, January 3, 2016

Psalm 115 begins, "Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness."

It's true that God is due all the glory, honor and praise for the ways He loves us and is so faithful to us! 

Just a few verses later the Psalmist goes on to say, "May the LORD make you increase, both you and your children. May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." (Psalm 115:14-15)

What a great pattern to live by! God loves us, in response to His love we give Him glory and praise, and in response He gives us "increase" and blessing! Wow!

What is God going to "increase" for us?

There are many ways to answer that question, too many to write down! However, a summary is contained in a great prayer written by the Apostle Paul to a church in the city of Ephesus. Here's what it says:

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21)

Among the many things God wants to increase in and through us are things like STRENGTH, POWER, HIS SPIRIT, FAITH AND LOVE! And these are just scratching the surface of all that God wants to INCREASE in us!

Join us as we pray, fast, worship and seek Him together at the onset of 2016!

Coming in 2016!

Coming in 2016...

January 3-31:     INCREASE:  Hungry for More?

February 7-28:   Uncensored:  The Truth About Dating, Sex & Marriage

March 6-27:   This Changes Everything:  2016 Easter Series

April 3 - May 1:  THE KINGDOM:  God's Mission & Vision for Town Center

We hope you'll join us in early 2016 as we launch into a new year seeking God and His plans for every area of our lives!

Join us at Town Center Church!

Christmas Teaching Series!

Beginning Sunday, November 29th

9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

Town Center Church

In Luke 13:29-30 Jesus says this:  “People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”

There are many ways to answer the questions, "Why did Jesus come to earth? Why was He born in a manger?  Why go through all of his life only to end up on a cruel cross?"  In essence, we are asking, "What are we really celebrating at Christmas?"

One of the many ways to answer this question is this:  Jesus came so that you could have a seat at His table in His Father's Kingdom.  

At Christmas & New Years one of the common scenes are families gathering around a table to share a meal together.  A common scene in churches is the people of that congregation gathering together to eat, give thanks, celebrate and honor Jesus. There's just something about being invited to sit at the table with others that brings us some peace, connection, relationship, fellowship, and joy.  Now imagine being invited by the Son of God, the Savior of the whole world, to sit with Him at a feast in His Kingdom.  A feast given to celebrate God and all of those who have been reconciled to Him.  Wow!

Throughout this Christmas season we want to celebrate this fact:  That in God's Kingdom there is an OPEN TABLE for you! But there's more!  It begins by God's people inviting you to an open table with them!  To join the fellowship of believers and followers of Jesus!  To enjoy safe, healthy, authentic relationships with people and to experience connection (or re-connection) with God!

This Christmas there is an open table for you at Town Center Church.  Why?  Because God has invited us to His table and we are so grateful that we want others to experience that invitation too!  So join us this Christmas!

November Teaching Series!

Romans 15:13 says this:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Overflowing with hope...filled with all joy and peace...it all sounds so good...it's something most of us long for, ask for...but can we really obtain this?

Do you believe what God says through the Bible? This is a key question. Because if you do (or even if you WANT to) then the answer is YES! You can OVERFLOW with hope and joy!

Join us beginning Sunday, Nov. 1st as we pursue The Overflow that God promises in His Word! 

Here is The Overflow of the series:

Nov 1 - The 1st Key to Hope & Joy
Nov 8 - The 2nd Key to Hope & Joy
Nov 15 - Town Center Name Celebration
Nov 22 - The Overflow Life

Town Center

A New Series Connecting Our New Name & Our Mission

We took the big step of changing the name of our congregation. We committed to launching a new identity in the community of Mooresville and surrounding areas. We decided to call ourselves...

TOWN CENTER CHURCH: A SOURCE OF LIFE & CONNECTION

Now comes the hard part...living up to our name

What does it mean to be at the center of life and activity in our town? What will it take to actually BE a source of life and connection for the people God has called us to reach? Can we really be like a well of fresh water, drawing people in and offering them the life Jesus spoke of? Can we really be the place where connection in safe, healthy, authentic relationships can happen?

We believe the answer is YES!

Join us as we take a fresh look at the mission and vision God has given us in light of our new name.

Sept 13 - More than a Name...An Identity!
Sept 20 - What Will We Do?
Sept 27 - How Can I Be a Part?

Will you help us become Town Center Church?

GO July - By Crystal Rogers

God calls us to serve. It's written all throughout the Bible. "It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others." (Ephesians 2:10 LB)

"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45  NIV) "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (Galatians 5:13 NIV)

What God told Jeremiah is also true for all of us: "Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work." (Jeremiah 1:5a NCV) We weren't made to just sit around and watch others serve us or watch others serve those around us. God made each and every one of us to do a special work, not just our pastors and governing Board members. It includes you, me, our children, our parents, and even our grandparents. If we aren't serving others, then we aren't doing what God called us to do.

Over the past month, it was incredible to see how many people from Mooresville Church of God were out serving in our community! If you didn't get the opportunity to join any of the groups this time, you missed out and you should be first in line next time!

Levi Rennick, one of our summer interns, led a group down to our neighborhood Laundromat to spend some time talking to our neighbors and asking about how we could pray for them. Not only did they have the opportunity to interact with some of our neighbors, they even had some extra time to help scrub the Laundromat – a.k.a. manual labor.

  Meghan Jackson, our other summer intern, led a fantastic group of ladies at Meadow Lakes! These young women pampered the elderly women in the memory ward each week. They painted nails, put makeup on them and did crafts over the four weeks of service. The best part about this event was that these young ladies were challenged to reach outside of their comfort zone and try something new! Each week these young ladies were excited to go back and share God's love with those women at Meadow Lakes. "I believe that it was great for our students to interact with people who are older than themselves that they do not know. I also believe we made an impact with the nurses and the activity leaders at the nursing home just knowing we were coming to be there and helping them by giving them a break as well," Pastor Kim Schuessler.

  

Brittani Bentley organized a group to participate at the Farmer's Market in downtown Mooresville on Tuesday nights for the month of July. This group of volunteers provided free homemade goods to our community. The Farmer's Market provided an opportunity for members of our church to let people know about how they can help others or get help themselves when they need assistance. "As a church, we were able to let people know who we are and where we are located," Pastor Kim.

"It was all about relationships for me. We met so many that needed help or wanted a new church," Brittani Bentley said. This was a great opportunity to invite new families to our church!

  

Vanessa True helped to organize a large group of children and young adults to do a lot of manual labor at two of Mooresville's elementary schools: Neil Armstrong and Newby. Both schools had large piles of mulch that needed to be placed in flower beds and playgrounds. The school crew also helped pick up trash, pull weeds, cut down some dead trees and branches, and paint some curbs to get the schools ready for the start of a new year. Last, but not least, this crew finished their month by doing a prayer walk around the school grounds praying for the students and teachers as they begin a fresh new year.

  

I led a group in organizing dinner and an ice cream social for both the Mooresville Police Department and Fire Department crews. These men and women put their lives on the line for each and every person in our community, some even in our neighboring communities. Providing these men and women dinner and ice cream was the least we could do. Not only did we get to share a meal and ice cream with them, we actually had time to sit down and get to know them. Building these relationships is priceless! Not only did the adults enjoy this time of sharing with the police and fire department staff, but some young children experienced some really cool things like touring the police and fire stations, and even getting to set in the fire truck!