A Fruit Filled Week

The Lord spoke to the people of Israel about the promised land; "...the land belongs to me. You are only foreigners and tenant farmers working for me." (Lev. 25:23)  Working for the Master in His vineyard is hard work.  There can be a long time from the time you plant the vineyard until it produces visible fruit.

This has been a good week. A week when the Lord has allowed us to taste some of the fruit.  Last Sunday we had 5 first time visitors.  All younger men and there is a good possibility they may come back.  Some had some contact with us last year when Bishop Augustus came to Flint from Rwanda.  A great letter from Joy was read reporting on her work in China highlighting how even our numerically small fellowship can have an global impact.  One of our guests was hearing impaired and his friend who has joined us before was able to sign the service.  After the service we had to politely dismiss people after an unusually long fellowship time because the room had been scheduled by another group that afternoon.   It was as if people did not want to leave.  What a great problem to have!

Then Tuesday we had 2 new cell groups start up.  One of our members hosted a "Grief Support" ministry and over 12 people attended.  That evening 10 people gathered at the home of another one of our families for a book study using Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover".  With our other groups going we probably served close to 50 people this week.  Hopefully we were doing our part to move them a little closer to Jesus.

On Wednesday we had our second meeting with the staff from a neighboring church and a campus pastor about hosting a student coffee house in a nearby house.  We are organizing a 6 week Friday night concert series.  One of our young adults is taking a key organizing role.  We are already collecting old mugs to use for coffee (Bring them to our Sunday Celebration before March 9).  We are calling the meeting space "The White House Student Cafe".   

Today I heard a report from another of our members who just returned from Columbia South America after a 2 week short term mission with "Open Arms", a ministry helping street children find a safe home and spiritual life.  Not only was he able to complete his assigned work on electrical and plumbing needs, but he was also deeply touched by how some of the children expressed their gratitude for his faithul service to them as he has traveled there nearly a dozen times.  His generous and caring heart has not  gone unnoticed.  Though we are to be ready to give an account of the hope that is within us, this is an example where deeds often speak louder than words  (particularly when we struggle with their natural lanuage.) 

This week is the kind of week I had hoped the Master would allow us to see happening when we started the work 7 years ago.  "Father, it has been a long process.  Thank you for letting us have a fruit filled week like this one"