My favorite thing about Sulphur Grove is the diversity of ways that we are in mission together. Whether it be the ministry of setting up and tearing down, leading worship, mission trips, Harvest Party and the Eggstravaganza, Bags of Love, Hickory Dickory Shop, Home Before Midnight, Grub at the Grove, Boy Scouts, Youth Group, Emmaus, Kairos, The Factory, or The Grove--there is a place for every person in our church family to participate in God’s mission in the world. And what I find the most amazing is that none of these ministries were started by the Pastor. Sulphur Grove has a long history of three to five friends gathering around a God-sized vision of service and courageously following God into the uncertain waters of mission.
In Luke 5, we see a group of four friends rallying around the God sized vision of seeing their paralyzed friend walking, and this vision leads them to the house where Jesus is staying. Much to their chagrin, when they arrive, the house is crowded with pharisees from every village of Galilee and Judea. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that squeezing their friend through the front door isn’t an option, but these four men are committed to their friend and they go up onto the roof, tear away the ceiling tiles, and lower their friend down into the room where he experiences forgiveness and healing in the presence of Jesus.
As Christians, we too are called to look for opportunities to lower our friends, neighbors, coworkers and family members through the roof to experience the love and power of Jesus. One of the ways which we have done this in the past is through partnering with the Y at the Heights to host the Eggstravaganza at Healthy Kids Day. By hosting the Eggstravaganza, we get to interact with more than 500 children in the community who we wouldn’t get to see otherwise, and in that time we get to demonstrate Jesus love for them in a tangible way and interact with their parents. Eggstravaganza is a mission opportunity that opens the back door of our church to members of our community.
On April 6th, we are beginning a new ministry at the Y, that is designed to serve families affected by disability by partnering them with a buddy who is trained to help them navigate a Sunday morning with us at the Y, providing a safe and welcoming environment for the entire family to worship. The Buddy Program is just one of the ways that three to five friends with a God sized vision is transforming our church family and blessing the community around us.
What God-sized dreams do you dream?
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