Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. Ecclesiastes 4:9
Our Red Bird Mission Team is heading down to Clay County Kentucky on July 10th to help total strangers. We are going to work on someone’s home so that they can have a better life in the coming months and years. The truth is, we don’t know what their life circumstances are and truthfully as God’s mission workers we are not called to judge but to show love and to help those who are hurting get better.
I am so proud of the hard work that Jim and Cherie Clement have done to pull together this year’s mission trip. But it takes a team to make things come together—each person who is going to Kentucky, each business that has donated money to support the team’s work, the Red Bird Mission folks whose work throughout the year identifies families in need so that churches like St. Paul’s can help repair lives, all in the name of Jesus Christ.
I want St. Paul’s to celebrate our mission work and our mission team on Sunday July 17th! The first way that you can celebrate our team and also contribute to our mission work is by purchasing a RED BIRD MISSION T-Shirt ($15 for adults, $12 for children, and $17 for XXL) and wearing your shirt to church on the 17th (depending on the date of your order, you might have to slip the shirt over your head on the 17th) at either our 9:30 morning service or at the Backyard Worship Service at 6:30pm. Just like Pentecost when our entire congregation showed unity in spirit and mission, the wearing of the shirts would make a statement that we are all part of the team!!
The second way you can celebrate our Mission Team is by thinking and praying about what kind of mission God is calling you for. Perhaps you will be sharing a week of your time next year in Kentucky, because believe me, there is work for anyone with any skill or ability. Or maybe God is calling you towards another mission that St. Paul’s can become involved with. We are each part of the team … we are each better when working with others than we are alone!
Finally, one of the benefits of wearing our t-shirts is that the shirts tell the story that St. Paul’s not only worships God but takes what we believe into the world. I believe that churches that are engaged in mission work are churches that grow! Churches that value caring for people beyond their church walls are churches that get noticed by those who might not have a church home. Wearing a shirt that not only looks good, but also has St. Paul’s name on it, might give you the chance to tell the story!
I hope you are ready this summer to be an activist for God by being an active member of the St. Paul’s team!