Have you ever been blessed by God beyond your wildest dreams when you thought He was sending you to bless others? I have. My name is B.J. Hill and I am currently a sophomore at Troy University. This is the third mission trip that God has allowed me to partake in, and I am extremely grateful. I strongly feel God has called me to the mission field so I am very excited to see what He has in store for me in the future. This trip in particular has turned out to be a major blessing in many ways. The theme of our week was entitled "My Story" and I had the pleasure to hear one particular story full of faith and love for our one and only true God.
Drew Baldwin is a man who shared his own personal story with me as I got to work side by side with him during our trip here in Lynch, Ky. I had the privilege to work at The Stables at Creekside, which is a branch of Merinzo Ministries, where Drew is the director of the stables. I began working at the stables on Friday and I had no idea why God would choose to put me there where I had no idea what to do. It didn't take me long to absolutely realize that God places us where He knows we need to be; He truly works everything out for a reason to fulfill His purposes and bring glory to His name. God placed me in a circumstance where the true life story of a man full of faith was clearly revealed to me.
Drew was born in a small town in Tennessee where he grew up and later attended Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. Upon graduating from Union University, Drew decided that God wanted him to attend seminary in North Carolina. When he was praying and trying to figure out the plans that God had for him he was offered an opportunity to participate in Meridzo Ministries as the stable director. As with all good things that God presents to us there was a catch...some might call it "drop everything and follow me." Drew left everything to pursue what God had written in his life story long before Drew was even born. The most amazing part o fhis story that really blessed me in many ways is the fact that upon leaving everything to come to Lynch, Ky to work, he also came to work for nothing but the glory of God.
Drew lives on the estate that the ranch and soon to be youth camp are located. He doesn't have to pay for his home that was God-given, but he pays bills for utilities like every home owner does. He does this in a different way than most people do...because he has no salary Drew depends on faith that God will provide the money when they need it. As a testament, they have never had a bill unpaid or behind because our God is always on time and provides when we have faith that He will no matter the circumstances. Drew also gives free riding lessons to children in hopes that they will see God in one of His most beautiful creations. As I am sitting here writing this story Drew walks in out of no where and just adds to the blocks of faith that him and his wife have built their lives upon. Drew's wife Leah has been needing a new car to replace her 93' Jeep with a little over 300,000 miles on it but of course the expenses weren't there. After a while spent in prayer and the faith that God WILL provide, an old friend from years past made a "God-call" and told them she felt God wanted her to give them her 2000 Odyssey van.
After reading this I hope you can feel the power of faith sweep over you like I have. I have never had my life changed so much by another person's life story than the one told just above you. Faith is not something that we can create ourselves, but it is what we use to cling to by believing in our Lord Jesus Christ and the amazing things he has done and will do in our lives.
Hebrews 11:1 "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see."
B.J Hill
Community LIFE Church
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Lynch, Ky Mission Trip Day 2 Part 3
I spent the day at Freedom Center in downtown Lynch. We handed out shoes and coats to whoever came up. There was a steady stream of people all day long and as the people poured in I began to realize God was working on both sides of the equation.
On one side, God's love is being showed through helping people get the things they need. On the other side, I am fulfilling my calling through the Great Commission and showing my faith through my deeds. I watched as the Body of Christ came together in unity and became His hands and feet to this community starving to feel the love of Christ.
I spoke with a guy named Josh who had been a Christian for 2 months. He was working in the area helping in the local ministries. I noticed the girlw ith him and asked if it was his wife.
He responded, "Not yet!"
I asked him to explain.
"Well, as I got to reading the Bible, I realized that by me living with this girl, i was living in direct sin against God. And so, i've got to do the right thing before God and marry her."
I couldn't help but notice that he said that he had to do what was right before God. He didn't say that he had to do it for his girlfriend or his son that was on the way. To be such a young Christian, it was amazing to hear those words. He actually got it.
It wasn't about what everyone else thought was right, but that he answers only to God and no one else.
Trey Reed
Community Life
On one side, God's love is being showed through helping people get the things they need. On the other side, I am fulfilling my calling through the Great Commission and showing my faith through my deeds. I watched as the Body of Christ came together in unity and became His hands and feet to this community starving to feel the love of Christ.
I spoke with a guy named Josh who had been a Christian for 2 months. He was working in the area helping in the local ministries. I noticed the girlw ith him and asked if it was his wife.
He responded, "Not yet!"
I asked him to explain.
"Well, as I got to reading the Bible, I realized that by me living with this girl, i was living in direct sin against God. And so, i've got to do the right thing before God and marry her."
I couldn't help but notice that he said that he had to do what was right before God. He didn't say that he had to do it for his girlfriend or his son that was on the way. To be such a young Christian, it was amazing to hear those words. He actually got it.
It wasn't about what everyone else thought was right, but that he answers only to God and no one else.
Trey Reed
Community Life
Lynch, Ky Mission Trip Day 2 Part 2
I worked with the Sacks of Love today.When we were getting ready to go all I knew was that i would be putting food in back packs to send home with little children who would not have food for the weekend, little did I know that these children would touch my life in a way that no one else can.
As the day began we started off packing up back packs with food while we talked about how the ministry got started. Then the children began coming in and I shortly realized that food was not the only need these children had. From children asking for wipes to wash their faces with to wanting to know if we had a pair of socks they could have because they had been wearing there parents all week, or even needing a notebook so they could complete their school work, all the supplies were there and all the needs were fulfilled.
One thing that I believe touched my heart the most was this one little boy who came in all red faced and breathing hard. When we asked him why he had been running he said "I wanted to make sure I got some raisins in my back pack cause I sure do love those raisins!" When I got to thinking about how excited and grateful this little boy was over a box of raisins it made me realize how much I take for granite everyday.
I had always heard that God works in mysterious ways and sometimes wandered what his plan was for me in my life, but through one little boy and his love for raisins God taught me that i do have a place in this world and I realized that he not only bought me to Lynch,m Kentucky so that maybe I could touch lives but that he bought me here so that my life could be touched!
Grace Jackson
Rocky Creek
As the day began we started off packing up back packs with food while we talked about how the ministry got started. Then the children began coming in and I shortly realized that food was not the only need these children had. From children asking for wipes to wash their faces with to wanting to know if we had a pair of socks they could have because they had been wearing there parents all week, or even needing a notebook so they could complete their school work, all the supplies were there and all the needs were fulfilled.
One thing that I believe touched my heart the most was this one little boy who came in all red faced and breathing hard. When we asked him why he had been running he said "I wanted to make sure I got some raisins in my back pack cause I sure do love those raisins!" When I got to thinking about how excited and grateful this little boy was over a box of raisins it made me realize how much I take for granite everyday.
I had always heard that God works in mysterious ways and sometimes wandered what his plan was for me in my life, but through one little boy and his love for raisins God taught me that i do have a place in this world and I realized that he not only bought me to Lynch,m Kentucky so that maybe I could touch lives but that he bought me here so that my life could be touched!
Grace Jackson
Rocky Creek
Lynch, Ky Mission Trip Day 2
This evening, I watch as the afternoon showers continue to roll through Lynch, Ky and the clouds roll down the mountains like a blanket, tucking this sleepy little town to bed.
Today was our first day out in the field. We had six different teams serving around the city. We had a team serve in downtown Lynch working alongside Freedom Center Ministries. They spent the day passing out shoes and coats to those in need. They took time to pray with each person that came up today.
We had two teams serve at Maridzo Ministries farm. One team cleaned and maintained the horse stables and learned how to lasso. The other team finished roofing a small building that will be used in youth and teen outreach around the area.
One team served at the local elementary schools and handed out backpacks filled with food and school supplies.
Another team worked at Fish and Loaves ministry organizing and preparing food to be handed out later this month.
The final took on a personal job at a local families house. They took the time to build a handicap ramp for a disabled child.
I got the wonderful opportunities to see each of these ministries in action as I traveled around and took pictures. Each time I held the lens up to my face, tears filled my eyes as I saw the Body of Christ at work. it wasn't about one specific church or organization making a difference, but simply the Body working as it should-serving as the hands, the feet, and the voice of Christ. I watched as the love of Christ was poured out upon these people unconditionally and I watched as lives were changed.
The stories we have collected from our encounters today have forever changed our own lives and we hope that we will be able to share some of those stories with you soon. The sun continues to set and the clouds have finished their journey. As for us, greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city.
David Pike
Community Life Church
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Arriving at Lynch Ky
We arrived at Benum,KY around 5:30. We viewed the muesum and learned some of the history about the rise and fall of this mining town. From there we continued on to Lynch, Ky to Solomon's Porch. This is were both teams will be staying. The Bethel East team and the Roanoke team. We all had a safe and fun 9 hour trip that only seemed like 5 hours. HaHa. We all hope to be able to spread God's love thuough work and testimony while we are here. Continue to pray for us that we will grow in faith in the lord and allow him to work through each of us. It is very beautiful here. Gary had a wonderful meal waiting for us. We will leave for our duties at 8:00a.m.. We are broken into 5 groups. Our theme for the weekend is "What's your story". So pray that our personal stories will touch someone and allow us to share what God has done for us in each of our lives.
Thanks for all your prayers,
Alabama Mission Team
Thanks for all your prayers,
Alabama Mission Team
Lynch, Ky Mission Trip Day 1
Well, we finally made it. After 8 hours of travel filled with packed vehicles and a few wrong turns, we are here. The ride was long and tiresome, but well worth it. Not only did I become closer with my fellow Christians, I began to understand a little bit more about myself; more about where I fit into the big picture-my portion of the story that God is writing.
As we traveled up the steep mountains and back down into the deep valleys, I was reminded of a similar trip I took almost 10 years ago with my youth group. We traveled to Bluefield, West Virginia. Another coal mine town similar to Lynch. In fact, it was almost a replica of the same thing I had experienced so long ago.
The roads up the mountains were lined with medium sized houses that had not been kept up in some time. The yards were unkept and many of the houses and buildings looked abandoned. My heart immediately stung with hurt for these people.
I couldn't help but notice how ironic it was that God was bringing me back to a similar place that I had once visited in my story and that I would be ministering to alot of the same demographics of people. It seems, I had become so worried about the starving children in Africa as of late, that I had forgotten about my own countrymen who had not experienced the love that comes from Christ.
Tonight after dinner, Lonnie, the owner of the place that we are staying, spoke to us about his story and how fully relying on God and realizing that nothing he had done or accomplished was his to boast about anyway-that everything came from God. The words he spoke hit home with what my own heart had been telling me. It had been crying out to express the same things- that nothing else matters except fully relying on Christ for your every need and that He wants to pour out His gifts and blessings onto each of us, if we will just trust Him.
David Pike
Community Life Church
As we traveled up the steep mountains and back down into the deep valleys, I was reminded of a similar trip I took almost 10 years ago with my youth group. We traveled to Bluefield, West Virginia. Another coal mine town similar to Lynch. In fact, it was almost a replica of the same thing I had experienced so long ago.
The roads up the mountains were lined with medium sized houses that had not been kept up in some time. The yards were unkept and many of the houses and buildings looked abandoned. My heart immediately stung with hurt for these people.
I couldn't help but notice how ironic it was that God was bringing me back to a similar place that I had once visited in my story and that I would be ministering to alot of the same demographics of people. It seems, I had become so worried about the starving children in Africa as of late, that I had forgotten about my own countrymen who had not experienced the love that comes from Christ.
Tonight after dinner, Lonnie, the owner of the place that we are staying, spoke to us about his story and how fully relying on God and realizing that nothing he had done or accomplished was his to boast about anyway-that everything came from God. The words he spoke hit home with what my own heart had been telling me. It had been crying out to express the same things- that nothing else matters except fully relying on Christ for your every need and that He wants to pour out His gifts and blessings onto each of us, if we will just trust Him.
David Pike
Community Life Church
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