Ordinary People

We're wrapping up our Hypothermia Relief Week ministry tonight.  I'm so thankful that the weather has warmed up; it will help make a difficult transition a little easier.

The thing I love most about HRW is it allows ordinary people to be used by God in extraordinary ways.  Our team of volunteers is made up of regular folks; none of them have any professional ministry training.  They are government workers, school teachers, contractors, accountants, IT professionals, daycare workers, at-home parents, folks who have retired, and so on.  Yet the amount of ministry they've achieved this week and the way in which it was done is simply amazing; it's a God thing.

Here's an example of God working in our team:

One of the guys in the shelter (I'll call him "W") was able to secure a job, a pretty good job at that.  He's going to be working for the DC Public Schools.  The problem is he only had the clothes he was wearing.  He was afraid to tell his new employer he was homeless; he was afraid it could cost him his job.  And he didn't want to show up everyday at work wearing the same clothes day after day.

Our team recognized that this was "make it or break it" for "W."  He needed this job and wanted to succeed and achieve something better for his life.  So our team mobilized.   By the next evening, when "W" came back, they had several sets of brand new or slightly used clothes for him.

Here's an excerpt from this morning's shift report:  "'W' got his clothes and looked good for his first day of work."  

I've got to say I got a little emotional when I read that.  It may seem like a small thing but to "W" it's huge; it's everything!

That's just one of many examples I heard of this week of ordinary people allowing God to use them to do extraordinary things.  That's what being a follower of Christ is all about.  And our church is on it's way to changing the statistics of how the world views "the church."

HRW Launch

Our team always does an amazing job as they serve during Hypothermia Relief Week.  We have folks serving around the clock from 3pm until 8am everyday for over a week; and everyone always goes the extra mile.

I loved how the kitchen crew launched tonight with homemade place-mats that our children's ministry made, real plates and silverware, and the best of all, Chipotle style burritos.  The food was amazing, as good as Chipotle itself.  Great job to Mike and his crew.

Pray for our guests this week.  It's the last week of the program so as the week goes by the stress levels will rise.

What If Charlie Sheen Were In Your Small Group?

I came across this blog post on Twitter and had to pass it on.  Enjoy!

http://smallgroupscoach.com/2011/03/what-if-charlie-sheen-were-in-your-small-group/