Dear Fellow Workers in Christ,
What an incredible Thanksgiving week!!! God was so in control!! Our Thanksgiving Dinner at Allenhurst Apartments Wednesday night before Thanksgiving Day went so much better than what I even expected! "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" (Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV). After praying for weeks, passing out fliers a few times, knocking every apartment's doors numerous times--I went into Wednesday thinking we might get 30 or so residents to join us for dinner. INSTEAD WE SERVED OVER 80 PEOPLE WHO LIVE AT ALLENHURST APARTMENTS!!!! God will draw people out!!!! We got to meet several new families we don't yet know and several new children!! We had over 25 volunteers from several different congregations--including Highland Oaks Church of Christ, Mesquite Church of Christ, New Hope Church of Christ, First United Methodist Church of Mesquite, Sunnyvale Baptist, and some others I cannot remember. Special thanks to Mesquite Mayor John Monaco for his presence and kindness to everyone that night! I can tell you that our two church apartments were packed full of people--with much love and goodness abounding!!!!! It felt like the Acts 2:42-47 scenario!!! SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!
I got to see hope in several people's faces who needed that hope. Thats what Jesus offers!!! Several said they would start coming to Tuesday and Wednesday night activities at the church apartments. And old friend of mine who has been away from the Lord for the past several years--who has been wanting to get active again in his walk with Christ--came to the dinner and got very excited and wants to start volunteering to help in the work.
So much more work to do! So many more lost souls to reach! Funds to be raised to keep our work going! Many miles to go!! But God is faithful and will do great things!!! THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!
SPECIAL THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HELPS SUPPORT CHRIST'S WORK IN MESQUITE!!!
Love in Christ,
Bruce
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
LIFE AND DEATH EXPERIENCES OF A LOCAL MISSION CHURCH PREACHER
There was a couple I knew very well who I used to often visit with when I was a manager at Cici's Pizza. They were not real religious, but appreciated the fact that me and the other managers were strong in our faith. A few years later after I had left CiCi's and was in full time ministry--the man died and they literally knew no preachers or church leaders who could perform the funeral. So when the widow called me, I was of course honored to help.
I remember meeting with the family as I always do before a funeral--to get details and memories and other information that I could use for the service. I think there was two grown children and them as well as the widow could only tell me a few details about this man. And while he said he believed in God, it did not appear that he had ever had much of a relationship with the Lord. Of course, when we preach funerals--we don't preach people into heaven or hell.
So come the day of the funeral--I had put together the best eulogy I could with the little information I had. I walk into the funeral home expecting to see at least maybe 30 or 40 people. Instead I think there were about 10 people there. It felt so depressing and just heartwrenching! This man had lived for almost 80 years, had been a businessman, knew many local people--and yet--just a handful of his family and friends were there to say goodbye. And his widow seemed just so helpless and soooo sad! So I just did the best I could to honor this man's life and remind everyone how much God loves us and cherishes His children. I think I read about when King David's son died and how eventually he moved on and still had to serve God. But I just kept thinking how sad it would be to live a life without a loving church family, without the daily hope of the Lord in one's life, and all the blessings that flow from such a life.
I was so proud and honored to be there and it was a blessing to get to try to comfort that family and plant seeds about what a wonderful life Jesus offers! And yet, it was a really hard experience.
And my final thoughts on this are simply--what do other families do when a loved one dies and they have no church or minister or anyone really to turn to? We will talk about that more in my next writing. But know this--our God so loves us and wants to bless us and keep us so close to His bosom! He is so full of love for us! Let us cling to Him closely and praise His name daily!
Grace and Peace,
Bruce
I remember meeting with the family as I always do before a funeral--to get details and memories and other information that I could use for the service. I think there was two grown children and them as well as the widow could only tell me a few details about this man. And while he said he believed in God, it did not appear that he had ever had much of a relationship with the Lord. Of course, when we preach funerals--we don't preach people into heaven or hell.
So come the day of the funeral--I had put together the best eulogy I could with the little information I had. I walk into the funeral home expecting to see at least maybe 30 or 40 people. Instead I think there were about 10 people there. It felt so depressing and just heartwrenching! This man had lived for almost 80 years, had been a businessman, knew many local people--and yet--just a handful of his family and friends were there to say goodbye. And his widow seemed just so helpless and soooo sad! So I just did the best I could to honor this man's life and remind everyone how much God loves us and cherishes His children. I think I read about when King David's son died and how eventually he moved on and still had to serve God. But I just kept thinking how sad it would be to live a life without a loving church family, without the daily hope of the Lord in one's life, and all the blessings that flow from such a life.
I was so proud and honored to be there and it was a blessing to get to try to comfort that family and plant seeds about what a wonderful life Jesus offers! And yet, it was a really hard experience.
And my final thoughts on this are simply--what do other families do when a loved one dies and they have no church or minister or anyone really to turn to? We will talk about that more in my next writing. But know this--our God so loves us and wants to bless us and keep us so close to His bosom! He is so full of love for us! Let us cling to Him closely and praise His name daily!
Grace and Peace,
Bruce
Monday, November 16, 2009
LIFE AND DEATH EXPERIENCES OF A LOCAL MISSION CHURCH PREACHER CONT
Dear Fellow Workers in Christ,
Another story that comes to mind is a couple I was introduced to not long after I had started to Dallas Christian College and was leading the Nehemiah Ministry. The man (I am sad to say I can't remember their names) was dying of liver cancer I believe and only had a few weeks to live. I started visiting him and his common-law-wife in the hospital and would spend time with them, read some scripture to them and just try to minister to them as best I could. After a couple of visits--they couple said they wanted to make their relationship right with God and asked me if I would marry them. So one evening, a brother and I went to Baylor Hospital and went to this couple's room-and married them as he lay on his hospital bed. It was very simple and certainly not a normal wedding--but yet--it was beautiful. I felt so honored to be there doing what I was doing. A week later, this new husband passed away. Of all the weddings I have performed--I can't think of a more special one! The joy on their faces, even though he had little time left--was such a blessing to get to witness! We serve such a loving and compassionate God!
Let us keep showing the love of Jesu to all who so desperately need that love and that hope!
Blessings,Bruce
Another story that comes to mind is a couple I was introduced to not long after I had started to Dallas Christian College and was leading the Nehemiah Ministry. The man (I am sad to say I can't remember their names) was dying of liver cancer I believe and only had a few weeks to live. I started visiting him and his common-law-wife in the hospital and would spend time with them, read some scripture to them and just try to minister to them as best I could. After a couple of visits--they couple said they wanted to make their relationship right with God and asked me if I would marry them. So one evening, a brother and I went to Baylor Hospital and went to this couple's room-and married them as he lay on his hospital bed. It was very simple and certainly not a normal wedding--but yet--it was beautiful. I felt so honored to be there doing what I was doing. A week later, this new husband passed away. Of all the weddings I have performed--I can't think of a more special one! The joy on their faces, even though he had little time left--was such a blessing to get to witness! We serve such a loving and compassionate God!
Let us keep showing the love of Jesu to all who so desperately need that love and that hope!
Blessings,Bruce
Sunday, November 15, 2009
LIFE AND DEATH EXPERIENCES OF A LOCAL MISSION PREACHER
Dear Fellow Workers in Christ,
The journey God has taken me on these past five years has been both overwhelming and exciting--but always an honor and privelige! In my work with families at Allenhurst Apartments, Peachtree Apartments, and just some various people here and there God put in my path--has given me many insights on life and death! Let me share a few stories.
DEATH
Let me share a few death experiences. I guess my first would have to be the little angel named Miranda Todd--in the early days of the Nehemiah Ministry--before we ever planted At The Cross. I remember like yesterday, sitting on the sidewalk in front of her apartment (before we ever had a church apartment) and sharing the Gospel with her and eventually baptizing her when I was still serving at New Hope Church of Christ. I remember a few months later one day--right after tutoring--we were trying to leave the church apartment before Wednesday night class--and she was in the kitchen trying to grab some extra snacks to take home because she was always hungy bless her heart. And I was yelling at her to hurry up because we had to go. Little did I know that the next evening she would be hit by a car in front of Allenhurst and would die a few days later. That was the most difficult funeral I would ever preach! And yet--I saw God take that situation and actually bring many of HIS people together from several local congregations and for a moment--we had real unity! I remember planning the funeral and we had ministers and shepherds from four different congregations participate in the funeral. We had youth ministers from New Hope, Valley Creek, Meadowview, and Mesquite Churches of Christ participate. We had two pulpit ministers, and some other various mulit-congregational members involved. Along with a bunch of our Allenhurst and other church kids coming on stage to sing some special kids' songs. And that difficult moment got so many Christians out of their church buildings and serving and loving on lost people in Mesquite! The only thing I can compare to it--would be how God used 9/11 to create a period of time where Americans were no longer afraid to talk about HIM. I remember having a memorial service before the funeral at our church apartment the day before the funeral. We must have had over 60 people in that little two bedroom apartment that day! No one seemed to care. We just all were packed in close together and prayed and sang hymns--in a nasty old apartment complex. BUT GOD WAS HONORED! I will never, ever forget Miranda and the faith that child had! She changed my life and the lives of many in the Lord's church. Her step-mother and five step-siblings are still involved in our church today and still live at Allenhurst.
I will continue this series on life and death again soon and leave you with this for now. We serve an awesome God! If you and or your congregation are not reaching lost, hurting people nearby your building and your homes--lets go now! Lets not wait! There are MANY MORE MIRANDAS OUT THERE WHO NEED JESUS SOOOO BAD!!!!!!!
Love in Christ,
Bruce
The journey God has taken me on these past five years has been both overwhelming and exciting--but always an honor and privelige! In my work with families at Allenhurst Apartments, Peachtree Apartments, and just some various people here and there God put in my path--has given me many insights on life and death! Let me share a few stories.
DEATH
Let me share a few death experiences. I guess my first would have to be the little angel named Miranda Todd--in the early days of the Nehemiah Ministry--before we ever planted At The Cross. I remember like yesterday, sitting on the sidewalk in front of her apartment (before we ever had a church apartment) and sharing the Gospel with her and eventually baptizing her when I was still serving at New Hope Church of Christ. I remember a few months later one day--right after tutoring--we were trying to leave the church apartment before Wednesday night class--and she was in the kitchen trying to grab some extra snacks to take home because she was always hungy bless her heart. And I was yelling at her to hurry up because we had to go. Little did I know that the next evening she would be hit by a car in front of Allenhurst and would die a few days later. That was the most difficult funeral I would ever preach! And yet--I saw God take that situation and actually bring many of HIS people together from several local congregations and for a moment--we had real unity! I remember planning the funeral and we had ministers and shepherds from four different congregations participate in the funeral. We had youth ministers from New Hope, Valley Creek, Meadowview, and Mesquite Churches of Christ participate. We had two pulpit ministers, and some other various mulit-congregational members involved. Along with a bunch of our Allenhurst and other church kids coming on stage to sing some special kids' songs. And that difficult moment got so many Christians out of their church buildings and serving and loving on lost people in Mesquite! The only thing I can compare to it--would be how God used 9/11 to create a period of time where Americans were no longer afraid to talk about HIM. I remember having a memorial service before the funeral at our church apartment the day before the funeral. We must have had over 60 people in that little two bedroom apartment that day! No one seemed to care. We just all were packed in close together and prayed and sang hymns--in a nasty old apartment complex. BUT GOD WAS HONORED! I will never, ever forget Miranda and the faith that child had! She changed my life and the lives of many in the Lord's church. Her step-mother and five step-siblings are still involved in our church today and still live at Allenhurst.
I will continue this series on life and death again soon and leave you with this for now. We serve an awesome God! If you and or your congregation are not reaching lost, hurting people nearby your building and your homes--lets go now! Lets not wait! There are MANY MORE MIRANDAS OUT THERE WHO NEED JESUS SOOOO BAD!!!!!!!
Love in Christ,
Bruce
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