Worship Service and Adios

We shared and worshiped Sunday in a very unique way but a way which was filled with the Holy Spirit.  Anita and I both shared during God moments that evening how different in a good way this was for us.  We arrived to the children I believe having their Sunday School hour.  They were all sitting in chairs listening to an elderly man of the church.  This elderly man was on fire for Jesus and had lots of contagious energy the children were soaking all up in their little minds.  They came before the church to sing to us and lead in the worship service.  I stood there for a while along with some other returned folks trying to figure out where the service was going.  But it was going just fine.  The children were in charge of the worship service and did a phenomonal job leading worship.  One little girl maybe age 11 or 12 lead the children in a humbling prayer unto our Lord.  The blessings kept flowing from the children of the church.  There was at least thirty five to forty children in attendance this Sunday.  We all felt like this was every Sunday not just this Sunday.  This church had a strong children's program.

Then Isabelle a member of the church shared no words can describe what Jesus had done in his life and how the children of this church were a blessing for him and a honor to serve them each and every week.  There was prayer over the offering as each person walked forward to place their offering into a basket sitting on a table at the altar.  The group came forward to sing "Victory in Jesus" in Spanish as Andrea and Sarah sang the verses and the team came in on the chorus.  Their many nights of choir practiced had paid off tremendously.  They did an outstanding job in the name of Jesus.

Pastor Neal stepped up to share the gospel and immediately shared how this church has a very healthy children's ministry which makes it for very healthy church family. Pastor Neal led into a sermon about feeding the five thousand.  Pastor Neal also shared before starting the story of feeding the five thousand how Pastor Joel does a great job l

oving his flock who God has placed him in care of.  God has a love for his people as we can see in John 6:1-15.  Jesus has compassion for his people out of Matthew 9 and Jesus gathers his people like a hen gathers her chicks.  Jesus ministered to over five thousand people which was a very large ministry.  So many people with so many needs.  So many mouths to feed and how was He going to do such a huge task. Pastor Joel has many people in this church with many needs and how does he do it.  You all are the hands and feet of this community which all of you reach out to on a daily basis.  You meet each others needs and vice a versa.  As we get back to the story of feeding the five thousand Jesus asked his disciples where are we going to get enough food to feed these hungry people.  If you are going to reach your community you live in you must love them as Jesus loved the five thousand plus people that day.  Jesus was concerned for their needs and guess who Jesus turned to for help.  As Pastor Neal asked this question he turned and looked at the children.  Pastor Neal said a small boy just like some of you who was the one who helped feed the five thousand people and he only had five small barley loaves and two fish.  Jesus used a child to care for the needs of the people.  This little boy may have given up his lunch for the day to help Jesus.  The little boy gave Jesus all he had and Jesus multiplied what was given to Him and had food left over.  God uses people as well as loves them to ministry to others.  You have many talents and gifts in this church.  We heard the children earlier and have worked with them all week in VBS, they know God's Word and know how to love people.  Pastor Neal had the children put their hands together and then put all their fingers intertwined together inside of their palms.  This is "Open the Doors and See all the People" who are in the church.  The children are the future of this church family and you have a lot of love and care for each of them.  When Jesus fed the five thousand Jesus knew what their needs were.  Jesus knows your needs and my needs.  Jesus always provides our every need. Pastor Neal then closed with a prayer of gratitude for our time together in worship.

Pastor Joel stood and said thank you as well for the entire week of many blesses with the children's VBS and the Women's Conference.  He thanked them for building Erlin's family a home.  Pastor Joel's beautiful smile said it all as he was full of joy for his church family this Sunday morning.