Humboldt, TN

There is too much to say about the weekend we shared with the amazing people of Humboldt, TN. When one travels in ministry, there’s always that prayer in the front of the mind: ‘Lord, please don’t ever let this become routine, just something we do… never let us treat every group the same, but help us adapt…’ At least, this is what is always in my mind. It would be so easy to be the same everywhere- but we aren’t called to be the same, we are called to change, to adapt to what’s around us so that we can effectively minister.

The guys and I talked about this as we set everything up. We talked about it before we walked up on the platform. We had all prayed about it before we even left the house. The minute it becomes real- when the first face walks in the door. That face has a name. It has baggage. It may look worn or tired. It could be excited and amped for what’s to come… But that face has a name. It has a soul. It was created in the image of God (Gen.1:27).

May we never be the same to every face we meet. May we adapt, change, be compassionate, kind, receptive… We spoke of being imitators all weekend. Coming from Ephesians 5:1 (I love the God’s Word translation) – ‘Imitate God, since you are the children He loves.’

We spoke of what this might look like in day to day life. Getting down in the ditch w/people all around us and actually caring for others rather than our own selves. Listening to these students respond in worship let us all know that they were hearing and the Word was doing what it does –

For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. Hebrews 4: 12

Watching some of these faces with names and souls come in to a relationship with Christ for the first time was humbling & overwhelming… it always is. The minute I forget or am desensitized by the Gospel is the minute I forget who I really am… and may I not forget what I came out of – but constantly remind myself of what He’s done for me; therefore, strive to live every day as an imitator – of Christ. To love those faces, the ones that have names and souls.