No Pain No Gain

I know that this is what is said, but I am not sure if I agree based on the pain that I am in now. For those that did not know I was in a 4-wheeler accident on Friday, the 17th of October and broke my tibia inside of the knee. I am scheduled to have surgery at 6:45 am tomorrow morning and I am actually looking forward to sleeping in the hospital tomorrow night seeing that I have been sleeping on the couch since this has happened.

I know a few were surprised that I preached on Sunday but as long as I am able, I will preach every week, even if that means from a wheelchair, not because I am anything special, but because I will not allow Satan to use this as a way to discourage what has been happening at UBC lately.

If you haven’t been to church in a while, or if you are just checking out the church through the website, we have started our college ministry called 159 Baptist Collegiate Ministry. We have began a Barnabas Ministry which is design to give us as church members a way to share the love of Christ with people who are away from home as they attend college or even if they are in the military. On Wednesday nights we are now rotating nights. The first Wednesday night is a prayer focus night and we are exploring different types of prayer on those nights. The second and fourth Wednesday nights are Bible study nights and we are praying that by January we will have a women’s and a men’s Bible study leader in place and we will begin doing some specific men’s and women’s studies. On the third Wednesday nights we are reaching outside of the walls by writing letters and cards and also going on visits to those in community or even using these nights for ministry outside the church.

There is a lot of things on the horizon that I pray we will have plenty of people to be a part of. There are many ministries that I want to begin and we need workers. I’ve said before that we are in a building state, but the plans for the building are glorious but it will take us all moving toward the same goal. Sometimes, even in the church, this leads to pain. But just as I am going to have to go through physical therapy to learn how to do the things that I have done for many years all over again, this too is what we have to do in the church. As we grow we will be re-learning to do ministry based on those whom God brings into our midst.

For our members, strap in and be prepared to receive the harvest and all that this brings. For those of you who maybe haven’t been to church in a while, come and see how you can be a part of what is going on, or even come share an idea of what God has laid on your heart. For those of you who are reading this as you explore our church, come give us a chance to be your eternal family and see what God is doing here at UBC.

Though I’m not real happy with the pain in my knee, I am ready and prepared for the pain that might come as God expands our ministry. I guess it is true…no pain, no gain.