Last week, while attending the Kentucky Baptist Convention, I received such an uplifting email from KY-MSC Missionary Keith Decker. In addition to serving as Executive Director of Cedaridge Ministries, Keith serves as pastor of Black Oak Baptist Church in Williamsburg.
On Sunday, November 13, Black Oak Baptist Church went to Mr. Gatti’s Pizza for a children/youth outing. Most of us know that Mr. Gatti’s offers a buffet with pizza, pasta, salad, dessert, and a game room. It is a favorite spot for many, not just youth.
The church paid for the meal. Keith shared that, as they were eating, several of the young people came up to him and asked if they could go back for more food and drinks. “Yes,” Keith said to them, “you can get all you want. It is an all-you-can-eat buffet.”
A little blond-headed boy came and gave Keith a big hug, followed by several others. “It was then I realized that some of our kids had never been to a place where they could eat all they wanted,” Keith said. “It just blessed my heart. We were doing something that would touch these children for the rest of their lives. We were ministering to our children/youth with a simple trip to Mr. Gatti’s. It reminded me of what Jesus meant when He talked about caring for the sheep. It was one of the most blessed times I have had in an outing.”
Keith said his mind raced back several years to when he had first started in ministry and took his first group of kids to Mr. Gatti’s. He realized then that many of the children had never had a full stomach before. He shared that with the restaurant manager, to which the manager replied, “whatever these children eat and drink is free.”
Keith sees God in the little things. “I just thought how amazing God is,” Keith said. “It is such a privilege to be used by Him.”
At one time Keith was one of those little boys that didn’t have all he wanted to eat. God has blessed him and now allows him to minister to boys and girls who also are less fortunate.
As we enter Thanksgiving week let’s look for God in the “little things” and thank Him for His blessings on us, even a pizza…or turkey and the trimmings.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Wow. So special, still brings me to tears.