This past Sunday morning I was up early, like my mother and grandmother so many times before me, making chicken and dumplings for our annual church Thanksgiving meal. This being the Thanksgiving season, my mind turned toward my family and the many things for which I am thankful.
I thought of how blessed I am to have grown up in a Christian home where I was taught a love for Christ, for His Word, and for His church. I thanked God for such a small thing as my mother teaching me to make her chicken and dumplings. Now I carry on that tradition for our church and family meals.
Most of all I am thankful for God’s love and for Him waking me up one night and calling me to a relationship with Him. Then, several years later, He called me to special service. What a blessing and privilege it is to serve through my local church, association, and the Kentucky Baptist Convention.
I also thank God for the more than 30,000 short-term volunteers and the 100+ self-funded missionaries that have served with us this past year in Kentucky. Because of folks like these many needy families will have a hot meal this Thanksgiving. Also, many will have warm clothes and coats to wear this winter.
How rewarding it is to work behind the scenes and help connect individuals and mission teams to areas of need like these all across our state. When I go to the office each morning I never know what God is up to as I answer an email or phone call. It may be a lady from Florida calling to say she feels God leading her to serve in Appalachia, a South Carolina Baptist Men’s group feeling led to construct a new building for a small church in eastern Kentucky, a lady from Louisiana donating $40,000 toward a new house for a widow with a special needs son whose house is falling down, or a WMU group in Henry County who has collected cleaning and hygiene items for a ministry in Harlan County. Each day is full of nice surprises.
God is calling you as well. Have you responded to His call to a relationship with Him? Is He perhaps calling you to MISSIONS? Kentucky is full of opportunities. Let me help connect you to a place of service. Whatever gift, skill, or talent you may have we have a place for you. Go to our website (www.kybaptist.org/go) to view a list of opportunities to serve. Or, give me a call and let me help connect you to a blessing.
Have a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!!
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