WOW!!!!!

Yesterday was the culmination of an amazing time in the life of our church. After months of preparation, we officially called an African-American to serve on our staff here at MHBC. What was so incredible was the fact that not only was this individual called, but he was voted on unanimously, and was received with great enthusaism. As a 72 year-old Anglo church, that was an amazing step forward for us as we strive to reach everyone in the community surrounding our church campus. God has blessed us with the opportunity to reach children and youth from all backgrounds, but we have been unable to connect to their families. I pray that yesterday was the first step in building new bridges to those of different ethnicities in our community and city.

It has always baffled me that we go to work with people from different backgrounds, we workout at the gym with people of different races, we dine in the same restaraunts with those that are unlike us, and even cheer on our children at sporting events with those from different cultures, yet we are unable,too many times, to be united by the one thing that should unite us the most: our love for Jesus.

I don't know what the future looks like for MHBC, but I can't wait to see what God is going to do next!

A Team Sport

As football season gets going full speed, I am reminded of the significance of team. There are so many talented players that play football week after week, yet they rarely win. Some teams, in fact, are loaded with talent, yet they seem unable to pull together to outscore their opponent. Many times, the problem is that all the talent in the world can not win unless the individuals realize that they are part of the whole. The team must become more important than the individual if success is going to be a reality.
Church is the same way. Success, defined as honoring God, does not occur in the life of the church unless the whole becomes more important than the individual. Like a talented football team that can not win, a church with loads of talented people, plenty of financial stability, and beautiful buildings can not accomplish success if they do not work together to pursue a common goal. Team is essential if the church is going to become everything God intends it to be.