"We're on a mission from God"
I must confess that one of my favorite movies is still "The Blues Brothers." Throughout this film, replete with awesome soul music and car crashes, Jake and Elwood Blues repeat their mantra:"We're on a mission from God."
I believe these fine words might also be the mantra for Evangelical Lutheran Church this summer. We ARE on a mission from God, in lots of ways, but specifically we're up to some important mission trips you should know about.
Last week 20 youth and adults went to Elmira, New York. There, they repaired homes of elderly and physically challenged people who are extremely precious in the eyes of God. And, as is always the case, these 20 found themselves being ministered TO, even while they were ministering to others.
A few weeks from now, 34 more youth and adults will hop on a flight south to El Paso, Texas. Then we'll cross the river to work with the good people of Juarez, Mexico. Juarez has a significant population of poor people who are extremely precious in the eyes of God. I'm excited about this trip because I get to go along as a pastor/chaperone. We'll swing hammers and paint brushes. We'll sing praises and share scripture and love. The Holy Spirit will surprise us by a depth of love that comes when we live out this mission in faith.
Also during the month of July, Jack and Heidi from ELC will travel to the Northwest Territories of Canada to undertake a mission of helping teach young children the Bible. The trip will change many lives (especially theirs), and like the others extends the love of Christ beyond Frederick County, because we are on a mission from God.
Later in the summer we're going to live out this mission by renovating a home in Frederick with Habitat for Humanity. The congregation has made a special grant enabling this to happen. I fully expect that dozens of ELC'ers will participate, and that by the end of these summer days we will have over 100 people congregation wide who will have stories to tell about their summer of mission work!
God calls all the baptized to share in it, and the truth is that if you're reading these words God loves you too! If you want to join the mission work and live near ELC Frederick or Urbana, call, stop by, or send an email!
If you live elsewhere, why not check out www.elca.org and find a church close by or just start visiting churches so that the Spirit can introduce you to the church home where you will find life!
May Christ bless you!
Pastor Dave+