Those of us on the children’s ministry team at Christ Journey had decided that this summer we wanted to do our kids camp in an apartment complex in our community. We had been praying over this decision, and kind of getting stressed about finding one, when we get a phone call out of the blue. The phone call is from the director of Harvest House, a local agency that helps with food and clothing for those in emergency situations. Alice tells us that there is a local apartment complex that is government subsidized and has 155 residents under the age of 18 (most of which are on free and reduced lunches at school and the parents have a hard time feeding them in the summer.) She starts telling us an idea she has to fix weekly lunches for the residents, in the clubhouse of the complex, and how Harvest House would provide the food but they needed a church or organization to do the leg work. She says that when she was thinking and praying about who could help Christ Journey Church came to her mind. We then tell her how we had been praying about an apartment complex that would host our Kids Kamp and she said that would be an awesome end to the month of lunches. Not only that, but we are partnering with some other local organizations that help with groceries, getting healthcare, etc.. and these organizations will be setting up booths at the kids camp. handing out info, providing fun prizes for the kids, and helping fund the kids camp. So, each Thursday in July we are providing lunches and a sack of groceries for each family in the complex and the first Saturday in August we will conclude our time there with a Kids Kamp, cookout, and concert!
Today was our first lunch…and Wow, what an awesome time had by all! One lady said, “Are ya’ll having a bible study or something, is that why you’re providing lunch?” My answer was, “Nope, we just want to serve you guys in this way and get to know you.” I am overjoyed and overwhelmed with what God has dropped in our laps this summer. The answers He gave to our prayers were more than I could have ever imagined. My favorite parts of today were seeing some of our kids & teenagers (with adults help) going to the apartments and personally inviting people to join us (fliers were given to all the residents earlier in the week, but what a wonderful thing for our kids to experience!) Watching our kids help set up and serve, watching people be shocked that they could just come and eat (and take groceries home) for free and that nothing was expected in return, getting to watch God in action, seeing how exciting it was for the adults at CJ, brainstorming ideas of how we can serve this apartment complex in the future, and knowing that all the stress and craziness of pulling it off was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO worth it! Please be in prayer about our weekly lunches and kids camp.
This scripture has been on my heart since I left there this afternoon…..”Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Eph 3:20-21
