Building faith
I wanted to update you on the opportunity of preaching at Ohio Changers last week. (And to thank the church for the time given to go and serve in this manner.) There were eight work site where work was completed during the week. From replacing siding on the back of a story house (it had to be removed for city mandated electrical work but the family couldn’t afford to have it replaced), to a set of concrete steps up the hill to the house which had to be removed and then replaced (again a city mandated repair) along with the pad at the top and the sidewalk below, to extremely overgrown yards and lots, to porches repaired and roofs patched, to garage roofs painted and so much more.
The adults and teens on the crews were outstanding in performing the physical work and then also in the spiritual work of sharing with home owners and neighbors about the love of Jesus being the reason they would come and do this for free. (Pictures available at Facbook.com/OHIOChangers.)
There is worship service each day with a lot of time to interact and share with one another. On the first night each participant was given an index card to share a prayer request, or a question or something they would like to discuss with me. Amy and I traveled to the sites each day to encourage the crews and also to engage, pray and answer the questions. Also on the first day of camp, I gave everyone a card for them to write out their testimony to be able to share with those they would encounter while out on sites.
One young man asked me if I could help him with his. As we sat down and talked, it became apparent he did not have a testimony (yet). Knowing that his dad was at the camp, I called him over and shared with him our conversation to that point. Then dad and son found a quiet place where dad shared the gospel once again with him, and the young man declared his desire for Jesus to save him. Afterward he came to share with me, “Now I have a testimony!” Definitely a highlight for this week.
While the crews definitely changed the houses they worked on through the week, this work will deteriorate over time. However, the work The Changer (The Lord) did in the hearts of those who attended and who heard the gospel, is eternal. Just ask Jonas, who came lost and went home a child of God.
Pressing on…
Ron Tipton, Senior Pastor
