Today the weather shifted and so did our activities. We travelled throughout Culburra visiting an Op-shop, IRT Retirement Village and a Skate Park!
Op-Shop: Matt M and Leonie headed into Culburra to help out with the local Op-shop run by the church. It was such an encouragement to see brothers and sisters in Christ working alongside non-Christians to help out and serve the local community. A ministry, which is deeply rooted in the biblical principles of helping those in need and not showing favouritism. A truth which we were reminded of in our devotional that morning.
‘My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there”, or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated amoung yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? James 2:1-4.
Whilst at the Op-Shop, God also opened up doors for conversations to talk about the Gospel. Some of which, involved people who had never heard the Gospel before.
IRT Retirement Village: Sam and Matt G headed off to the local IRT Retirement Village. Sam gave a talk on inheritance and the glorious inheritance to come. An inheritance that’s bigger than anything you could earn, but received as a child does – for free!! The inheritance of salvation, which Christians look forward to.
Matt gave his testimony on how God has graciously worked through his life, and of his peace and assurance in Christ.
Both Sam and Matt enjoyed speaking to solid Christians living within the village and were encouraged by their steadfast faith and perseverance.
Skate Park: In the afternoon, we all headed off to the skate park to help out with the local working bee. Thankfully no bones were broken, but a lot of back breaking work was performed by Sam, Matt G and the minister Paul McPhail. Between the three of them, they helped transport mulch from a seemingly never ending pile, into a newly built outdoor gym area. Showing that Jesus is….pretty active and not afraid of hard work!
Matt M and Leonie fed the troops, whilst boldly wearing their Jesus is….. shirts for all to see. These shirts opened up several conversations amongst the locals, in particular one man who claimed that Jesus is….non-existent. Non-existent was a theme that was fairly consistent throughout most conversations. Showing that the harvest is still plentiful and we as workers have plenty of work to do. Ringing true the words of Matt 9:37-38, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to sendoutworkers into his harvest field.’
