confessions of a young pastor

How Much Did it Cost?

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:39:11 -0400

I have been wondering lately how much did it cost for me to enter into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ? I know that Jesus paid it all through HIS death, burial and resurrection. I also know that Jesus invites HIS people into the mission of changing lives through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have been thinking about what the financial cost was for me to become a Christian because it did cost money!

How much did the vacation Bible school materials cost? How much did it cost to build Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Lanham? How much did it cost for Pastor Cato to go to school? How much did Pastor & Mrs. P. invest in their education before they taught that VBS class? But then I quickly began to realize my journey didn’t begin that week of VBS. Christ pursuit of me and a relationship with me began much earlier…How much did it cost to do ministry in the old old First Baptist of Glenarden & for Pastor Johnson to prepare for ministry? How much did it cost to start and run the churches in Beckley & Laeger, WVA my parents grew up in, because without their spiritual foundation where would I be? How much did it cost for the countless other preachers, teachers, musicians, tv & radio ministries, books, etc. etc. that God use to purse me? But God’s investment goes back longer than that…God has been inviting HIS people to use their dollars to change someone’s destination. That thought has blown my mind people throughout history have used their dollars to change my eternal destination.

Can you think of a better us of cash than to join with God to keep another person out of hell? People all through history joined God with small amounts of cash to help me enter into a relationship with Christ.

Now it’s our turn!!! We are beginning Lunch 4 LIFE as a way for us to join with God to use our small dollars to change destinations. Lunch 4 LIFE is pretty simple every Thursday for the next year we are asking that you fast during lunch, pray for LIFE fellowship and donate the money you would spend on lunch so we can work towards our mission of changing lives through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Join with us as we use our small dollars to change peoples destinations…it cost money to change lives and remember somebody else used their dollars to help change your destination. You can make your donations at our Lunch 4 LIFE page by clicking here.

What’s in a name

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 03:10:18 -0400

I was having a discussion with my wife regarding the title of an online article, I was having trouble because the title was a little miss leading and she was asking me what the big deal was it was only a title. My point was the title set the tone for the entire article and if the title was misleading I couldn’t fully appreciate the information presented. This leads us to how LIFE fellowship was selected as our name. The aim in choosing a name was to identify our purpose, give us direction (not only as we launch but for years to come), and have a name that is aligned with the mission of God. Not an easy task and one that was to difficult to accomplish alone...so we went to the Bible.

As I read through the Bible two recurring themes emerge from Genesis to Revelation, God desires to have an eternal relationship with us and for us to live in community.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
I John 1:1 - 4

Our purpose as a ministry is to tell the story of the person and work of Jesus Christ. HIS story is one that let’s us know that eternal LIFE is found only in HIM, so for us to include the mission of God in our name is major for us. To share the LIFE that Jesus desires to give we have to do this in the context of community, FELLOWSHIP with God and one another. With our purpose clearly shaped our direction can be formed around sharing LIFE in the context of community with the goal of developing FELLOWSHIP. I believe that our name will help us remember who we are, what we are called to be, and who we are called to serve...

LIFE fellowship is born!!!

How Did I Get Here?

Sat, 8 May 2010 10:53:54 -0400

Over the last year a lot of y’all have been asking various questions about the church plant. Do you know what your doing? Have you ever known anyone who has planted a church? What makes you qualified to plant a church? Have you thought about the cost this is going to take on you and your family? What is the church going to look like? And my personal favorite, are you CRAZY?

I have been asking a question myself...how did I get here? I don’t remember thinking you know what life is missing the exciting challenges of starting a new church or a one time big event that said starting a church is what your suppose to do. However, in examining my life I have seen hundreds of moments, decisions and relationships that have shaped, prepared and encouraged me into and along this journey.

Here is a sample of how God has use many small moments, good & bad, to prepare me for this moment: Mom & Dad, Lanham MD, Lil Sis, Reggie & Wesley, Mt. Calvary, Beckley WVA, Braxton/IDA/Dorothy/Virgie/Silas, Mrs. Holmes & Tindal, AWANA, Triples, Tucker Betts family reunions, Big Cheese, Mongoose FS1, Jean Wicks, Pentax K100, Butch, Calvin Brown, BSU, Waldorf MD, Jay Newkirk, Vegas, Big Boo, Shells, PG NICU, TuckerWhite Investments, Baltimore MD, Pastor Sterling, Pastor P, Murda, Victoria Park, Dallas TX, E, John Maxwell, and the list goes on and on. As I take a moment to look back, I see that God has been at working all the time for this moment that I believe will be used to change a city.

I challenge you to take a journey back through your history and look at the small to see how this isn’t isolated to me. Are you ready to make history? Let’s use these combination of moments, decisions, relationships to advance the Kingdom...