A few weeks ago The River of Tampa Bay began planning a Spanish Christmas outreach. Many details were discussed and many man hours were put in to prepare for such a large event. So, after many hours of prayer and preparation the day finally came.
The first thing I saw when making the corner into the church property was a parking lot about a quarter of the way full with the cars of the many volunteers who were there about an hour and half before service. Also we had eight charter buses parked out in front of the church getting ready to make there rounds .This was expecting I knew that was going to be a big day for Jesus and we would get to be a part of it.
This was to be an amazing experience .To see so many of Gods people work together for one purpose, SOULS, was so encouraging. I believe that it was a life changing day for the 1335 people in attendance. We saw over 300 River members serve in the ministry of helps. With 345 people answering the altar call. To be apart of something that has such an impact on eternity was a huge honor for us all.
Pastor Rodney closed the service, but the day was not over. Pastor Eric then made the announcement that it time for us to give away the toys and the boxes of food; After the church emptied into the parking lot, many children were blessed with toys that were given to them in the name of Jesus. To actually get to physically show these children the goodness of God is awesome. But not only were the children blessed; the adults were given food that should last them about a week, which means we were able to feed them spiritually and physically. This is what people need to hear and see how much God loves them. We are so thankful that God is using us for His plan and purpose.
October 4th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
A retired preacher, whom I do respect, once told me “I’ve always been taught that’s what the scripture means there” (the subject isn’t important here). What he was saying that he believed something was scriptural because he was always taught that. Not because the Bible teaches it. It suprised me, especially coming from him. He is a solid Word-man, but this “tradition” was blinding his thinking on that subject. And he wouldn’t budge. For example: We’ve been taught Noah was 120 years building the Ark – (Gen. 6:3) But Genesis 11:10 states: “These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood” – Since Shem was one of Noah’s sons and on the Ark, and when God commissioned Noah to build it he was told to bring his sons and his sons wives into the ark, (so they had to exist then…Gen. 6:18) it could not have taken that long to build it. The numbers don’t add up. This is only one thought, but sometimes things in the Bible are assumed, then taught as tradition, and that tradition is passed on and on then it is hard to break in the minds of those who believe it. Jesus certainly broke tradition, when he ate with “sinners” (Mark 2:15-17), healed a man on the sabbath (Matt. 12:9-14) etc. David did it when he ate the shewbread “which was not lawful to eat” (Luke 6:4) It’s always good to check things out for yourself in God’s Word and “rightly divide” the Word of Truth (2 Tim. 2:15) May God break the walls that hinder His working in our lives.