| Welcome to the First Baptist Church of Norwich 239 West Main Street Norwich, Connecticut Phone: 860-889-0369 |
Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"Stepping Out With God"
August 4, 2010
Someone saw the pictures from our New York City mission trip and made
a joke about us walking along the boardwalk on Coney Island. They said, "I
would have signed up if I knew you were taking a mission trip to the
beach!"
We were on the beach but it wasn't a picnic. Walking the Boardwalk last
week was one of the most uncomfortable things I have ever done. You see,
we weren't just there to do some sight seeing. We were doing outreach for
the Salt & Sea Mission of Coney Island.
Rocco, the director of the center, sent us out with fruit snacks to give
away. We were told to offer the snacks and to hand out Bible tracts to
everyone we met. Rocco said this is how they engage the homeless in the
area and tell them about Christ. I started to protest and say that we didn't do
that kind of thing in Norwich but something stopped me.
This was a different world than I live in. I wasn't comfortable in it but I
think that's the point of mission work. God calls us out of our comfort
zones to minister to people who don't know the blessings we know.
The Salt & Sea Mission was begun by Debbe Santiago in 1987. She was
homeless and living under the Boardwalk. She was caught up in addiction
and literally killing herself day by day. Then someone reached out to her
with the love of God and her life was changed forever.
With her shackles removed, Debbe vowed to make something of her life.
She began preaching to the homeless and before long she opened the Salt &
Sea Mission. She fed them. She helped them get medical treatment. She
found them homes. Many of the volunteers today were once homeless
themselves.
Rocco said that it began with a tract. Someone gave Debbe that little
brochure and she read it and threw it away. It was like a seed planted in the
ground. Days later she thought about it again when someone came along
handing out food. They mentioned Christ and she decided she wanted to
know more.
Sometimes God calls us out of our comfort zones. One of our members
was asked to say a prayer in the worship service at Salt & Sea. She wasn't
a public speaker and she politely said "No, thank you." We kidded her
afterward. The truth is that too many of us say "No thank you" to God
because we feel uncomfortable. When that happens we miss out on
watching God work miracles.
When you answer the call of God and step out of your comfort zone, you
will see some amazing things. Debbe's story and the Salt & Sea Mission is a
testimony to that. Don't let your unease rob you of the blessings. When God
calls, say "Yes Lord. Here I am. Send me."
God Bless! See you in church. Cal
August 4, 2010
Someone saw the pictures from our New York City mission trip and made
a joke about us walking along the boardwalk on Coney Island. They said, "I
would have signed up if I knew you were taking a mission trip to the
beach!"
We were on the beach but it wasn't a picnic. Walking the Boardwalk last
week was one of the most uncomfortable things I have ever done. You see,
we weren't just there to do some sight seeing. We were doing outreach for
the Salt & Sea Mission of Coney Island.
Rocco, the director of the center, sent us out with fruit snacks to give
away. We were told to offer the snacks and to hand out Bible tracts to
everyone we met. Rocco said this is how they engage the homeless in the
area and tell them about Christ. I started to protest and say that we didn't do
that kind of thing in Norwich but something stopped me.
This was a different world than I live in. I wasn't comfortable in it but I
think that's the point of mission work. God calls us out of our comfort
zones to minister to people who don't know the blessings we know.
The Salt & Sea Mission was begun by Debbe Santiago in 1987. She was
homeless and living under the Boardwalk. She was caught up in addiction
and literally killing herself day by day. Then someone reached out to her
with the love of God and her life was changed forever.
With her shackles removed, Debbe vowed to make something of her life.
She began preaching to the homeless and before long she opened the Salt &
Sea Mission. She fed them. She helped them get medical treatment. She
found them homes. Many of the volunteers today were once homeless
themselves.
Rocco said that it began with a tract. Someone gave Debbe that little
brochure and she read it and threw it away. It was like a seed planted in the
ground. Days later she thought about it again when someone came along
handing out food. They mentioned Christ and she decided she wanted to
know more.
Sometimes God calls us out of our comfort zones. One of our members
was asked to say a prayer in the worship service at Salt & Sea. She wasn't
a public speaker and she politely said "No, thank you." We kidded her
afterward. The truth is that too many of us say "No thank you" to God
because we feel uncomfortable. When that happens we miss out on
watching God work miracles.
When you answer the call of God and step out of your comfort zone, you
will see some amazing things. Debbe's story and the Salt & Sea Mission is a
testimony to that. Don't let your unease rob you of the blessings. When God
calls, say "Yes Lord. Here I am. Send me."
God Bless! See you in church. Cal
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |