WHAT A CARD!
What a card! These brothers and sisters are 'Aces' with me! I am so impressed with the card-carrying members of Pastor Rick's Friendship Baptist Church in Vicksburg, Arizona, that I felt compelled to give them the Graceland seal of approval by 'dealing out' the facts about their very special card ministry.
Now before you get your "clubs' out because you think that I am suggesting that there is a Baptist Church somewhere in this world that plays cards-get that idea out of your head right now! You should know better than that! Just have a "heart' and listen to this shining 'diamond' of a story!
The card ministry that I am alluding to is a ministry that Pastor Rick developed in the mid 1980's as a way of touching lives with the care and encouragement of Christ. It started when people in their congregation were sick, or in mourning over the loss of a loved one, and unable to make it out to the worship service. When circumstances like this happened, people in the church were encouraged to send a thoughtful card-just to let those afflicted know that they were missed and in the prayers of Friendship Baptist.
After a while this prayer/card ministry 'shuffled' over the edge of the congregation and into the lives of extended families and friends.
Pastor Rick writes:
We have ministered to just about everyone you can think of and just about every situation from terminal illness, to drug problems, and even to some people that are incarcerated for serious crimes including murder. The results have been phenomenal, and you wouldn't believe some of the fantastic testimonials we have received."
Pastor Rick recently recounted one particular life story that their card ministry has touched. He wrote:
"I think the one that really sticks in my mind is the one where a young lady from Holland who was on drugs, a prostitute, and was on the brink of suicide knelt and gave her life to the Lord, AND THEN (get this) flew all the way to the States, rented a car in Phoenix and drove out to this "little" church just to give her testimony and thank us!!!!! There wasn't a dry eye in the house, and after church I drove 40 miles (with 36 car loads of people from the church following) and I baptized her that very day in the Colorado river!!!!!! WHAT A JOYYYYYYYYYYYY !!!"How did I come in contact with this ministry? Well, I've known Pastor Rick for three or four years now. I can't quite remember how we met online, but we did. Let's just say that it was a "God thing." It has to be because of the amount of love and encouragement I have received from this humble man of God. Anyway, when Rick found out that my mom was diagnosed with cancer, he immediately asked for her name and address. Since then my mom in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada has received a pile of heart-warming, caring cards from concerned lovers of Christ in a small country church a couple of thousand miles away in Arizona. She has never met these people, nor has she ever been to Arizona, and she ain't even Baptist either! None of that seems to matter to these special people! The impact of Friendship Baptist on my mother's life, faith and health has been tremendous! Hats off and two big thumbs way, way up for these wonderful Christ-centered people!
OK, what do I want you to
chew on for the next while?
Often we think that the business of ministry is complicated. We think it requires lots of planning and programming and education. We need ministry budgets and ministry projections and focus groups. All these things are helpful in some circumstances, (some times I wonder about that) but they aren't mandatory. Ministry can be as simple as eight names in a bulletin, a few pens and a few more cards. Whenever we do something to connect with another person and let them know that they are loved by Christ, ministry happens. Friendship Baptist reminds us that a humble ministry, bathed in prayer, is more powerful than a basketful of budgets and plans.
Finally, I've said it before, and I'll say it again-never underestimate the power of encouragement. Our world and our lives have a way of isolating us and wearing us down. It is the easiest thing in the world to feel alone and overwhelmed. The greatest gift we can give to someone else is the message that they aren't alone! To know that others care enough to pray for us and connect with us-even through a card in the mail, can be a life-changing breath of hope. The business of encouragement is so easy and so needed, I really wonder why it is that we don't encourage one other more often. Maybe we're just too wrapped up in ourselves? I'll leave that question for you to answer.
What can you do this week to encourage someone in need? Remember it doesn't have to be a particularly time-consuming, or brain intensive thing--it just has to be done from the heart-in faith. Let me help you out by making a simple suggestion-why not send someone a card?
If you have any thoughts, or comments, or just want to connect with someone, click on my name at the bottom of this page and I promise to write back.
