The Great Commission vs Opposition

Today has begun with an interesting turn of events.  We showed up at the church, prayed up for the kids, packed up the things needed for the Backyard Bible Clubs, and loaded up the cars and headed up to the apartment complex we were scheduled to be with. 

We stepped out of the cars and the apartment manager, a woman who claims Jesus as her Savior, met us at the curb.  The posters we placed were gone.  The Fair Housing representative have been contacted from a complaintant.  Not only were we not allowed to come in, the office manager is now under fire and has been warned about saying, "Thank You, Jesus" or "in Jesus' Name" while on the premises.  This dear lady had gone shopping and bought snacks for the kids.  I don't know if you know much about the apartment community, but a manager caring like this does not happen often.

I cried on the way back to the church.  I know there are kids there who were expecting us to come and who were upset because they didn't get to "Party With Jesus" like the flyers said.  One man said that his family had come to the Easter Egg Hunt outreach.  The kids were excited to see the church van and now we cannot have a Bible Club there.  When we returned to the church, we prayed for those kids and for the apartment manager and for God to remove the roadblocks to the gospel in that neighborhood.

Because God loves me, a good friend and fellow ministry leader for Mercy Abounds, Jeremy Vinson, reminded me of a certain verse to meditate on.   "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:11-12 I will tell you, we didn't leave the church without a plan. 

I respectfully ask that you share this blog with your prayer warriors and those you know with certainty care about the salvation of these children.  We need God to protect us as we go into these neighborhoods and we need Him to stop the opposition or tell us how to get around it.  We also need God to strengthen the Brethren so that we stand in the armor of God and get ready for this fight.  Pray that they will not be lukewarm but on fire for God and passionate for winning the souls of these kids and their families. 

Tomorrow night is our weekly outreach for the church.  While we are at another apartment complex, the church and a representative from Mercy Abounds will be going to this same complex we weren't allowed to go to and personally apologize for not being able to keep our word.  The youth will take with them New Testaments that would've been given away to those who would've participated.  Inside each New Testament is contact information on our church Green Acres Baptist and this ministry, Mercy Abounds.  If anyone volunteers to let us come to thier home to do the club, we can. 

We not only have the permission of Christ to go into all the world but a command to do so. Despite the opposition, we are to carry out the Great Commission. There are lives literally depending on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Please pray for us as we endeavor to carry out that command and the calling Christ has given this ministry. 

Everywhere I look lately I become aware of the apartment complexes and neighborhoods and I think, "There are kids there who don't know Christ."  It is a heavy burden but a welcome one.  Remember also while we can't get in, neither can the children get out.  I was reminded of Paul and Silas singing in the basement of the prison and how God broke into that place fulfilling His promise to inhabit the praise of His people.  Faye and I prayed that while we sang His praises at this complex with these children that He would do the same thing again.  Won't you pray with us?  Please share this blog with those you know will pray.

"For greater things are yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city..." Chris Tomlin "God of This City". http://youtu.be/c6iAlnKc20Y

To God be the Glory,
Jamie