My Church Family

I have felt God leading me into this venture since last fall.  As communication with the Routons continued, after considering ideas of topics that would specifically help the Haiti pastors, and after much prayer on my part, God seemed to let that desire deepen in my soul. 

One of the first tasks was to enlist a group of prayer warriors.  God sent nineteen. The next item was to design a blog page and start promoting the mission trip and how people could get involved. Other than to begin on the teaching material, I needed to promote how people could partner with me through finances.

Over the last seven months, I have received donations from family and friends which I humbly appreciate.  This was a non-budgeted adventure for me and I knew God would provide through His people. BUT....

I want to tell you about my church family, Crossroads Baptist, in Buffalo.  I served at a church once and asked for five prayer warriors for another mission trip.  I received no interest.  No one even asked how my trip went.  So, initially, I just let the Crossroads know I was planning to go on a mission trip to Haiti this summer.  Some asked about it especially after I had the Routons to come and talk about their work in Haiti.

As time went along I decided I would put the opportunity out there for anyone interested in being a prayer warrior to sign the sheet in the foyer. I was going to let God do the prompting and be grateful for those who signed up.  When I went to look at the sheet, I was taken back. Fifteen had signed up, later three more, and then had a friend on Facebook joined the team.  Great foundation for getting this mission trip off the ground.

About a month and a half ago, some members came up to me and ask if the church could help me financially. Again I was taken back. Since then the church has sold T-shirts and sponsored a church wide garage sale at a member's home.  I went there on a Wednesday night after service when people were to show up and help setup and also to start bringing their items.  I was the second to arrive.

I went over to visit with the lady's husband.  As I was talking, I was paying attention to the cars that were coming. And they kept coming.  I thought I was in the movie, "The Field of Dreams". Here they came and begin to unload their cars and trucks.  I was taken back.  Wow!  I heard that during the two day sale others brought and bought items.

When it was over, I realized that this had been a project for the folks to rally around and unify themselves for another common cause.  The children of the church had also been taking up a mission offering to go to the trip.  To say the least, when all was done and the sales money along with the children's donation was counted, there was a healthy donation.  On top of that, a few others in the church made personal donations. I was/am totally humbled and taken back.  These efforts will go far in making this trip a reality.

Truthfully, I should not have been taken back.  My God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than I or you could ever dream of.  I should never have hestitated.  My God and my church were/are awesome.