Family Night

A few weeks ago we each got to choose which one of the ministry teams we wanted to serve on while in Ocean City. There is the international team, community team, family night team, prayer team, outreach team, and the stewardship/operations team. Each team has responsibilities of their own and a mission statement that they aim to fulfill. It's so cool to hear about the work each team is doing and to see the different approaches they have.

I chose to serve on the family night team....so fun! We plan the weekly meetings that encourage and challenge the family we have on project. Our mission is "to provide a time each week to refresh, revitalize, and encourage each other individually and as a body through worship, testimonies, fellowship, and teaching of the Word". It's been so great to see the different ideas everyone has about what family night should look like and for the 5 of us on the team to be creative with the time we have each Wednesday night.

On Wednesday, June 9th we had the first family night of OCMD Summer Project 2010! Everything flowed well, there was great authentic worship, a heartfelt testimony, an encouraging talk, and time to share prayers/praise. This first night made me so excited for Wednesday nights! It's such a great time for us all to be united and take a breath of fresh air in the middle of a stressful week.

Michael's talks have been more and more challenging as the weeks go on. The first week was on the ministry of Jesus. What can we learn about how to do ministry from Jesus? Jesus started his ministry by being assured in his position. Jesus knew His purpose. We were challenged to think of our purpose...not just in Ocean City, but in life. As Christians, we have been called to be a witness. The great part is He hasn't only called us, but He's equipped us!! But where is your specific mission field? Jesus set another example for us by the way he spent his time. If you look at Mark 1:35 you see that Jesus set aside time to spend with the Father. We should, too!! Michael stressed the idea that if we don't make this a priority, we will not succeed. The apartment is too small, the space is too tight, the pace is too fast, and the people are always around. We must order our private world!

The second week we looked at Mark 2:1-12. What kept the paralytic from Jesus? The crowd around Him....the "bubble". How did the paralytic finally get to Jesus? The four men who had enough faith to be proactive and not give up. Often times the Christian bubble can keep people from Jesus....but do we have enough faith to step out of that bubble and stick with someone who is spiritually paralyzed? The bubble is meant to be thin, accessible, and attractive...not something that causes more harm than good. Jesus also shows a great example of this when He eats with tax collectors. He doesn't sit inside the bubble shouting "hey! I'm in here!! Come and find me!"...He goes to them. Jesus lived outside of the bubble but in the light.

I loved Michaels talk last week on Mark 4. He talked to us about "seed chucking". In Mark 4:1-20 a parable is told about scattering seed...some fell along the path, some on rocky places, some among the thorns, and some fell on good soil. Just as the farmer does, we should be planting seeds (the Gospel) everywhere we go. Instead, we worry about making sure the soil is great before we plant the seed. We don't take the risk of chucking seeds and we don't trust God enough to prepare the soil. He can do that without us! We don't need to check out the soil to make sure it's good enough!!

Last night was the last Family Night with the staff. Everyone says project gets better once they leave because the students step up...but I don't want them to leave! Each of them has challenged me in so many ways and it's sad to see them go. On the other hand, I'm so excited!! I know great things will happen these last 5 weeks in Ocean City and I can't wait to see what God teaches all of us individually and as a unit. :) But back to family night....last night Michael spoke about Mark 5. When a problem arises my first reaction is "Okay, how do I fix this?". Similarly, the sick woman in Mark 5:21-43 tried to heal her illness on her own. For 12 years she went from doctor to doctor in hopes of being healed and for 12 years it failed. After years of suffering she finally brought it into the light where Jesus was and she was healed. We can easily become just as self reliant as the sick woman, refusing to take the risk of letting our problem be known. Jarius, the father of the dead girl, took his problem to Jesus first. Along with the problem, he also brought his community with him. Jarius wasn't self dependent, he was God dependent. He wasn't afraid to let his problem be known, he shared it with community so that they could support him. Although everyone said Jarius' daughter was dead and a lost cause, Jarius didn't give up. He trusted Jesus when He said don't be afraid and later saw Jesus take the lost cause by the hand and bring her to life. Jesus healed the lost cause. The lost cause was no longer lost. Have you given up on lost causes? Don't pinpoint them as dead and give up....Jesus is a God of lost causes!!

At the end of family night last night the staff team went to the front of the room. Michael wrapped a few things up, shared his excitement for the rest of the summer, called the new student leaders to the front of the room, and stated to the entire project "the project is now yours". So as of last night the project is now ours. Wow!! Not only is it strange to me that the staff are leaving but it is strange that I am one of the women that was called to step up. As of last night I am the new womens director of the project, meaning that I facilitate discussion in the weekly women's time meetings on Thursday nights. I am so excited for the many challenges that will come along with this and for the change that will be made. I have no clue what to expect, but I guess it's kinda good to just expect the unexpected. Prayers for this new position would be greatly appreciated :)


.....sorry it took so long to post and that this was SO long!! Keep reminding me to blog more often...I tend to lose track of time :)