30 Days of Thanks-Day 4

Today, I am thankful for my church community. I had the privilege of going home this weekend, and this morning I went back to my home church where I have been going since 1995, when I was 6. That's almost 20 years! Even though I haven't been back to that church in a while, as soon I walked in the door, I felt the same love and care from the people as I did when I walked in during my youth group years. People were still happy to see me and glad I was there. No one said anything about me not being there. They understand that life takes you to different place for different seasons.

I am so thankful for the foundation that the people of this church helped me developed. They loved me, encouraged me, guided me, and supported me in the many different stages of my life, and still continue to do so. There are people who I can call today and I know they would be there for me if I needed.

In DC in 2006!

There are people who have taught me to have a servant heart. I am blessed to have had a youth pastor that was not afraid to teach his youth to serve. He instilled in us a missions mindset and helped developed us as leaders. We weren't a perfect youth group, but we were given so many opportunities to serve others in our church and in our communities. The adult volunteers in the youth group taught us what it means to care about others. So many of the adults that worked with us youth were there because they cared about us and had a passion for youth. They helped us to grow in our journey and walked with us. I have so many adults that I am thankful for from my youth for their positive influence and the example they set for me. These adults taught me so much more than just a simple lesson place. They taught me about life, about relationships, about love, about caring, about forgiveness, about what it means to be part of a family, and about what it means to be part of a community of faith. These people invested in my life and cared about me and I can see their influence today as I am in school preparing to go into ministry.

At Caswell in 2009 when I worked there

Because of what they have done for me, I think about the impact I have on other people and what kind of blessing I am to others. I want people to feel the love and compassion from me that I have the privilege of receiving from so many people over the years. I want people to feel like I am investing in them, whether I am in their life for just a season or for a long time.

My church community has greatly shaped how I view ministry and community and I am thankful for the example they set for me so that I may go out and carry on that example for others.