Heart to Heart
For the last couple months, a group of us have been working our way through a book, entitled “BLESS – 5 Everyday Ways To LOVE Your Neighbor And Change The World.”
It has been a great study, with all kinds of practical strategies that reinforce expressing love to our neighbors through 5 actions: prayer, listening, sharing a meal together, serving and telling our Jesus stories. I have been encouraged as different people from FAC have described putting these strategies into action and seeing neighbors & co-workers respond.
One of the 5 key strategies is “serving others”, which also happens to be one of our church core values. It’s in serving and loving on others, that we communicate in words and actions, the Help & Hope that Jesus Christ has brought to our world.
Over the last couple weeks, I’ve watched people in my neighborhood go to great lengths to decorate their homes for Halloween. Some decorations are cute, with their creative light displays. But far more prominent are the dark, scary figurines of monsters, witches, and ghosts/spirits. The dark side is on full display, as parents unknowingly introduce impressionable children to the “principalities and powers” the Scriptures warn, are working relentlessly in the spiritual realm to keep people enslaved by sin and far from God.
As a church, we have chosen to offer a Halloween alternative that lifts up Jesus, and shines the light of His love, through family-friendly activities and games. That’s why we make the effort to host the “Party @ The Patch” each year. We want our neighbors and friends to have an alternative that highlights God’s goodness. The Scripture says, “taste and see that God is good.” So, we provide free food, fun family activities and give away prizes & candy bags throughout the evening. This year, we will also be inviting parents to live life without the masks and discover the reality of a God who loves us despite all our failures and shortcomings. Hebrews 2:15 tells us that Jesus came to free people from the fear of death and the forces of darkness. We want to stay “on mission together” as we promote Jesus as the true Light of the World.
So, thanks in advance to all who will serve our community on Saturday, Oct.31st at The Party @ The Patch. We also appreciate your generosity in donating the candy & treats for the kiddos. Let’s start praying now, that God’s Spirit would touch hearts as we serve our guests in Jesus’ name on Saturday, the 31st.
It’s a joy being teamed together with you - Pastor Adriaan & Diana ><>