What a blessing to see over 200 people from Bradfordville loving people in our city! The Love Tallahassee Leadership Team (Mark Purvis, Bridgette Gongalez, Verna Norris, and Mike Branch) served the Lord and His church well. Thank you guys for a job well done!
As we served people in our city, I’d like to pass along five thoughts from the day. It’s always good to pause and reflect on the day and ministry.
- We fulfilled our vision statement. Our vision statement says, “Bradfordville First Baptist Church exists to make disciples that love upward, inward, and outward.” It’s possible to have a vision statement on paper only. As your pastor, I applaud you for living out the church’s vision statement. You guys “loved outward” on Saturday!
- We saw different generations serving Jesus together. A healthy church is made up of different age groups. It thrills my heart to see people from different generations doing life and serving Jesus together. What a blessing to see God using people of all ages on Saturday!
- Our city got to see the church in action. Many people in our city have misconceptions about the local church. Is the church relevant and necessary? Is the church trying to get our money? Our church served many people on Saturday, and we never asked a single person for money. It was good for people in our city to encounter Bradfordville as she left the building!
- We had the opportunity to invest, invite, and introduce. Throughout our city on Saturday, we invested in new relationships; we invited many people to attend Bradfordville on Easter weekend; and we introduced many people to Jesus Christ. Praise God that He allowed us to sow spiritual seeds and water other seeds! Let’s never forget that the Lord is the One who gives the growth.
- We followed the example of Jesus. Jesus didn’t come to this earth to be served. He came to serve (Mk. 10:45). One picture I love to see of Jesus is found in John 13. John 13:1-5 reads, “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” Jesus knew how to take off the robe and pick up the towel. He served! On Saturday, I watched you take off the robe and pick up the towel. You served!
I’ve received many emails and texts, and had several conversations with people, about Love Tallahassee. Thank you for taking off the robe, picking up the towel, loving people in our city, and serving for His glory. God used you!
That’s Why I Love His Church,
Pastor Ronny
Isaiah 6:8