‘…Well
done, good and faithful servant!’
From Matthew 25:21
Jesus delights in those who serve faithfully.
In His
parable, Jesus gives kudos to one who serves with excellence and faithfulness.
Some say food is love. And, God's love is evident at this table!
Jesus’ people continue to serve faithfully today.
‘What a wonderful
group of servants. Thank you so much for providing the food and helping to make
the (PET OH-Stow) Open House such a success. It is so much appreciated. I
enjoyed meeting everyone from your Community Group. Lots of energy in your
group.’
Vince Petno, Founder & President
of the PET Place in Stow, Ohio
Those kudos
from Vince Petno are for a Christ Community Chapel (CCC) Community Group that
served hands-on in providing hospitality for the May 15th, 2016 Open
House at the local PET (Personal Energy Transportation) cart manufacturing
facility. Group members bought, prepared and served food for the Open House
guests. Members also did set-up and tear-down after the event.
But wait…There’s More!
The
servant-volunteers also wholeheartedly embraced the mission of the PET Place – to
provide appropriate mobility in the name of Jesus Christ to leg-disabled
children of God in developing countries.
Sometimes
when we’re available to serve, God shows us more of what He is doing. At the Open
House, the Community Group members watched a video demonstrating how the gift
of a mobility cart can change the life of a leg-disabled recipient for the
better. The cart recipients also receive
a presentation of the Gospel, the greatest gift ever offered.
After watching the video, group volunteers
also went on a tour of the PET manufacturing facility.
In other
words, they not only provided the requested hospitality, but also synched up
with the heartbeat of the PET ministry. The Community Group embraced the
‘hospitality’ assignment with enthusiasm and energy, going above and beyond the
serving that was requested. For example…
One group
member commented that he was more than willing to go ‘over budget,’ donating of
his own money and effort to make sure that the food offered was first-rate. His
priority was that the guests felt very welcome.
Another took
extensive photos, so he could give slide shows to people he could interest in
the mission of PET.
Still
another Community Group member morphed from a food server to a social butterfly,
making sure that visitors to the Open House had company, and someone to tell
them about the heartbeat of the PET ministry.
Good and
faithful servants have their eyes open to opportunities to be active ambassadors
for the Kingdom of God!
You can’t out-give God.
The above
and beyond serving of this Community Group prompted many ‘thank-yous’ from the
PET team. Here is the response from one
of the Community Group servant-leaders:
‘It was certainly our
pleasure. We are thrilled to be
part of a church that loves to serve others.’
When God is
at work in His people, a virtuous cycle of grace, faithful service and
thanksgiving kicks in.
Looking for a thrill? Opportunity knocks!
Members and
friends of Christ Community Chapel are invited to prayerfully consider the
following options:
Donating to
PET OH-Stow, so more of God’s children can be lifted out of crawling in the
dirt, and into a life of dignity and mobility. Your gift could be doubled, since there is a matching pledge in
place right now. You can donate at https://petohstow.org
, or by sending a check to: PET OH-Stow,
3760 Lovina Lane,
Stow, OH 44224.
Mobilizing
your Community Group to serve with one of Christ Community Chapel’s ministry
partners. For more information, contact barbara.ammirati@ccchapel.com .
If you’re
not yet connected in a Community Group, contact CCC’s Mike Holwerda at: mike.holwerda@ccchapel.com .
Joining a Community Group is a great way to actively know Jesus, grow in Him
and serve in His name...and to get spiritually connected to others who want to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
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