The Brethren Church

- Mike Weber, New Song Community Church Pastor, Union, MI

The trip was an eye-opener and heart-opener. I was stunned to see the extent of the destruction, and how much restoration remains. I also saw that the only difference between me and those we served was a hurricane. Plus, the full-time volunteers are taking “living by faith” to a higher level than I’ve experienced. Wow. Special thanks to Tim and Bill for giving New Song this great opportunity. It was an honor to go, a privilege to help, and a joy to partner with other Brethren.
P.S. So what’s our next joint mission?

- Marci Sharp, Oakville, Indiana

It‘s hard for me to be concise in my feelings of the past week. “Life changing,” “awesome,” “words cannot describe what I experienced,” have all been said and overdone I’m sure. What touched me deeply, among many things this past week, was seeing his church come alive and work as one. I didn’t see a building marked Oakville or one marked New Song or Milford. I saw Jesus’ church, the real thing—his children—come together without the need of a pew or brick and mortar to keep us there. He was there working in us and through us as one body. It was an honor to join him in his work among the sheep in southern Mississippi needing so desperately to be found and loved. That was life-changing.Now that I’m home, I continue to be challenged by what we received a week ago Sunday at the start of our Mississippi adventure from the prophet Isaiah via Bill. What is a true fast? Is it only a day for a man/woman to humble himself? (Sunday 10 a.m. worship—that’s all I’m giving ya Lord—one day, but I sure am humble!) Or is it way more? To loose the chains of injustice…to untie the cords of the yoke and set the oppressed free? To share my food with the hungry and provide the poor wanderer with shelter? What does that look like from where I sit and pray in Springport/Oakville Indiana? How do I do that Father? It was easy in a way in Mississippi; I could see with human and spiritual eyes the oppressed, the hungry and those in need of shelter. Help me to see it here at home. Help me to break through the veil and see what you see: who’s oppressed; who’s spiritually hungry; who needs the love and shelter that I can offer through you?

As you can see, I’m still digesting all that we took in. I hope that I’ve already started the application of at least part of what God has taught me in the past week. One of my sincere prayers is that I never look at people the same way again. I did not see a stranger in Mississippi. All I saw were people I wanted to get to know and make sure that they knew that God loves them and I, through him, do to.

P.S. And I am beyond grateful for the way the Lord has healed my hand. I’ll never know this side of Heaven if it was broken or just badly sprained but to be healed in such a way that I could squeeze my fingers the way I did that next a.m. and work the rest of the day, I owe him much much praise.

- Tim Garner, Indiana District Pastor

I’m still processing my week of service in Gulfport, MS, so I will share a few thoughts.

Mental Pictures (a few of the many):

1. Lowe’s home improvement center:You know you’ve been there too much when you are on a first-name basis with Todd in plumbing and Courtney and Neicka in customer service.
2. A battered McDonald’s sign is still standing, but the cement slab is all that’s left of the restaurant. What are the stories of the people who worked in and frequented that place?
3. Miles of cement slabs and gnarled trees stretch out to the west for two to three city blocks off the coast. Hundreds of homes gone. What happened to all the people?
4. Jackie sitting patiently and listening to stories as she helped Sheila, the middle-aged woman whose home we were rebuilding, sort for the first time her belongings into “keep” and “throwaway” piles.
5. Sheila’s happy dances as she saw progress being made in one room after another and when she found the only object she asked us all to try to find — a ring that her aunt had given to her.
6. Jeff leading worship Wednesday evening for people from all over the country (Boston, Texas, Oregon, Indiana) and many locals—the volunteers and the homeless, whites, blacks and Hispanics. Hallelujah for what God can bring together as the church.
7. Roy and Ray in the hole in the bathroom floor.
8. Adam and Joe insulating in the attic rafters.

Two moments that touched me in particular:

1. A city employee removing the debris and trash from Sheila’s property turned off his front-loader and said, “My hat is off to people like you,” and I paraphrase, “the government, FEMA and other groups helped, but most have left. If it were not for the church, many people would have no hope or help.”
2. Gathering in a circle of prayer at week’s end. Praying for the completion of Sheila’s home and her healing, and thanking God for each other. I got a little choked up.

Contrasts:

1. A beautiful casino next door to a makeshift park of occupied FEMA trailers.
2. I gave up a week of my time and put up with the minor inconveniences of group living while thousands along the gulf coast had their lives permanently altered.
3. 20 for one and one for all. What a blessing to see 20 people—many of whom had never met—laugh, love, and work hard together with, and for, one named Sheila.

My prayer:

Lord, keep the church in the frontlines of meeting people at their points of need. We don’t have to go to Gulfport to find needs. Give us eyes to see and hearts to respond to the temporal and eternal needs of people around us. Raise up the church in every community to be agents of transformation and reconciliation. Help them rebuild one life at a time, and in the process of serving others may they find new life themselves. In the name of Jesus. Amen.