living church
We gather throughout the week in this building, and live throughout the state. We are the living church, out there. This page is dedicated to tell the stories of the people that find friendship, growth, and fellowship in the people of Berean.
Featutred Story
Carol | Farmington
During the last school year, my seventh grade son came home very excited to tell me he'd invited a friend to Wednesday night Junior High Fusion. Joining in with his excitement, I asked him where his friend lived. He followed by telling me that she lived in the mobile home park that is right next to the development we live in. That night we went to her home, met her mom and grandmother, and took her to Fusion. This was the beginning of a long-term relationship with her and her family.
While filled with love, this family's home was clearly suffering from the effects of poverty. I was sure that God had directed us to them, but I didn't quite know what He had in mind. I felt drawn to help them but hesitant to force myself into their lives. I didn't want them to ever feel judged by me because I was offering assistance. Occasionally, an opportunity would arise to donate some of my daughter's hand-me-down clothes or pay for dinner for their daughter. They were always very thankful, and giving blessed me more than it could have blessed them.
My parents called me one evening to ask if I knew anyone who would like an almost new sleeper sofa. Immediately, I thought of the special family that lives near me. Two of their boys were sleeping on the floor each night on a small air mattress. When I called them, they were very happy to say yes. That week was a busy one for me, and I couldn't get over to my parents to pick it up, but God was very clearly revealing to me that He wanted more from me in this area. I felt powerfully drawn to this entire neighborhood, since, really, it is an extension of my own. It broke my heart that this kind of poverty was in my own back yard, and I had closed my eyes to it for so long.
My passion spilled out in conversations with my neighbors, and it was contagious. Everyone I spoke with felt the same way but didn't have a connection to reach out to help. The following weekend, I left on a mission trip to inner city Chicago. Talk about poverty … the entire trip had a profound impact on my spirit. I felt an even stronger desire to reach out and really start something big when I got home. Even the students on the mission trip were fired up to jump on board with me.
When we arrived at home, I met with the Student Ministries staff at Berean (I'm one of them.). During the meeting one of the other staff members mentioned that she and her husband desired to do an outreach in a mobile home park near my home. My jaw dropped. God was working in her heart, too? We met later in the week and I told her my heart's desire for this community. I wanted to be a contact person for the mobile home park, someone they could call if they needed something. I would then get the word out for volunteers, funding, whatever it took to meet their need. I explained to her that the only thing I didn't have was knowledge in web design to set up a web site for this venture. A couple of days later, a friend at work told me about a new ministry that was beginning in another area of our church. I was able to contact that ministry pastor, and you'll never guess what it was … a web site for people to register their needs or for people to volunteer to meet needs (giveyourselfaway.org). Can you believe it? I'm still reeling. I didn't know yet how I'd fit in this whole puzzle, but it was so clear that God wants me to be a part of it.
Later, I was able to deliver the sleeper sofa with my husband, son, and dad. My dad, the king of all handymen, brought his tool box and was able to do some repairs to their home. The grandmother broke down in tears of gratitude, awed that someone would do this for them. It's hard for her to understand the motives behind the generosity, so I just keep telling her that God has blessed us both.
I continue to meet other families living in the area with deep burdens and needs. My heart is broken for them and continues to be driven to serve the need right in my own back yard.
H
e IS awesome.
-Carol Bolin
More Stories on the living church coming soon. Stay tuned...
