iRock Ministries

intentionally Reaching Our Community Kids

Operation INASMUCH

Clad in the uniform of the day—a bright blue shirt with the Operation Inasmuch logo emblazoned across the front—groups of Christians serving as the “hands and feet of Jesus” perform community service projects from delivering cookies to the ER and the Sheriff’s Office to yard clean-up.

Made up of an interdenominational team of volunteers from area Tappahannock VA churches, Operation Inasmuch mobilizes believers in a hands-on local church mission blitz in their community.  It offers a proven model of local ministry for any size congregation in any location.

So what’s with the name? Inasmuch is taken from Mathew 25:40 which says “Inasmuch as you have done such things for the least of my brothers and sisters, you have done the same for me.”

Being invited to be part of such an event was an honor and privilege. I was asked to be part of Project 9, the Youth Project. Children that wanted to participate in the days projects were organized into two groups, each at a different location. Gleta and Steve Jones from Radiant Life AG coordinated one of the locations. The kids were instructed to make cards, place mats and favors for those in nursing homes, and on a star, handwritten words of encouragement for someone special in their lives. I was asked to address the children at both locations and to encourage them with a biblical perspective on the responsibility we have to help others in need.

You couldn’t help but notice the blue-shirted brigade of volunteers all over the streets of Tappahannock if you were anywhere in town on that day. More than one eyebrow was raised as people encountered them. The initial reaction from a lot of folks was “what’s the catch?” They couldn’t believe that the help, the paint, the cookies were free—no strings attached. The community spirit and goodwill radiated among the givers and, eventually, the recipients alike. Volunteers of all ages felt the priceless satisfaction of doing good for goodness sake.

Helping others is a conscious decision, one that pleases the heart of God. I am glad that I was able to be part of reaching the hearts of people in Tappahannock Virginia, Essex County.

 

Wise Kids Still Seek Him

Twas the week before Christmas and all through the church, excitement was building, for all it was worth! The donuts were hung from four strings with such care, waiting for some children to take on a dare.

Looking up for the donuts

The children were listening to all that was said and hoping each minute that they too would be fed. The game was soon over with glaze on their face as they chewed the last bite and returned to their place. The point of the game was to look toward the sky or risk missing what’s in front of our eyes. Wise Kids Still Seek Him The story I shared told of wise men afar, that never questioned why they followed the star. It led them to Jesus, the one whom they sought, and gave them more answers than could ever be bought. The answers we seek come from Jesus alone and without looking up we might miss what he’s shown. Through His life and His death he has shown us His love and His plan for our lives fits like a glove. So this Christmas season as we sift through the clutter let’s remember Christ’s love that compares to no other.

“After this interview the wise men went their way. Once again the star appeared to them, guiding them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.” Matthew 2:9

It was a joy to be with Pastor Andra and the kids at Faith Fellowship in Alexandria VA. Click HERE if you would like to view more pictures from the service

Turkey Hunting

Hunter Harriet spent the opening day of turkey season looking for the perfect turkey for Thanksgiving dinner but she needed the help from the kids at Calvary AG. She was hunting for a turkey that she could be thankful for and one that would be a blessing to her guests. Little did she know that the hunt would cause a wave of thankfulness in the children.
As the turkeys were stuffed, each ballon added represented one thing that the kids could be thankful for. The ideas kept coming until there was no more room in the turkey. What fun as we popped each balloon and counted how many different ways we can give thanks.

Although Hunter Harriet was pretending to be a hunter there was nothing unreal about the kids and what God was doing in their hearts and minds. Try expressing your thankfulness by making a “Thankful List” of all those things that you’d like to thank God for this season. Download this blank “Thankful List” and try to fill in each line. You might just find yourself in need of additional pages.

“Always give thanks to God for everything,” Ephesians 5:20

Pointing People to Jesus

As the call to prayer was heard over the sound system, boys and girls filed into the temple and found their places on respective sides of the room. The boys were offered chairs while the girls had to sit on the floor. The kids sat quietly as I entered the room in a burqa, Welcoming them to the service, I led them in some responsive reading and reciting of Psalm 67. We worshipped Jesus and reflected on his goodness and mercy. This was perhaps the most unusual service the kids have ever taken part.

Our service was running simultaneously with “The Eurasia Experience” so I wanted the kids to experience some of the same things as their parents so my focus was on Afghanistan and the oppression under the Taliban rule before 9/11 and the changes following the U.S. military invasion. I reviewed some of the basic history of the Islamic faith and the differences between their faith in Allah and our faith in God.  I wanted the kids to know  that people who choose to follow Allah are lost and need to hear about Jesus. Jesus loves all Muslims and wants them to hear about Jesus, but they can not hear unless someone preaches to them. Learning Romans 10:14Just like God prepared John the Baptist, He is also preparing us to point people to Jesus.

If you would like for your kids to experience and understand a culture that is rapidly becoming part of the diversity within the United States contact us and reserve a service date now. I would love to encourage your kids to point others to Jesus, including the Muslims.

“How can they call on Him unless they believe in Him. How can they believe in Him unless they hear about Him. How can they hear about Him unless someone preaches to them.” Romans 10:14

Fall Fest brings in Harvest

The crisp morning air ushered in the day as the sun rose over the mountain. Leaves of gold, crimson red, and orange colored the trees that lined the road. As I traveled I looked across the fields of pumpkins, gourds, soybean and corn. I passed through orchards filled with yellow and red apples hanging thick on the trees. The harvest is plentiful and there’s much work to be done before the weather turns cold.

That Saturday, Calvary’s annual Community Fall Festival, as I looked over the arriving crowd I saw a different type of harvest that consisted of mothers, fathers, children, friends and neighbors. It was the harvest that Jesus spoke of when He said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Jesus knew that the work was bigger than any one of us could handle. Similarly, when Jesus sent out the seventy-two to go before Him, He is also sending us. Jesus is sending us to actively bring in the harvest by telling others about Him. He also knows that we need help so Jesus is telling us to pray for others that would come along side and help. The Calvary church family made a conscious decision to do their part that day to bring in the harvest. When I was asked to deliver the salvation message to the children that day I was humbled yet excited to be part of those that Jesus had sent out. I knew that this was my opportunity to reach not only the children, but entire families with the message of Jesus’ love and forgiveness. And yes, we did see a harvest of over 30 decisions to follow Christ.

My prayer is that you will see the harvest today and make a decision to actively help bring that harvest into the presence of Jesus; keeping in mind what Jesus said later in that same chapter of Luke 10, “He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”