One of the books that I am starting out the year reading is by Mark MacDonald and it is titled, Be Known for Something. It is a book to challenge churches to embrace an intentional church-specific approach to reconnecting with their communities. I am looking forward to the insights gained from the reading but, as I begin the journey of its pages, I am thankful that Poplar Springs Baptist Church is known for its love and care for others!
On “Christmas Adam” this year [I heard this term for the first time this Christmas. It is the day before “Christmas Eve”!], I was thankful to observe the Poplar Springs servants working as a team to minister to families in our community. Working in partnership with the social workers at the Crest area schools, Justin Witherspoon, organized a plan to provide a Christmas meal for identified families. He, along with Matt Harris, began organizing these Poplar Springs servants: WMU invited Sunday School classes to make cakes for dessert, Youth helped cut the cakes along with WMU, Justin and Matt cooked the barbecue, Brotherhood members and PSBC Deacons came early on that Friday to make the meals ready, pack them, and load them into the cars of the social workers for delivery along with a printed Christmastime message from our church. “Christmas Adam” morning saw 374 meals prepared as a result of the care of our church family for our community – and everyone had a great time serving together.
As we look back on the past year, we can remember a number of other examples of the Poplar Springs family reaching out to our community with Jesus’ love and care. And that look back helps us to see that the “something” we are known for is the “something” that Jesus expects from us when he said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another” (John 13:34-35, Matthew 22:37-39) Now, as we look ahead to 2023, let’s pray for the Lord’s direction and vision for how we can continue to be known by Jesus’ love and care for others!
In the Love of Jesus,
Tony Tench
