Community of Hope

Last night, I spent the evening serving others in need. I love that experience and always leave feeling recharged.

As a Christian, I believe that I am supposed to live my life in such a way that shows others what the love of God looks like. Without tangible evidence, many people will never come to believe in God's love. How could they if they have no way of measuring what that love might look like or feel like. Love is an action word. It is not something that can only be talked about. It must be seen and felt in order for others to believe it's real.

That is where Christians come in. Jesus has called us to be the salt and the light in this world. We should be living our lives in such a way that people will see his love in us and through us. We are Christ's hands and feet. The lives we live and the love we show to others in the name of Jesus, is the tangible evidence that the world so desperately needs.

My church, Snow Hill Baptist Church in Tuttle, Oklahoma strives to answer Jesus's call. We have decided that we will love and serve others in the name of Jesus so that they will see and feel his love through us.

We call our ministry the "Community of Hope." As members of the Community of Hope, we have declared that "Wednesdays Are For Others." Every Wednesday, we reach out in multiple ways to help those in need within our community.

As part of our ministry, we serve dinner to over 150 needy people within our community. Following dinner, we send them home with an entire weeks worth of food. We have partnered with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and two area Wal-Marts in order to supply several thousand pounds of food a week to these people and their families. This food includes various breads, deserts, meats, vegetables, milk, juice, eggs, etc... Tonight we supplied 120 boxes of food to these families. We also have a large clothes closet for these families where they can get any clothing items they might need.

Another service we provide is administered through our youth. Every Wednesday, our youth group delivers meals to the elderly and home bound. They use the opportunity to fellowship with these people. This is an awesome service because many times, our kids are the only visitors some of these people receive. It is such a blessing to both those being served and our kids who are serving.

In addition to these things, we also run and maintain a free medical clinic and pharmacy. We provide much needed medical care and prescriptions to low income and non insured families within the community. Our clinic and pharmacy is called the "Community of Hope Medical Clinic and Pharmacy." It is ran by an all volunteer staff that includes two doctors, a nurse, a pharmacist, 3 pharmacy technicians and administrative staff. I have volunteered as a licensed pharmacy technician since the clinic's inception in June, 2009.

Last but not least, once a month, we feed the homeless in Oklahoma City. We provide them with a hot meal, blankets if needed, and clothing items.

As you can see, service to others is something that is very important to those of us at Snow Hill. I am honored to be part of such a great group of people that cares for others and loves them as Christ loves them. I pray that our actions will display the love of Christ to the world so that others might come to know Him through us.

I'd like to leave you with this song from Big Daddy Weave. It's called "Love Come to Life." May all of our love come to life for the glory and the work of God, for the benefit of all people.