Knoxville

Keith and I traveled this weekend to Knoxville, Tennessee with the GFBC youth choir. This was our first youth trip as a married couple. For those of you who do not know, my wonderful husband is an associate youth minister at our church. Keith felt the calling into full time ministry when he was 17 years old, and he has been pouring his heart into kids ever since. This weekend was one of many trips that we have taken with the youth...this being one of the smaller trips. We headed out on Friday afternoon with about 55 youth ranging from 6th grade to 12th. My specialty would be the 6th grade girls...they still think I am pretty cool. We spent this weekend working at a ministry called Water Angels. Our kids and about 20 leaders spent Saturday painting, cleaning, organizing clothes, and prayer walking around the city of Knoxville. We were blessed to hear the stories of men and women who, with the love of Jesus Christ, are recovering from drug and alcohol addictions. It was so great to hear how they found Jesus in the deepest of valleys, and how He has rescued them from despair, addiction, hunger, and poverty. Our kids and even the adults saw a whole new side of life. The GFBC youth ministry is incredibly blessed. Most of the kids and adults have very nice houses to come home to and they can afford to put food on the table and buy new clothes, but these individuals do not. They walk around the streets of Knoxville with everything that they own in a suitcase, but still find the Love of Christ in everyday life. Most humans are incredibly shallow. If we found ourselves in a valley like theirs, most of us would turn away from God and blame him for the trials we are facing, but these individuals found God in their despair and His strength and grace have rescued them from a dark life. Their faith and strength is inspiring.

I do have to take a moment and brag on the youth. Keith and I love these kids. They worked so hard this past weekend, and I do not believe I ever heard a single complaint. They painted the exterior of a house, the inside of a church, organized bags and bags of donated clothing, and cleaned the house of a mother in the community. They worked so hard on Saturday, and then the choir spent Sunday leading worship at two different churches. We visited the Greater Warner church in Knoxville for their Sunday morning worship service, and I was so blessed. The preacher is definently a man of God, and his words were a blessing to my heart. The choir did amazing at both churches, and their voices and love for God blessed many hearts...including mine! Keith and I headed back to Alabama yesterday around 4:00. The youth had planned to go to the Dixie Stampede last night, but Keith and I had to get back to the real world. The youth and the leaders will be traveling home today, so please keep them in your prayers as they make their journey home. I pray that you all have a wonderful week. May we all realize the blessings that God has given us, and the grace He so freely gives.