Ms. Gamble’s house got the second coat of paint on the interior walls on Thursday. She wanted to come home to something bright and cheery after her long hours at the nursing home in Darien, so she got green and yellow. We cut it in at the corners and the ceiling and rolled the final coats onto the walls while others did the final cleaning in the yard. Nick Chilton takes the cultural mandate to heart. God has commanded us to subdue the earth for his own glory (Gen.1:28). He is longing for beauty in the community he lives and he seeks that beauty by being involved in the city of Brunswick. This week he with the help of others in our team and some of the children on Ms. Gambles block of Union St. cleaned up bags and bags of trash. This is part of the word and deed ministry Nick is focused on toward our neighbors as it afforded him and those who were helping him opportunities to not only serve his neighbors by helping them clean up their neighborhood, but also gave them the opportunity to share their lives and the relationship they have with God in Christ with those around him. One of the mothers of a little girl who was helping them pick up trash came out thanking one of our workers for serving the black community. He responded by saying it is our desire to serve all our neighbors in the city with the love of God in Christ.
The Bible club workers spread out down the blocks to gather children at 2:45 and many came back to the park with children in hand and on shoulders. The parents, aunts, uncles and grandmothers are glad to see them go and we are glad to have the thirty plus children gathered upon the big tarps laid out under the shade of the oaks in Palmetto Square. They come to sing songs, learn from the Scriptures, make crafts and have a snack. Today was KC’s day. He had not been all week, but today he was in the neighborhood and was able to come. He sat with Jessica Deloach on the tarp and his 4 year old face never lost his smile beaming bright dimples and all. However, in a moment of emergency, Scottie Deloach had him up, rushing him back to his house for the bathroom. But soon he was back on the tarps working on his craft and hearing about the love of God for him in Christ. During Bible clubs we have been working with 25 to 30 children each day and as the children gather the workers take up their places on the tarp with two or three children each. Adults and young people alike are singing the songs and doing the crafts with the children all for the opportunity to build their young neighbors up to Christ.
While the Bible club is going on the older kids in the neighborhood are participating in sports activities. Brian Brewer was leading them in a game of handball on the tennis court and under the blazing hot sun there was good competition. In the beginning of the game I ran to the ball and rolled my ankle against the fence. I soon found myself sitting on the bench with my foot in the water cooler surrounded by caring young men. Coby insisted I go to the hospital and he was not satisfied with my sitting there until I called Dr. Lisa Ruschack to confirm that I had probably torn tendons on the outside of my ankle. After a year of building a relationship with Coby I am thankful to see his care and concern for me. The sports camp came to a close with Peter Wilkerson sharing with them from the Scriptures how Christ came to die for us so that we would have no fear of death. When he asked them how many were afraid of dying everyone of their hands went up. What a stark reminder that these young men and women are living in a very real culture of death. One of these young men’s poems this week reflected that in their understanding that the sin he sees around his neighborhood leads to death. I am praying that God will give us a house on the Palmetto Square that we can use for Bible studies, counseling and ministry to the children and their families in order that we can bring the life of Christ to bear upon this culture of death.
The Fine Arts Academy met for it’s final evening on Thursday. The students came at 6:00 to practice their music and the reading of their poetry, and to see their art displayed in the “gallery”. And by 7:00 the church was filled with families from our church and some of the families of the students to hear and see their work. The art work displayed in the gallery got the attention of all who came as they observed the gifts and talents of the students in their varied drawings. These students used form, order and color to see beauty reflected. How important this shaping of their worldview is when they are living in a culture colored by the hues of sin, brokenness and disorder. Several of the students read their poems while others had them read for them. It is very difficult for most of these young people to stand before others and not be embarrassed. But in most of the poems we were able to hear the influence of the truth about God and ourselves and the truth about the gospel coming forth. Finally they all stood around the tables of hand chimes taking their particular spots and played “God All Nature Sings Thy Glory”, “Go Tell It On the Mountain”, and “Amazing Grace” while those gathered sang along. Between each song Peter Wilkerson unfolded the glory of God in the gospel by reading. At the close I was able to stand and address those present briefly concerning why we were doing what we were doing. I shared with them the gospel and how the gospel changes our lives so that we are willing and able in Christ to love and serve our neighbors. The time that followed was a good exchange between church members and their neighbors who had gathered at the church, along with the usual clashes and difficulties between some of the students.
We will gather today at Palmetto Square today for a cookout at 11:00. Pray for the workers and our neighbors whom we seek to minister the gospel to in word and deed.
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