Jym Shorts

Jym Shorts - June 22, 2017

by Jym Gregory on June 22, 2017

Believe it or not, we have officially started our summer series. That means summer is here, and although I love it for the weather, I am finding that seasons come and go much quicker (it seems) for me these days. Nevertheless, I am thrilled to be starting our series in Romans chapter 8, “the pinnacle of New Testament theology.” I am also thrilled to have heard from so many of you who are taking on my challenge to memorize the entire chapter. This Sunday we will have memory cards and sleeves available for those who would like the chapter broken down into nine sections, and printed on handy cards that will help you in your process. A long-time member of the church sent me this article last week that stresses the importance of memorizing larger portions of Scripture, and highlights Romans 8. Here is a link to the article, I highly recommend it: Take Up Thy Swords

If you were here Sunday, you know I was a bit emotional as I preached. That happens to me occasionally, and although I have no desire to be the modern day version of the prophet Jeremiah (the weeping prophet), I have found that there is not much I can do about it at times. I did not come feeling particularly emotional, but the combination of the incredible passage I was about to expound upon (Romans 8:1-4), being exhausted from a week on mission in Mexico, saying goodbye again to my daughter, son-in-law and grandson there, and the beautiful worship music that led up to the prayer time got to me. I hope it is not overly distracting. It was a wonderful week in Mexico. The team of 30 missionaries that accompanied me from LifePoint was exceptional. We have some incredibly godly men and women in our church family, and that does not include only those who can take the time for short or long-term mission trips. Not everyone is in a stage of life when they can make that happen, but overall, I feel very blessed to be a part of a church family with so many active and mature believers.

Our mission in Mexico included working at two separate orphanages, then spending an afternoon working with families from a squatter village on the outskirts of the city. There are no words to express how difficult it is to see people living in these type of conditions. The children, however, seemed happy and thrilled to be playing soccer, baseball, Frisbee, jump rope, etc. with a bunch of sweaty, stinky Americans. We worked hard for three days at the orphanages pouring cement, repairing a broken sewer line, installing shelving, security lighting and razor wire, pulling nails from lumber so that it could be re-purposed, etc. Our week ended by taking 17 children with special needs to a water park to relax and play with them. We only had one morning free to spend at the beach, where we had individual quiet times and then small group gatherings, followed by baptizing three young women in the Pacific Ocean.

While in Mexico, we were able to reconnect with many of our friends from LifePoint. Hannah and Ethan Drent are serving full-time with Back2Back Ministries there, and Anna Schmidt, Sarah Kurtz, Aliyah McCorkle and Ellen Hodson are all serving as summer interns for the ministry. It was wonderful to see them serving the Lord in such a vital ministry with orphans in Mexico. All are having a very good summer.

While we were serving in Mexico, another team of LifePoint short-term missionaries were serving at the Indian Bible College in Flagstaff, Arizona with full-time LifePoint missionaries Hal and Pam Givens. As I write this, a team of missionaries are serving in Laurel, Kentucky with full-time LifePoint missionaries Nathan and Lindsey Boggs. Our Missions Team this past week began regular monthly support to Wheeler Mission here in Indy, and LifeCenters Indy as well. Many of you participated in our summer food drive for Servant’s Heart in Beech Grove this past week as well. As you can see, we are fully engaged in missions, both local and international, this summer at LifePoint. It is a joy to serve in this manner with all of you!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Jym

 

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