Today's blog is going to deviate a bit from the basketball camp itself in that I really want to blog some thoughts that are on my mind while they are still fresh.
Tonight Joel and I were invited to dinner and share time with the group from North Carolina. I am so glad the Lord allowed us to have this opportunity. We have both been on SEVERAL mission trips but this is the first time we have been on the receiving end of the mission trip. We have seen a whole new side!!!
As the people shared tonight there was a common theme - the ability to work together for the kingdom of God. Let me first of all tell you that this group is made up of families. Most of them bring their kids and this is their family vacation - they spend it serving the Lord! All of them stated over and over that they no longer care about going to a beach and sitting there, they don't care about the nice hotels or the attractions - they want their vacation time and money to be spent serving the Lord and investing in His Kingdom!!!
This really hit me hard because to be perfectly honest with you - I have been coveting a glamourous family vacation. I have wanted the money to go to like Disney Land or Hawaii or on a cruise - yes this has been my little sin in my head. Yet tonight as I listened to not only parents but KIDS (of all ages) share that they wouldn't have it any other way - I was challenged to change my way of thinking. What are we, The Arringtons, doing as a family to expand the Kingdom? I know that Joel and I do lots through the church but are we raising mission and servant minded children?
One statistic that was brought up tonight and that I have heard in the past as well was this: 7 out of 10 kids raised in evangelical churches will leave the church and never come back! That is 70%. When research was done - they focused on the 3 that stayed and asked them why they were still involved in church - the answer? They were involved in hands on ministry. They were given the ability as children to invest in others. I want and pray that my children will be one of the 30% - I want to raise mission minded children. One thing that the team leader shared was that not every project allows children and they will not go anywhere that doesn't allow children because they see the importance of families serving together. Members of the team shared about the joy it has brought them to come as an entire family and serve together!
Stories that were shared tonight included everything from the chance to share with people at the hard ware store about why they are here in Bayfield, to the chance to just hug and love on children, to the opportunity to work in a construction environment where everyone is happy and kind to one another and there isn't foul language. I can honestly tell you that the seeds are being planted here in Bayfield for the harvest and we are anxious to be here and help them grow. My prayer tonight is that I will have a mission mindset about all I do everyday!
So - yes the teams from North Carolina have come to build a physical building and to reach out in the community but they have also been sent to help ME re-evaluate my mindset and to challenge our family to be more mission minded. So don't be surprised if in the future you hear of a Arrington Family mission trip!!!!
Side note - tomorrow the kids and their parents at camp will hear the Gospel Message. Pray for open hearts and minds!!!
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