In June, we had a team of students and adults who returned to the Dominican Republic to provide medical assistance and children’s ministry, while helping to move our facilities in the DR forward. During the first part of July, Covenant Student Ministries also had two student teams reach out to the Appalachian community of Milligan, Tennessee, by restoring the outside of a home while allowing God to deepen their relationship with Him. And during the second part of July, the adult and student servants of Covenant Children’s Ministries joined together to provide a Vacation Bible School that convinced children that God’s word is true, surprising, and comforting.

When it’s all said and done, many of our summer memories will fade like the t-shirts we bought at the beach. But what doesn’t fade is the shift that happens in the kingdom of God when people lean in and reach out to others. It’s during those times when God reveals a side of His nature to us in a way that never fades or is forgotten.

In the book of James, God reminds us how temporal summer vacation is in a culture that constantly keeps saying, “man these years sure do go by fast.”

“How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” James 4:14 NLT

If you feel like life is going by too fast and you have little to show for it, watch for the next opportunity where you can lean in and reach out to someone through an outreach ministry at Covenant. If you do, God may give you something that will not fade, can’t be vacuumed up, or refuses to be thrown out.

Joe Cox
Director of Next Generation Ministries
Executive Director of Ministry

Having spent the last 48 hours in the Dominican Republic with a team of 10 women (and yes, I still covet your prayers!), I am convinced God has schooled me in a new chapter on what it means to serve others. This is not the first time I’ve been in a third-world nation, nor is it the first time I’ve seen this level of poverty. But it is the first time I’ve recognized the pride and arrogance of my American-culture-driven background like this.

I came here with the team to film and document the story as well as catch images to help cast vision for the DR in the months to come. And I knew that I would be in situations with people here where I could “give” them something or “help” them. After all, since we come from such a blessed nation, surely we have something to offer them. I mean, seriously, don’t we have all the answers?

Slaps in the face hurt.

And when God is the generous giver of said slap, it gets your attention.

At least, He got mine.

Today, I had the chance to literally sit at the feet of a man in his 60s who has had multiple strokes, cannot walk, and has lost most of his hearing and eyesight. He was a very strong and skilled bricklayer. He is no longer able to work, which simply means he is unable to provide for his very large family. He simply sits/lays on a small mattress on their dirt floor. His wife was hit by a bus and has been waiting for six years to have surgery on her knee. Yet, for all that they have suffered, they spoke of a walk with God, a picture of hope and a depth of faith that I have never before seen in my adult life. And he’s only been a Christian for two years!

I could have sat at his feet all day.

There is nothing I could have given him. There is nothing I own or possessions I have that would have increased his faith or given him any more hope.

I didn’t need to give him anything. I needed to listen to him; be inspired by him; serve him with my mouth shut and heart open. He didn’t need me. I needed him! My chance to serve was less about what I could give and more about how God needed to humble me and teach me. Serving at Licienne’s feet was a privilege and an honor that I will never forget.

At our group debriefing session tonight, we read over this passage from 1 Corinthians 9:19-22, where Paul, an apostle, writes, “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.”

So, who were you today?

Seriously, stop and think about it for a minute.

The people we serve don’t need us. As intentional followers of Christ, we need them. They teach us things about ourselves. They humble us. They inspire us. They challenge us. They remind us that life is bigger than ourselves.

There is an opportunity this coming Sunday for us as an entire church community to serve an entire neighborhood community in West Greenville. The music, the face painting, the food – they’re all just excuses for us to genuinely engage the people of that area – to love on them, listen to them and be inspired by them. Is it possible that we need to become like them so that by all possible means we might save some?

To the many of you who serve others on a regular basis, whether openly or behind the scenes, we commend you for your service and encourage you to keep the motive in check.

So, who will you be tomorrow?

Note: As we passed through the mostly-Haitian barrio, we were told not to take pics or film because of a belief that photos steal their soul. However, Mark Lykins and I are planning to go back to Licienne’s house in hopes that they will let us get photos/video of him and his family since they are Christians and they trust Mark and the church that is planted there. Hopefully, we’ll be able to upload pics of this family for you to see! Stay tuned to the Outreach site.