My buddies Louie and Frank Mercer teamed up with me to create Church For Men in Daytona Beach, FL. See photo above of one of our events. Even though we had no idea what we were doing, it was wildly successful. 75 to as many as 150 men showed up for each event and lives were being changed. National Coverage from Fox News and NBC Nightly News. Even Big Time Christian Comedian Brad Stine appeared at one of our events. We even got the father of crazy Hollywood kid Lindsay Lohan, to come to Daytona Beach, FL. Then for some reason I told Louie and Frank that I needed to step away and take a rest.
Then I felt led to start a weekly Sunday homeless ministry at my church (www.firstchurchpo.org) . We picked up homeless men and women each Sunday morning and brought them to the church. We fed them breakfast. I delivered a message. Lives were being changed. Then for some reason I told my pastor and the rest of the team that I had to step away and take a rest.
I will be honest with you. Each day there is a part of me that deals with some sort of guilt for stepping away from these ministries. I thought I knew all of the reasons why I stepped away until today and then God directed me to this great quote through my blogging and twitter friend, Peter Pollock.
"I can’t let not being able to do it for everyone keep me for doing it for the few that I can" ---Pastor Pete Wilson
I got burned out on ministry because I thought I had to save "EVERYONE" and that I was the "ONLY ONE" who could do it. I was so wrong.
Yesterday after work I was getting ready to pull off the I-95 exit into Port Orange, FL. I had just passed a crappy looking truck stalled along the road. Up ahead of me was a man holding a car seat and a little girl. He was walking towards the exit. I passed him and then realized I had to go back. I put my rig into reverse and pulled up next to him. I asked him if he needed a ride. He told me that someone was waiting for him at the 7-11 just next to the road. I offered the father, his daughter and the car seat a ride. I dropped them off. Someone was waiting for them. My job was done. All I did was give them a ride. Someone else got them to where they were going. Someone else got them something to eat. Someone else not me. I just gave them a short ride down the road.
You and I don't have to save "EVERYONE" and we don't have to be the "ONLY ONE" to do it.
"If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one."---Mother Teresa
Love it ...
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in Honduras it was so overwhelming. Little children and people everywhere that needed major help. I asked the missionaries there, "How do you do it?" They said their goal was to make a difference in the lives of people, one person at a time.
And yes, you, Peter Pollock & Mother Teresa are all great inspirations to me.
I love it too!
ReplyDeleteIt's always tempting to look at the people we can't help or aren't getting through to and forget about the triumphs and successes with others.
When we start doing that, we burn out pretty quickly.
Keep doing what God gives you to do, Mike. You're an awesome, gifted, amazing guy. Focus on what God's calling you to do and do it!
Trey - that's the first (and probably last) time I've ever been mentioned in the same sentence as Mother Teresa! It made me laugh!
I get caught up in trying to help everyone also. Thanks for the reminder to do my part, but it's okay to let others be involved to do their part too. ~NB
ReplyDeleteIsn't that so true. we only need to start with one and have others help us> amen
ReplyDeleteBro,
ReplyDeleteWe help who we can help, when God directs us. Church For Men was outstanding.....we did a lot of good. Men's lives were changed. Many were saved. The homeless gig...I remember you calling me many times and my kids praying for those folks....many were saved. The ministry for many is in one place at one time... He may have you following the cloud and the fire. Go with God anytime and don't worry about the ones you miss. Go to the ones He tells you to..
louie