40 Day Walk With God — May 22, 2014

Day 32–
MISSIONAL EXCELLENCE

Matthew 25:34-36
Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who will receive good things from my Father. Inherit the Kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began. I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.’

As a District Superintendent, I am blessed to work with many churches that exhibit missional excellence. The Coldwater UMC is a small membership church that adopted an intentional ministry plan based on Matthew 25. After paying their apportionments in full, another step was taken to engage the mission field. They decided to give ten percent of their total offerings to fund the ministry plan! Thousands of dollars, volunteer hours and gifts in kind made the following possible:

Hungry
Food boxes given to the hungry.
Dozens of chicken packs given to the food bank.

Thirsty
Hundreds of dollars given to UMCOR for water and sanitation.

Strangers
Assisted a volunteer serving in Nicaragua.
Gave to East Congo Parsonage
Organizing a team to serve at Henderson Settlement

Clothe
Opened a clothes pantry assisting hundreds of families in the community.

Sick
Gave hundreds of dollars to Angels Clinic in Murray, Ky.
Gave nearly $3000.00 for an individual medical need.

Prison
Cash donation to New Beginnings Transition Home

Coldwater UMC embraces Matthew 25 and 28; believing that missions and evangelism should be connected. They communicate the desire for God to send them people others do not want. Coldwater UMC is emblematic of those churches who offer Christ to a hurting world through missional excellence.

Prayer:
Lord, give us a heart for reaching others through Word and Deed. Help us to trust you as we courageously share your love and resources in mission fields near and far away. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.

The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Geary
Paris District Superintendent, Memphis Conference