Devotions Archives - Page 2 of 8

Lessons in Pruning – Day 30

Posted on Mar 14, 2018 in Blog, Devotions, Guest Blogger, Lenten Devotional 2018 |

“‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.’”

John 15:1-8 (NIV)

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:10-14 (NIV)

Hey all! My name is Maxime. I have been a member of Servants for over a year now, and I’m very grateful to have found my home church while in college. I’m currently a sophomore student-athlete for the University of Florida and my ministry is witnessing to God’s love in action through swimming. Some of the most important things I’ve gained through my swimming is a real joy, real release, and real relationships. One of the most important spiritual lessons I have learned through my sport is that the reward for faithfulness is pruning. Pruning brings us closer to being the disciples that Jesus has called us to be. Sometimes, it can be painful, but I have always found that on the other side of the pruning, my faith has increased and that I am more in love with my God.

A couple weeks ago, I was reminded of this lesson about pruning. My pastor and I prayed, and I wanted to share the prayer that I wrote with you all. I hope you find it real and encouraging! Because of my writing, I hope that you are able to see Jesus, hear Jesus, and be moved to a deeper love in Jesus.

Here is my prayer:

Jesus, I’m tired of hurting. I’m scared of hurting. I don’t know if I can continue to be positive if I experience another defeat. But Lord, I can’t turn back. I know You have called me to do this. I know that at times I have felt the power of the resurrection giving me new life and I have tasted victory beyond what I could imagine. But, I have also shared the fellowship of Jesus’s sufferings on the cross, I have given my all, and I have ended up empty, broken, and doubting. Lord, I don’t know what this year will be. I don’t know if it will be Good Friday or Easter Sunday or both, and I’m scared because I don’t want to hurt that bad again. Like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, I don’t want to experience that pain again. But not my will, Your will. I trust that if You ask me to go through it, to give my all and to come up short from my goals, that in the midst of all that pain, You will be there comforting and strengthening me, assuring me Your love, and not this pain, will have the last word in my heart. That the pain from Your pruning will always lead to more fruitfulness. Lord, let Philippians 4:13 be true for me. That whether I am successful or if I feel like a failure, You will use it to draw me closer to You and I can grow in Christ in all circumstances. Give me the strength to give my all and then to give You thanks no matter the result. Lord, if in the end, I cry because it hurts so bad please be there to dry my tears so that I can go through for You whatever You ask. Lord, I don’t want to stop caring or say it doesn’t matter, I want to invest my heart and my soul in my understanding of Your call in my life. If you take it in a different direction then I expect You to help me give thanks even when it hurts the most. I love You. In Jesus’s Holy name, Amen.

Maxime Rooney

Maxime’s passions include swimming and writing. As he says, he’s been at Servants for over a year, and he’s very grateful for the community at Servants that creates a healthy environment for him to grow in, personally and spiritually.

Just Show Up – Day 29

Posted on Mar 14, 2018 in Blog, Devotions, Guest Blogger, Lenten Devotional 2018 |

“…serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:13b-14

In 2014 when Grace Marketplace finally opened its doors in NE Gainesville, members of our parish were eager to help fill the need for meals. Grace serves 3 meals each day, every single day, relying heavily on community volunteers and donations. The need for outside volunteers to bring and serve food arose just as my Community Group in the Glen Springs/Norton neighborhood, was looking for a service opportunity. The Buchholz Community Group was already committed but realized it might be more than one group could handle. We joined the effort and our dedication does not go unnoticed or unappreciated by those we serve and by the staff at Grace.

The work of this monthly ministry is a well worked-out system supported by lots of regular, committed hands who make seemingly light work of feeding between 120-200 people. The hardest part for me in the beginning was the fear of being inadequately prepared and at risk of intruding on others in crisis. I hoped I didn’t misspeak or act patronizingly cheerful, or inadvertently make someone feel any worse or more miserable than they already may be. It didn’t take long before I realized how I had over-complicated anyone’s expectations; what mattered was that I was there to serve dinner, nothing more and nothing less. And what began to matter more was that I was regularly there.

I have come to see that in addition to serving hundreds of people hot meals every year, our reliability and commitment has come to be a blessing to the staff at Grace. We help lighten the burden for them a little. I remember a sermon from one of Servants’ former interns, Lily Ubbens, in which she emphasized how we operate without conscious awareness of the staggering number of our own regular daily human needs—in other words, we’re all even needier than we can know. I can imagine how acutely the needs of others weigh on people who work in places like homeless shelters and how this can lead to burnout and high turnover. It took me a while to realize that we are ministering to the staff as much as to the guests at Grace Marketplace by reliably providing them a small respite.

The ministry we do at Grace Marketplace is a lift, but it isn’t complicated. We often have children and youth assist with serving (which incidentally brings a lot of joy to the guests). It is often to the most intractable situations that God calls His people to serve. I am only able to commit to these types of situations when I am more compelled by the love of Christ than driven by expectation or results. I feel privileged to carry that love to people that need it, as well as the love of all of those who support the ministry, just by showing up. The more we show up, the more familiar we become and as this happens we are better able to see people, not just situations.

Kate Becker

Kate and her family have called Servants home since 2011. This is her third year of volunteering with Servants of Christ’s monthly meal ministry to Grace Marketplace.

Share and Share Alike – Day 28

Posted on Mar 12, 2018 in Blog, Devotions, Guest Blogger, Lenten Devotional 2018 |

“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

Romans 12:13

The priest began his sermon with “Let me share with you,” setting my mind into wonderland, the land where brethren share the sights and sounds, the smells and tastes of the moment in eternity so important to the participants. It made me aware of the importance of sharing what I know of God’s Word. I wondered if I should continue to share the Gospel with those in foreign lands or would it be better to share the Word with those already practicing the faith, those who needed encouragement in their walks? Either way I’d be sharing!

We all have a need to share. That’s why we come out of isolation and why we need others to share and share alike. Even those with special circumstances – like sufferers of PTSD, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, cancer survivors, alcoholism, and narcotics addictions – need sharing groups in the Church. These thoughts raced through my mind while the sermon concluded with a call to “share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Pray for those who need sharing and those who need to share.

Jim Moulthrop

Jim is an active member of the SOC Family and most often worships at our early service. When A4D was a ministry in the Diocese, Jim was an active supporter of the program, serving on the teams as well as providing financial aid to participants.

Only Two or Three – Day 27

Posted on Mar 11, 2018 in Blog, Devotions, Guest Blogger, Lenten Devotional 2018 |

Wherever two or three are gathered in my name there am I in the midst of them.

Matthew 18:20

My father passed away when I was in my twenties after a long battle with cancer. Sometime later my mother shared a very sad memory with me. When Dad became too sick to be able to attend church any longer no one from our church ever brought him Communion at home. Why did that happen? Were they too busy? Were they unaware of his need? Did my parents never request a visit? We had been members of that parish for almost twenty years.

A few months ago I was asked by Ramona Chance if I would consider becoming a LEM. I responded immediately by saying, “Yes! I have always wanted to do that!” I didn’t even say, “I’ll pray about it and get back to you.”

A LEM is a lay Eucharistic minister. We assist at the altar by passing out the wine, but we also go to homes and hospitals to bring Communion to those in our church family who are unable to come to the Sunday service. That’s what I wanted to do! So I got my little home Communion kit and off I went. The experience has been so humbling for me! First, I became aware of not being prepared, mentally or spiritually. So, I’m working on that. The trip to wherever I am going is filled with prayer. I am learning the service so it becomes an avenue of blessing rather than a stumbling through an unfamiliar sequence of prayers. Next, the Holy Spirit impressed on me what I am actually doing. I am taking the “real presence” of Jesus to the sick and the isolated. That little box takes His Body and Blood out of the sanctuary and into the world. I am humbled! I go to where there are only two or three of us and there He is in the midst of us.

I think that those of us who are healthy and able maybe take the wonderful mystery of the Eucharist for granted. It’s there every Sunday and we put out our hands and receive. Sometimes we may even skip a Sunday. No big deal. I’m speaking of myself here. It’s so routine that maybe we become dulled to its miraculous beauty. Jesus offers Himself in the bread and wine in a very unique way, different than in prayer or worship or fellowship or study or even in meditation. Next Sunday, pause for a moment and become aware in your spirit of His real presence. You may see or perhaps feel in a deeper way His glory and love at the altar.

If any of you are sick and have missed communion, call us and we will come. A simple call to the church office will make us aware of your need.

I know in my heart that my father has forgiven the negligence of that church who forgot about him when they no longer saw his face on Sunday mornings. I hope my mother has forgiven too. And I pray that Servants will always be a place where we go out to those who can no longer come in, that we will go out to share the presence and love of our gracious Lord in the unique way that He commanded.

Ann Shower

Ann has been a member of Servants since 2002 when it was St. Michael’s. Some of those years were in absentia at her northern outpost in North Carolina. Besides being a LEM she is involved in SOC’s prayer ministry and also serves on the vestry. When she is not busy being the in-home grandma to her family, she loves going to the beach and traveling back to NC, and occasionally going to Alaska, even in the winter!

Life-Giving Ministry – Day 26

Posted on Mar 11, 2018 in Blog, Devotions, Guest Blogger, Lenten Devotional 2018 |

“That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases…. Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”

Mark 1:32-38

I need Lent. I need it this year more than ever. The Lord has brought me so far and yet I fall behind and don’t even realize. In Mark we see the true reason Christ came. Jesus healed many. Notice after a day of healing, early the next morning Jesus went to a solitary place to pray. He then was told there were more people to heal. Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else….that is why I have come.” I have been here so many times, “Jesus, what about my healing?” I am learning through this passage that Christ cares about my physical condition but His main focus is the Gospel. Physical healing would make God look grand, my soul is a much bigger deal for my Father.

I have grown proud this year instead of staying humble. Proud, meaning I check in daily with God, but mainly only spend quality time when things go bad. Humility is when I recognized my weakness. Weakness is seen as sad today, but when we are weak, He is strong. When I recognize my weakness, I lean on Christ harder, I extend grace much easier. There is a cleansing effect with weakness and suffering. This has hit home with many issues I am facing: marriage, kids, career, my health. I know Christ cares, but if I really get to the Gospel, it empowers all that I face. Not to frighten anyone as my marriage, kids, job and health are well, but all could be better if I stayed humble.

The reason I share this scripture and what God is teaching me is because where I am, what is influencing me, affects not only me and my family, but the ministries I am called into. It all goes back to the Gospel, and if we say the Gospel is true, we must serve. We were designed to serve.

I have been grouping with four amazing women for over 10 years now. This group is not a Bible study, it is an accountability group. We share our successes, failures, closest moments with God. We hold each other accountable and pray for each other throughout the week. When something happens to one of us, we are the first line of defense. A small group is needed to have a safe place to grow in Christ. I also have a heart for college students. I love to have them over and cook a homemade meal. This simple act means so much to them. The college students coming to Servants do not need to be entertained; they are hungry for spiritual food, and at times homemade food. Life gets busy but I make sure I push myself to make room. Human nature is to look out for yourself, your family first. I always know if I am in His will if the thing I am investing in is life-giving. I know this because I can be tired but when I push through and invest, I leave filled! Another ministry is to my pastor, my husband. Since the day Alex was ordained I heard the Lord instruct me that my main ministry was to him. I was not to be a partner in his ministry, meaning visible within the church. I heard very clearly to be home for the kids and for Alex. I am his prayer warrior, his sounding board, I believe in him and trust the vision God gives him. I look to him as my pastor. Though not visible, it is how I serve the church.

Since our children were born they saw groups meeting in our home, they rode along when we visited and picked up the Sudanese for church/youth group. It was also important for them to have their own ministry opportunity. They started their ministry in the church as acolytes. Before that time there really wasn’t a way for them to give back. As they grew up, if one wanted to stop serving as an acolyte we would say, “What other ministry are you going to take on?” They would pray about it and then tell us what ministry they wanted to invest in. As they grew, so did their ministries… nursery helper, kids church, Club 45, middle school youth while in high school, Young Life leaders/ high school group interns in college.

As I’ve seen my children grow into adults I noticed one consistent thing: they are all doing ministry. Off on their own in college and into adult life they continue to serve. I believe the foundation was set that is it expected for all of us to invest in Kingdom work. It has been a joy to see what God calls them to ministry-wise, which of course in turn has deepened their faith.

Jody Farmer

Jody has lived in Gainesville since 2002 and has been a part of this body since. She has three adult children, one daughter-in-law, and one soon to be son-in-law; Jake & Paige, Charleigh & Andy, and Samantha. She has been married to Alex for 26 years. She was a stay-at-home mom for 18 years before reentering the work force in 2012. She is the Senior Sales Manager at a publishing company. She enjoys interior decorating, thrifting and being anywhere with her family! She is so thankful for this church where she can be herself and grow more each year.

Border Crossings – Day 25

Posted on Mar 10, 2018 in Blog, Devotions, Guest Blogger, Lenten Devotional 2018 |

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

John 1:1

A border crossing carries with it a sense of the unknown, perhaps even a hint of danger. However, we do not have to travel to foreign lands to cross borders. Our country is divided – by race, social class, gender, religion, immigration status – and those borders are marked by incomprehension (“we” or “they” just don’t get it), fear, and sometimes loathing. As Christians, how are we to respond?

In reading the prologue to John’s Gospel I see the Incarnation as a grand border crossing – from God to man, from heaven to earth. But it was not the only one He made, because Jesus was born into a society like ours, with many borders. His natural place was in the center: He was Jew not Gentile, man not woman, healthy not sick, middle-class and educated not poor and unlettered, righteous not a sinner. In that, He was like many of us at Servants of Christ – born on the right side of all the borders. But the Gospels show us that He spent His adult life purposefully crossing all those borders, until finally He was executed for it. We know that God had a deep and mysterious purpose in all this, but His persecutors surely did not. They were reacting in fear and outrage to His actions. Did He have to heal on the Sabbath, consort with tax collectors and prostitutes, disrespect the spiritual leadership, and disown the temple as a place of worship? Apparently the answer to all the above is yes.

I have pondered for many years what the life of Christ implies for me, a wannabe disciple. Can I live a comfortable, middle-class American life and still reach heaven at the end? Part of me remains suspicious – my life seems too easy, too soft. Yet the Gospels contain hope – not just for the tax collectors, prostitutes and immigrants – all those on the wrong side of the borders we have constructed – but perhaps even for people like me. But if we are to follow Jesus I think we must seize the opportunities we are offered to meet people on the other side of our borders – they might be part of God’s plan for our sanctification. Perhaps ministry is not so much about changing the world but more about becoming part of it.

My worldview changed after Janice and I participated in a Just Faith class in 2009. This was a 6-month series of weekly meetings and readings, with occasional outreach events and other kinds of retreats. In Just Faith we discovered a theologically consistent doctrine of social justice, rooted in the scriptural truth that man is created in the image of God. But it is not always easy to put what we know, or even what we desire, into practice. It took several years after we finished Just Faith before I found the work I feel I was called to. In the meantime I saw several of my fellow participants find a role to play in advancing the Kingdom. But not me; my skill set, so well suited to making a good living, was not so great for helping others. But God and Gainesville Community Ministries combined to make an offer I could not refuse. Now I spend a couple of hours each week teaching high-school science to a group of adults that are several borders removed from where I normally live. It’s easy and obvious to count up all the differences. Yet we are all sinners in the sight of a holy God – more similar than all our differences. And I hope and believe that our time together, where besides our studies, we share our stories, our hopes, and our difficulties, is pleasing to Him.

In the Catholic tradition St. Veronica offers her veil to Jesus to wipe His face. I wonder if she saw Him, or one of the least on His way to a ghastly fate she cannot change. But it does not really matter, because according to Jesus, it is the same thing (Matthew 25:40). She simply offers her gift, which I think is all that we are called to do. But the altar might be across the border.

Tony Ladd

A member of Servants since the beginning, Tony has been teaching at Gainesville Community Ministry since the fall of 2012. In addition to teaching he enjoys working, reading, walking, and thinking.

Welcomed With Open Arms – Day 24

Posted on Mar 9, 2018 in Blog, Devotions, Guest Blogger, Lenten Devotional 2018 |

I first visited Servants somewhere back in 2013, I believe. I was immediately drawn to the liturgy, the beautiful mix and balance between the ancient Church and the presence of Christ in the contemporary world. The next thing I became acutely aware of was the lack of “judgmental” eyes, noses, and mouths. I was impressed by the sound doctrine and the great emphasis on the Word of God. I was rather blown away by the sense of acceptance I felt from Father Alex and so many others. I had been, for a couple of years, pretty much out of fellowship and disgruntled with some of the aspects of “Evangelical” Christianity, or at least the many forms of baggage it carried; though I had, after 25+ years of being an Evangelical, grown in my love for and knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. It took about another year after those first few visits before I started coming regularly as did my wife Annette. She too really dug Alex’s and the rest of the leadership’s preaching, etc. I began to experience a time of growth once again. I was meeting people and building friendships, not only with Alex, but also other brothers including Ken Campbell, Michael Duncan, Larry Goble, and so many more.

Over the past five or so years, I have been blessed to participate in things like driving Ms. Jerri and her great-grandkids to church for a time. And later, I was asked or invited to help out and become part of the audio-visual team. I have also been welcomed with open arms to start practicing with the worship (music) team. And yes, being historically a solo musician, playing with others has been and still is quite a (good) challenge! There has been, and is now on the horizon, so many ways to serve. The list could easily go on.

A few verses, life verses, come to mind as I reflect on the four plus years I have been attending (and this Sunday, am to be confirmed or received in) Servants of Christ Anglican Church. In 1 Corinthians 9:22b, St. Paul tells us that he has become all things to all men, so that he by all means may save some. I think, now a guy in his mid-fifties, that I have been able to realize that verse personally more so at Servants than anywhere else I have worshipped and fellowshipped in my almost 40 years of being a Christian. And another, in Romans 8:1, I find great assurance that “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

At Servants, this is a joyous reality.

Godspeed,

Dave Hall

Dave was born on Long Island, NY and moved to Florida as a new senior in high school. From 1980-1984 he was a medical laboratory specialist in the US Air Force. He loves to write and record original songs, having had a number of them published and given modest airplay on Christian radio. His wife Annette and he have been married for 30+ years and have been members of Servants of Christ Anglican Church since around 2013. Dave owns Out of Creation Jewelry where he creates and repairs jewelry. He loves the creative process, whether it is at the jeweler’s bench or playing guitar, writing, playing live, or recording songs.

Nothing Is Too Small – Day 23

Posted on Mar 8, 2018 in Blog, Devotions, Guest Blogger, Lenten Devotional 2018 |

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.

Romans 12:4-6

Being a member of this parish has been such a blessing for me. I’ve been able to use my gift of administration to help out in the church office. I started out with one day a week, then I added a second. Peace and a feeling of rightness came over me knowing I could make a difference when I made that commitment.

When I worked at my first career, Mondays were not something to look forward to even though I enjoyed my job. Now Monday morning I come in to the office and perform my tasks and know that I am helping others in their ministries. My main job as I see it is to move information from one person to another so others’ ministries flow more smoothly.

A fairly new ministry for me at SOC is cleaning the altar linens and getting them ready for the next service of Holy Communion. Every Monday I slip into the sacristy to drop off the clean, ironed linens and pick up the used batch from the previous week. As I wash and iron these things, I often think of how other people all over the world have done this very same thing through hundreds of years. It is my offering to the Lord, getting ready for a sacrament that represents His great love for each and every one of us.

I am blessed to be a part of the body of Christ which is SOC and is made up of many devoted volunteers. There are so many of us working toward a common goal, each dedicated to their particular ministry. It is easy to see the power of the Holy Spirit in us as we work. Whatever you feel called to do, take the chance and reach out; nothing is too small and everything is important. Every little thing we do weaves us together and makes us stronger in the Lord.

Susan Staley

Susan had a 30-year career at Fannie Mae working with foreclosure prevention, traveling all over the country monitoring and training servicers, as well as developing new procedures to streamline the process. She has 2 sons and 2 grandchildren. These days her favorite hobby is playing the mountain dulcimer.

These Faces Seem Familiar – Day 22

Posted on Mar 7, 2018 in Blog, Devotions, Guest Blogger, Lenten Devotional 2018, Uncategorized |

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. …’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Matthew 25:34, 40

To inherit the kingdom, I am directed to help the “least of these.” Jesus gives me some examples of those who fall into this category:

The hungry and thirsty – The homeless fit neatly into this group. But I don’t need to give to them because they will probably use the money to buy booze or drugs, right?
Strangers – Lately there have been several instances of people in town/coming to town who need a place to stay: people who were fleeing Irma, traveling ministry leaders, families of individuals receiving treatment at UF Health, old friends with young children. Yet my house is a bit messy, I don’t want to risk my children not sleeping through the night, and our dog doesn’t do well with strangers. If they understood my situation, they probably wouldn’t even want to come.
The naked – I give clothes to Goodwill all the time. Goodwill then provides my clothes to naked people, right? Check that one off the list!
The sick – I have a family with small children and it’s flu season, Jesus! It would be irresponsible for me to visit anybody at the hospital (i.e., flu den), let alone talk to my coworker who just sneezed.
Prisoners – Don’t those people have free food, television, and on-demand chaplains? Sounds like their needs are taken care of to me.

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. …’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Matthew 25:41, 45-46

This follow-up warning makes me extremely uncomfortable, but probably not as uncomfortable as Jesus when He is hungry, thirsty, lonely, naked, sick, and in prison. I feel God calling me to meet the needs of the least of these, irrespective of my family situation, health status (current or future), home size, handicaps, bank account, schedule, and especially my judgement of whether the person in question deserves help (spoiler alert: they deserve it!). So I ask you to join me as I attempt to picture the face of Jesus over the faces of those I would sooner not feed, accommodate, clothe, take care of, or visit.

For this season of my life, God has called me to help lead and direct Servant’s ministry to Littlewood Elementary School. Please understand that I am a solid introvert and that this is not something that I would ever choose for myself – it was more of a situation of a door the size of NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building opening in front of me. I encourage you to not shy away from opportunities that make you uncomfortable or that you think are incompatible with your personality type. I suspect more and more that Jesus rarely calls us to actions which make us more comfortable, equally comfortable, or even slightly uncomfortable. To follow Him, we must deny ourselves and daily take up our cross. Then, from under our cross, we will more easily see His face.

Justin Smith

Justin has been a faithful sinner for the last 33 years of his life and continues to find inventive and creative reasons for putting his palm to his forehead and his foot in his mouth. He is devoted to finding ways of taking the abundance of privilege, blessings, and grace that are being dumped over him to point others to Jesus. Though he feels called to Littlewood for now, Justin’s heart also lies in helping the homeless of Gainesville. If you would like to join Servants in reaching out to the least of these at Littlewood, he would love to talk with you – drop him an email at enroth215@gmail.com.

Courage to Serve – Day 21

Posted on Mar 6, 2018 in Blog, Devotions, Guest Blogger, Lenten Devotional 2018 |

I wrote an awkward and somewhat raw description of my Kairos prison ministry experience on the Servants of Christ blog in November 2016. Lowell Correctional Institute (Lowell C.I.) is located 30 minutes south of Gainesville and is the nation’s largest women’s prison. Each Kairos Weekend is set up similar to a “Cursillo” (Anglican 4^th Day or Walk to Emmaus) weekend, and there are typically two of these weekends each year that take place in Lowell C.I. The Kairos reunions occur monthly and are about 3 hours in length, which allows time for Kairos volunteers to pray with and encourage inmates who attend. As I enter Lowell a couple of times each month for the reunions (Lowell C.I. contains two female prisons), each time it is challenging. First, a prison isn’t the most hospitable place; no one really wants to be there (inmates or guards); it is a sterile place. Many of the people I speak with seem aloof or defensive. Second, who am I to bring the Gospel to these people? Haven’t I committed crimes? Haven’t I done wrong in the eyes of God? I put these questions, and many more, to James (poor James), and I pray, and Christ grants me the courage to consistently serve. I have learned how to rely on Christ. I have learned obedience to Christ.

There are the times when I do sense His presence, and it is so joyful. One of these moments of joy occurred while in a room on death row. There are times when the women are real, their pain is real, and they are repentant and desperately seeking Him. This is not the norm though, and I cannot rely on the brief moments of joy for my motivation to serve. Most times, in order to motivate myself in preparation for a Kairos reunion, it takes serious reflection on the cross. He sacrificed all for me, and what do I do with that knowledge? What do I do for those He loves, for those He wants?

Even with the uncomforting factor of the prison environment, this ministry has strengthened my faith. Through mainly the sharing of testimonies, this ministry has profoundly made clear some of the basics of my faith that I thought I had already learned. For instance, truly admitting how my sin permeates and hinders relationships is one main area that became clear. On a more comforting level, I witnessed answered prayers, healing these relational wounds (personally, and in the lives of a few of the inmates). A long term ministry commitment helps one to grow in all areas of life.

Prison ministry is foundational in my walk with Christ, though I do not write this as a recruiting attempt. Anyone who is truly interested in prison ministry should be deep in prayer on the matter, prepared to enter a developing-nation-type of environment: lack of resources, lack of peace, anger, uncomfortable topics of discussion, and tribalism in a sense. A woman I worked with on a Kairos team mentioned that anyone considering ministry abroad should try their hand at prison ministry for a year before embarking, to serve as a preparation boot camp of sorts.

I sense I am most unqualified to suggest ministry to anyone, possibly due to my lack of experience. I can report that, spiritually, I have grown more by obediently serving at Lowell than I have in any other Christian endeavor. Additionally, I have gained the blessing of fellowship with many really amazing women (not only those who serve in Kairos with me, but quite a few of the inmates who truly embrace the cross and are a source of light in the compound). Pray wholeheartedly and consistently for guidance in whatever ministry you enter, don’t limit yourself due to fear and take that first step – you can do all things through Him.

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Hebrews 10:24-25

Leann Manley

Leann is an associate professor and instructor in the biological sciences at the College of Central Florida and has been a part of Kairos Prison Ministry since 2016.