Have you ever had encounter with someone who encouraged you? Challenged you? Changed your life? Well...If you’ve given your heart to Jesus I know you have! He does all those things and abundantly more!

I just had an amazing conversation with a young High School grad named Austin. As I walked into the office area today; he was waiting to visit with the Pastor. I’ve learned from experience you can never know exactly what that means without further inquiry. Austin just wanted to talk a moment. He shared how he was raised in a church – a local one – but didn’t come to know Jesus in a personal way until this summer on a Mission trip to Mexico (Just happens to be in Copper Mountain the very area our missionaries Susa and Jose Luis minister!). Since that time he and some buddies have been ministering on Friday nights to people on the streets of Oklahoma City, singing and sharing the gospel. Many of the people are homeless and a few have given their lives to Jesus in a genuine way! Praise God! The Lord led him to First Church to ask what we’re doing for the homeless. I shared about hosting a free breakfast Monday through Friday in Harris Hall. I also told him about food baskets being distributed on Fridays for 50+ low income families. I shared about snack bags our children have decorated and packed for the homeless at our front desk. I shared with him about Heartland Chapel – our 24 hour Prayer Chapel that provides a place for prayer, to leave prayer requests which are prayed for weekly and offers free Bibles for any in need. Frank and Donna Sisson lovingly care for this ministry. The more I shared, the more pumped he became. His enthusiasm rubbed off on me and mine on him. I think that’s what the Bible means about encouraging one another!

It’s so exciting to share about what God is doing and allowing us to be a part of it! First Church belongs in downtown Oklahoma City. Not because it’s easy – far from that - but because it’s hard. When a work is hard, it forces us to rely on God and not ourselves and it allows Him to get all the glory. First Church doesn’t have any “superstars” and I’m glad for it! We’re simply ordinary people seeking to live an extraordinary life in Jesus Christ! Have you been blessed by someone lately? Have you blessed another? I want to thank you for the beautiful encouragement cards you gave me for Pastor Appreciation month and for my birthday last Sunday too! I’m so glad to be 25 (pardon my dyslexia!)

I appreciate you all! Be sure to be present this Sunday - I missed all you Robber’s Cave people last week - and also this coming Wednesday evening for our Stewardship Banquet with Jeremy Basset. You’ll get to hear more stories from our own people about how God is transforming lives right here at First Church! We’re blessed to be a blessing!

Yours in Christ,
Mark