I was able to go last night to the Mustard Tree Ministries "Break Through" service. I haven't been since the first night it was held at 1st Centenary UMC. Last night was Week 6.
Though the service was normally held in one of the classrooms, last night it was held in the room where they hold "The Vine" service on Sunday mornings because a band from Harrison UMC was coming to lead worship.
I later learned that the youth (and some adults) from Harrison UMC were the ones providing and serving the meal. Harrison UMC brought about 20 folks and others met them at the church. They had a good turn out. There were representatives from Mustard Tree, 1st Centenary, and other churches too. There were about 103 people in all (give or take a handful).
It was a good crowd of folks. Once again, there were black, white, young, middle-aged, older, those with jobs, those without, those with homes, those without. I met a family of five from El Salvador and sat with them. The children are bilingual. It was a blessing to get to know them a little.
The physical meal of BBQ sandwiches with lots of fixings was yummy!
The spiritual meal of the Word and preaching was good, but not as easy to digest because it was challenging (as always!).
The verses were Ephesians 6:10--end of the armor section. As Barry was reading it in English, his wife Diana was quietly reading it in Spanish to the family at our table. That was pretty cool for me to hear the Word in both languages from them at the same time!
I will share my notes from Barry's preaching.... much of it is what he said, some of it will be my thoughts from what he said.
Barry talked about being hungry for God. He asked if people were to see this group of people in prayer if they would be able to say that they were hungry for God? Would our personal lives show a hunger for God?
Barry spoke about Jim Cymbala from Brooklyn Tabernacle and how he knew folks were hungry for God... those that came to the prayer service on Tuesday nights demonstrated a hunger for God. Cymbala realized that God wanted the leadership of the church and that fervent prayer was needed for growth.
Barry shared three goals that he has for Mustard Tree Ministries:
(1) That they learn how to pray. That they come together in unity and in prayer. We don't have perfect unity because we don't pray with and/or for one another as often as we could. Churches are family and need to be praying for one another by name.
(2) As a unified body, start going into the darkest and toughest areas in Chattanooga and pray! Barry shared a story from Nikki Cruz' book One Holy Fire about communism and the power of a handful of dedicated people being able to overturn the world. Imagine that handful of dedicated people being dedicated to God and dedicated to living and serving as Christ did, people of prayer and action.....
(3) Re-gain our focus, re-focus our prayers. Become more persistent in our prayers. For our leaders, for each other, that God will raise us up to make a difference, for our brothers and sisters in oppressed cultures. Barry cited examples how at times the ministry had prayed specifically for Michael and Angel (among others) and how they are now set free from the life of darkness. Barry spoke about getting back to praying for people by name.
As Barry prepared the elements, he told us that Jesus wanted us more than anything and that is why he allowed his body to be broken and his blood poured out. He challenged us to get re-focused and let God change Chattanooga as we are the instruments of that change. He challenged us to ask ourselves, 'Is my heart's desire totally for God?'
When it was time to serve communion, Barry called up four members of Mustard Tree to serve. What a blessing! To be served the elements by these servants was a humbling and blessed moment as it truly exemplified the diverse and unified kingdom for me.
After we shared communion, Angel had a word for the community. She exhorted us all to be addicted to God like she had been addicted once to alcohol and drugs. To be addicted to God, to want God more than anything else... that is what she wanted for us, and for herself, and her family.
I don't make it to "Break Through" often, but when I do, I am blessed to worship in a diverse, yet unified body of believers. Though struggling in many ways, their heart's desire is to become completely God's.
I hope and pray that my heart continues to become transformed thus. And, that I pray for more fervently for my leaders, for others, and that God will raise me up to make a difference.
What about you? Are you addicted to God? Are you fervently praying?
Blessings on the journey!
~Debra
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