As I am over halfway through my 11 month missionary trip, I want to take a minute to blog about all the people that have played a crucial part in my spiritual development. Last month I worked at a school teaching 5th grade students in a Bible class. I took them through all the basics of the faith. I walked them through our separation from God and need for a Savior, I then introduced them to the Son of God who came and gave everything for us. I then spent a few days on the basics of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Eph 2:8-9). I taught a couple days on our need for prayer. Then finally taught on the urgency of eternity and the truth of the fading pleasures and riches of this world. I taught all of these lessons remembering and finding great respect for the ones who took the time to teach me. We don’t always see the fruit of our labor, but I want to take a second to give credit and hopefully show some laborers in my life the fruit they deserve to see.
To my family parents and grandparents, thank you for raising a family to serve the Lord, people are hearing the gospel because of you.
To Dusty and Patsy McLemore, thank you for choosing a life of service and leadership in a church that teaches and preaches the gospel with passion, people are being called to worship, grow, and serve all across the world because of you.
To the Sniders, Schofields, and Colellas, thank you for teaching me and all the kids at LLBC over the years the stories of scripture and the need for worldwide missions, people in 6 countries so far have been taught these stories and the Living God present in all of them because of you.
To the Browns, Griggs, Mitchells, Nesmiths, Robinsons, Conns, Harrises, and Crafts, thank you for the Godly community you have provided, loving your neighbor as yourself comes easy to you, and I have tried my hardest to spread that love to neighbors around the world in order to show them the gospel I have such faith in, all because of you.
To the Kings, Whites, Ennises, Acklins, and Vails thank you for teaching and preaching to the youth in our church, it’s not always the prettiest role in the church, but it can help change a generation and the world. I understood and accepted this call to missions because of you.
To the Jacksons and Oakleys, thank you for your love and support in every stage of life so far, and for showing me that humor and friendship (and soccer) breaks down all language and cultural barriers. I have made friends and built relationships all over the world because of you.
To all of my friends and family members and the families that were not mentioned in this blog but have played such a crucial part in showing me that Christ needs to be at the center of everything, and also to all of you who have supported me financially on this mission trip. You know who you are and the fruit is not what I’ve done but what Christ has done through me in 6 countries across the world, the people that have heard the gospel for the first time and those that have drawn closer in their relationship with God because of the work He has done through me and my team. The orphans and widows that have been loved and cared for by my team. The fruit is there.
To the active members in a Godly community in Athens, AL and all over the southeast that have pushed me not into dying religious practices, but towards a living Christ, the fruit of your labor is in South Africa, Swaziland, India, Nepal, Thailand, and Cambodia. Thank you, your reward will be more than a blog post one day.
