Last week, we had the privilege of serving along side the Calvary youth at Mission Arlington in Texas. Mission Arlington exists to meet the physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual needs of the people in its surrounding community. They are a faith-based organization and have been serving the community since 1986 (30 years).
The mornings started off by doing many different services, from picking up trash to making furniture pickups and deliveries to people in need. I had the honor of working with Jeff and Nathaniel to help build a shed for Mission Arlington.
From Monday through Thursday we did a Bible study called rainbow express, for about 550 kids at 40 different apartment complexes. We would play games, do a craft, read a bible lesson and hangout with the kids. Through rainbow express, they have seen the salvation of almost 30 kids. God is at work in the city of Arlington.
On the last day of rainbow express, I was given the honor of teaching the lesson. The topic was “sharing the good news”. What an interesting topic to teach kids. The more I thought about what that topic meant, the more I realized that God used that lesson to speak to me. Isn’t that what we as Christians are called to do? Matthew 28: 18-20 says, “And Jesus came and said to them (the disciples), "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Jesus gives us the authority to share the good news; we are Christ’s ambassadors. And Luke 29:23 tell us that in order to be Jesus’ disciple, we must deny our self and take up our cross and follow him.
“Following Christ entails self-sacrifice shown, supremely at the cross.”
Serving along side these people, over the past week, I was able to see the selflessness of Alex, the gracefulness of Katie, the fearlessness of Jada, the intentionality of David, the pure heart of Mary Catherine, the peacefulness of Patrick, the wisdom of Cole, the civility of Bailey, the leadership of Jeff, and the persistence of Nathaniel. These people are truly some of the greatest people I have known.
The best discipleship happens through relationship, and that’s exactly what we are doing back here in Tuscaloosa. Through Tuscaloosa Urban Mission, we are able to hangout with the same kids everyday and build those relationships that need to be built. And through that, we can more effectively share the gospel and give them a clear representation of what that looks like. Ultimately, we should be disciples who make disciples.
God is not only at work in Arlington but also here in the city of Tuscaloosa.
-Grant Copeland