A Pastor’s Perspective 01-11-2022

When I had my first interview with David Crocker back in 1995 for the Minister of Youth, David asked me, “What is the best way to disciple youth?” I remember saying that there were several ways, but the best way was through missions. We connected with that, as Snyder had just done their first Operation Inasmuch day. I still believe that is the best way to disciple youth and most anyone. We read what the Bible says and then we go out and practice it. I remember speaking to the Deacons about taking our youth to Kenya back in 1999. I knew it would change their lives, just didn’t realize how it would change my life as well. Since missions was so important to me, it seems fitting that I would transition to Minister of Missions in 2006. And I can still say, I love my job.
A new part of my job I never realized I would be doing is working with the Afghan refugees. It is hard for me to imagine, having to pack eveyrthing that was important to me in one suitcase and leaving everything I knew and loved in a 2 hour time period. But that’s exactly what our Afghan refugee family had to do. They knew because the father was in the Afghan military, that his life was in deep danger, so they grabbed what they could and left. They spent a few months in a military camp, before moving into our new Welcome House. Our family was brought here by one of the refugee agencies out of Raleigh and to be honest, they have not been much help as they are overloaded with cases. So we have tried to do what we could to help them out.
We have gotten the children in school and helped with groceries and provided them with a warm home. I’ll admit, I love this family. When I go to the house, the children run to hug me. They are a sweet family and have been through so much more than they deserve. I want to show them the love of Christ by being His hands and feet in any way that I can. I have been reading David Crocker’s new book, Compassionaries: Unleash the Power of Serving. Serving others is truly the way to changing our community. When we focus on serving others, it changes each of us in becoming more like Christ. Will you join me?…There is plenty to do!
Serving Together, Susie