What really attracted me to Stillwater was the emphasis on knowing and loving God with your heart, mind, soul, instead of the emphasis on being a member of a church and fulfilling certain duties. I remember being surprised when I saw the names and addresses of other churches in the Sunday morning bulletin. This told me that the church valued being a Christian over being a member of Stillwater UMC - which is what I think God values.
Also, I remember one of the first times we visited, Pastor Duane told the visitors to let the collection plate pass by because again, the emphasis was not on giving the church money, but on our relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Anton Woo
Thank you Stillwater for Teaching Me to Serve
I was so blessed to have some time in the week to have a colleague and I just sit and reflect on work life. His observation was that my ministry is and has always been my work. How true. Some of my stewardship does or did have monetary compensation but that service is in no comparison to my spiritual compensation.
Another colleague on a separate occasion mentioned I needed to review my priorities. It was then that the light bulb went off. You know that time when times stand still in your soul and mind and you are but an actor in the play of life as you watch from above!
It was all so simple and freeing. Why had I not seen it before?
Jesus’ priorities are love, grace and redemption. So it stands to reason that becoming one with Him and sharing His values the joy does cometh in knowing that “I can do all things through Him that strengthens me.” The vision, mission and philosophy are crystal clear. The abundance is His to give, ours to receive and ours to pass on. There are no limitations. There are no binding rules because when we walk with Him there is always more then we need.
I felt like the V8 commercial as I popped myself on the forehead. Why do I let the limitations, guilt and weight of should of, could of, ought to have hinder my priority of love in this ministry of life?
When we walk in the shared value of Jesus, time stands still and the miracles just occur. The rule is simple. Walk in Love and you will be transformed into the hands and feet of Christ.
That is just what we do at the Food Pantry.
We try to use the rule of Love as our measure and we make it our priority in every interaction whether with families in need or each other.
There are no other rules other than loving one another abundantly. When we do that we are free and work is joy because all decisions are made in the priority of love.
Thank you for leading others to the love of Christ by being His hands and feet while serving in the Food Pantry.
- Domina Page
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