Room to Stretch Out
“Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.”2 Timothy 4:5b (NLT)
Yesterday was a big day in the life of Dan River Church. After nearly six years in our original facility, we moved into a new auditorium. It was a beautiful sight!
Have you ever been on a long road trip? The kind that causes you to feel like a sardine squeezed into a can? We have made the trek from Virginia to Florida more times than I can count. We try our best to pass the time reading, playing games, and watching movies. After hours spent cramped in a confined area, it feels so great to get out at the destination and stretch. The thought often runs through my mind: "They're going to have to leave me here because I don't think I ever want to get in that car again."
Walking into that new auditorium felt like a breath of fresh air. Just like that long trip, we could stretch out at last! Our children moved from small rooms into wide open spaces. They could literally run with sweet abandon.
This beautiful new space is wasted on us if we forget the purpose of it all. We want to share God's good news with the people of Danville and surrounding areas. It takes hard work, though. Our volunteers have sacrificed so much of their time and energy setting up the new auditorium, cafe, and children's areas.
God has given each of us a ministry to carry out, whether it's in a new church auditorium or in our everyday jobs. My husband shared this truth during the message yesterday: "If you're looking for an excuse to stay on the sidelines, you'll always find one." Are we going to look for excuses not to serve others? Or are we willing to work at sharing the gospel with others, serving them as we carry out our ministry?
