BLeach

Yesterday I had the opportunity to team-teach with my good friend Jeff Leake at Allison Park Church.  Together we kicked off their God of this City series.  Our vision at Church of the King is very similar to the vision of APC and I felt right at home preaching there and encouraging people to live as missionaries in their city.

After the service a woman approached me.  She was crying and said, "Don't take this the wrong way, but I hated your message!"  I told her that I knew what she meant, and then listened to her story.  She wound up in Pittsburgh because her husband was relocated there.  But ever since her painful divorce she has hated Pittsburgh.  In addition to reminding her of the pain she's been through, she misses her old home in Virginia, hates the cold winters, and feels isolated and lonely at work.  Yet God has closed the doors on all of her attempts to move.

She also told me that she has had a dream for many years to be a missionary.  Yesterday Jesus released something in her as she realized that God was fulfilling her dream by calling her to love and serve a city that didn't always feel like home.

With her permission I wanted to share her story as a reminder that missionaries come in all shapes and sizes.  One of the greatest adventures in life is to learn to love and serve the community to which Jesus has sent you.