07-11-10 Baobab Blast

Special Presentation            Baobab Blast!

 Pastor Nancy & Volunteers and Youth from Vacation Bible School

Song:                                Baobab Blast

(Pastor Nancy) During our week of Vacation Bible School we gathered each day around the Baobab Tree. We learned some amazing things about this tree. But one of the most important things we learned was that this tree is the gathering place for people. They come together to share their stories and oftentimes to listen to the village story teller who has a way of putting things so that God's truth shines through. Today some of the 61 youth and their leaders who were part of VBS will join me to tell you some stories. And hopefully you will see God's truth and love shinning through all we do and say.

Day 1: (Paul) On the first day our theme was Trust. We heard the story of how God called Abraham and Sarah to go to a new place and become a great nation.

        (Paul) Our Bible verse was from Psalm 37:5. It was

All:   ⁵Let the LORD lead you and trust him to help.

(Paul) But we sometimes shortened it to

All:   "Trust in God"

(Pastor Nancy) I was in my office getting the bulletin ready for the upcoming Sunday when the phone rang. It was a woman calling for help. Her name was Michelle and she said she had just been released from prison and needed help, not for her self so much as for her daughter. She needed diapers and food and someone to talk to. I guess she was just going down the list of churches, trying to find someone to respond and she got to me. She didn't have a car. She had no way of getting from where she lived to the church, but she needed help. She was living on the far east side of Milwaukee -in an area that some people called the ghetto. I was in one of the far western suburbs. I had a lot of work to get done and I really wanted to just say to her that there was nothing I could do to help her; but something deep inside, something that I've come to know as God's spirit pushed me to respond. So I told her that I would gather some things together and bring them to her the next morning.

Song:                                From East to West

Day 2 (John) On the second day our theme was Love. We heard the story of how God's love helped Joseph love and forgive his brothers. We also leaned that even though the brothers meant to hurt Joseph, God used what they did for something good.

(John) Our Bible verse was from 1 Corinthians 13:8a It was

 ⁸Love never fails!

(Pastor Nancy) So the next morning I set out driving east toward Michelle's apartment. As I drove along this street that runs between the city of Milwaukee and the suburbs, I couldn't help but notice the changes that were taking place as I drove. It wasn't long until I was out of my comfortable suburban neighborhood and heading into places where the buildings were more shabby. And I began to wonder what in the world I was doing, going all by myself into the heart of the ghetto to meet a woman who had been in prison and I didn't even know what her crime had been.

As I drove, I felt my heart begin to constrict as fear began to fill my mind. The people on the street suddenly looked menacing -gang bangers and druggies I thought. I dreaded having to stop at red lights for fear they would jump off the curb and attack me. Just then, of course I came to a red light and as I sat there God spoke into my anxious heart and said, "Nancy these are people just like you. They are my children too. Pray for them."

Now when I'm in stressful or difficult situations I have a couple of breath prayers that I use. One of them is called the Metta. It consists of four lines: May I be filled with loving-kindness; May I be well; May I be peaceful and at ease; May I be happy and filled with joy. Each phrase is spoken silently as you breath, one phrase for each breath. You begin praying it for yourself and then changing the "I" to "you" you send the prayer out for others.

So I began, 2-3 times for myself and then once for each person I saw as I drove -the people walking down the street, the people hanging out in front of stores, the people in line at the welfare office. As I drove and as I prayed for each of these strangers a miraculous thing happened; the people who moments before had seemed scary now looked like my sisters and brothers. As my heart opened I saw each of them surrounded and filled with God's light and love.

Song:                                Love Never Fails

Day 3 (Emily) On the third day our theme was: Follow. We heard the story of how Jesus called ordinary men and women to follow him and learn from him. They were called disciples and so are we.

(Emily) Our Bible verse was from Psalm 119:15 It was

All:   ¹⁵I will study your teachings and follow your footsteps."

(Emily) But we sometimes shortened it to

All:   "I'll follow Jesus"

(Pastor Nancy) When I arrived at Michelle's place the neighborhood was worse than anything I had ever seen and fear tried to grip my heart again. So I began my other favorite breath prayer: I am the light, the light is within me; the light flows through me; the light surrounds me; the light protects me; I am the light. After a couple of times through, I knew that God's light and love were surrounding and protecting me, so I got out of the car and headed to her door.

When she answered my knock I was greeted by a beautiful smile, a warm gracious heart and a precious little one. "Come in," Michelle said, "and please sit down if you can. I'd love to talk with you if you have the time.

As we talked she told me some of her life story. I actually can't remember most of the details, but I do remember the little jump in my stomach when she told me that she had been in prison because she had been convicted of second degree murder. Then she asked me to pray for her and her child that they would find their way. After I finished praying she said that I had brought her such peace that she wondered if she could stay in touch with me. I said yes, of course she could call me.

Every couple of weeks she would call, sometimes because she just wanted to talk and have me pray for her, sometimes because she needed something for her daughter. As time passed she talked about her fear of her boyfriend and wishing she could get away from him. Most of the time I just listened. If I said anything at all it was to remind her how much God loved her and what a beautiful person she was.

Song:                                We Have Heard the Call

Day 4: (Dustyn) On the fourth day our theme was Care: We heard the story of the Samaritan that helped the man who was hurt.

(Dustyn) Our Bible verse was from Jeremiah 17:16a It was

All:   "O LORD, you chose me to care for your people"

But we sometimes shortened it to

All: "Care for others"

(Pastor Nancy) The next time I visited Michelle, she was living in a place even worse than the first place. She had left her boyfriend and this was all she could afford. She needed furniture and lots of help, so I got several people from the congregation. We collected a number of things and took them to her.

After that each time she would call, she seemed stronger and more confident. Finally one day she asked if she could come to church because she wanted to thank the people of our little congregation and share with them some of her story. We were eventually able to make that happen and what a blessing it was. Not only did we see the way that God had loved Michelle though our willing hands and hearts, but we recognized the way God had loved us by sending Michelle into our lives.

Day 5 (John) On the last day our theme was: Share: We heard the story of a guy named Philip who shared his faith with a man riding in a chariot.

(Paul) Our Bible verse was from Philemon 1:6a It was

All:   "Share your faith with others"

(Emily) Although that's pretty short we also shortened it to

All:   Share your faith

(Pastor Nancy) Some time after that Michelle connected with some of her aunts who invited her and her daughter to move in with them. The last time I saw her she was living in a safer neighborhood in a clean well-furnished apartment -not luxurious by suburban standards but a palace compared to where she had been. As I arrived the apartment was full of women who were talking and laughing. Michelle introduced me and then asked me to come into her room so we could talk. She had found a job and had these wonderful women to help her. She was so grateful for everything we had done to help her. Now she hoped she could help others. She also hoped she wouldn't have to call to ask me for help again.

We hugged and prayed together and then went back into the living room where the women had put on some music and were dancing. "Do you dance?" Michelle asked me.

"I sure do" I replied as I joined in.

"Hey a preacher who dances," one of her friends said.

When the song was over and I was preparing to leave Michelle said, "Pastor Nancy, you got some jive; you don't dance like no white chick." We all laughed and hugged again. As I left I thought "God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good."

Song:                                Share Your Faith