Co-Laboring for Christ

No kidding, I have literally watched 2 Timothy 2:2 happen through Matt. Several years ago, Matt asked one of his Lieutenant buddies to come out to Bible study with him. After a few years of investment in his life, Captain Leroy Adams is now making disciples out at Fort Sill, OK. However, before Leroy left Fort Bragg he began investing in Specialist Paul Hwang, who is now helping lead one of the small groups in our ministry. Coming full circle, Paul just brought out a few of the men he is helping grow in Christ to our fellowship dinner last week, which Matt helps lead.

Matt and Lauren have been laboring for Jesus Christ at Fort Bragg for several years. After a brief hiatus at Fort Benning for the Captain's Career Course, they are back, and hopefully here to stay for a while. Matt has been a Field Artillery Officer for the majority of his Army career, but is now pursing Civil Affairs. Lauren is a financial advisor and is currently 9 months pregnant ... any day now!

It has been a blessing to join arms with the Allens in furthering the Kingdom here at Fort Bragg. Matt and I have been spending a lot of time looking at Jesus' ministry to His disciples. If Jesus wants us to make disciples (Matt. 28:19), we would certainly do well to follow His example. We have also been blessed to spend a lot of time co-laboring. We typically see each other on Monday night for our leader Bible study, Tuesday night for an outreach Bible study, Friday night for the fellowship dinner, Saturday morning for a time of focused prayer with a few other laborers, and at least once a week for breakfast or lunch during the workday. Although this is a far cry from the amount of time the disciples spent with each other and with Jesus, we are making a concerted effort.

I want to publically thank Matt and Lauren for being our most trusted companions. In addition to their amazing friendship, we can always expect to get honest feedback from them of which we highly value (Prov. 27:6). A true brother and sister in Christ!

Here We Go . . .

I am typically an old fashioned pen and paper kind of guy, so this blog thing is totally new to me. However, after spending days, if not weeks handwriting and mailing letters I have finally conceded to the twenty-first century (you win!). This blog, therefore, is my feeble attempt to let the testimony of Jesus shine through the life of our family to the ends of the earth (Matt. 5:14-15; 28:19-20). My desire is that this post and all that follow are not so much a story about us as they are about Christ in us (2 Cor. 5:20).

The above picture is a recent "fellowship" dinner we had at our home (Heb. 10:24-25). We typically host these dinners every Friday, although there are sometimes things that keep us from being 100% consistent. I will say from the onset that we are the ones who have been blessed by this fellowship. When we started hosting them about 2 years ago, it was with some hesitation and complaint. To be quite honest (and as a confession) my initial thoughts were: "What about our free time on Friday? How much will is cost? Won't our house get messed up?" However, as it turns out, we've experienced Acts 20:35 in a very tangible way. Thank you to everyone who has blessed us over the last several years of fellowship in our home. Can't wait until next Friday!