As we celebrated yesterday, our campaign is over, and thanks to so many of you, we made our goal! But I must admit, I’m not quite ready to leave Ben and Jonathan and the whole story of Saint Ben. It’s easy to fall in love with these guys and their story, even though they are fictitious.
Many of the things we pulled out of this story are metaphors I hadn’t seen before. The miracle of good art, be it literary or fine art or music, is that the artist always says more than even they realize. Ben and Jonathan’s paper route actually plays a small role in the whole story, but we found, surprisingly, how pregnant with truth it was for our ministry at the Catch and your role as carriers of the message to introduce the gospel of welcome — grace turned outward — to everyone everywhere.
The purpose of the Catch Ministry is discipleship, and you are the boots on the ground, all over the world, carrying the same message and getting the news out to your corner of the globe. We are not just waiting out our time here on earth; we are all key to getting the news out about Christ and His amazing grace. And we do that by getting next to people, befriending them, listening to them, finding out what they need, and loving them.
You of all people know we are talking about relationships.
Over coffee.
Over walks.
Over hoops.
Over neighborhood gatherings.
Everyone has a story to tell. Listen.
Whatever generation we are in, we live with this purpose. We have a reason. We are not marking time. We are at peace with God, but we live with a sense of urgency. There simply are not enough people who have heard of and embraced God’s lovingkindness. God will not end the world until all His own have come home. And since we’re still here, He’s not ready. More need to be introduced to Jesus.
So that can only mean one thing … we’ve gotta get the news out.
Thanks to you community members who contributed toward the business of the Catch Ministry to introduce the gospel of welcome — grace turned outward — to everyone, everywhere.
Donna – Victor, California
Peter & Jan – Branson, Missouri
Neil – Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Olivia – Waterloo, Ontario CANADA
Mike – Cambria, California
Chilly – Livingston, Louisiana
Wayne – Modesto, California
Richard – Concord, California
Thomas – Bow, New Hampshire
Judith – Nolensville, Texas
Dick – Lantana, Texas
David – Chehalis, Washington
John – Cupertino, California
Todd – Franklin, Tennessee
Jeanne – Vacaville, California
Tom – Washington D.C.
David – Fullerton, California
Gaetane – Powell River, BC CANADA
David – Lakeville Minnesotta
Patrick – Milan, Michigan
Steve – Keswick, Ontario, CANADA
Christina – Colorado Springs, Colorado
Basil – Sparta, New Jersey
Cynthia – Sonora, California
Daniel – Washburn, Wisconsin
Merlyn – Goodyear, Arizona
Elizabeth – Chicago, Illinois
Ray
Gary – Franklin, New Jersey
Richard – Nashville, Tennessee
William – Livingston, Louisiana
Steve – Nashville, Tennessee
Tim – Twin Falls, Idaho
Joe – Houston, Texas
Joyce – Mount Joy, Pennsylvania
Allen – Exton, Pennsylvania
Keith – Portland, Oregon
Tami – Pensacola, Florida
Pat – Normandy Park, Washington
Mike – Sacramento, California
Laura – Medford, Massachusetts
Kristin – Chesterfield, Missouri
Linda – Bainbridge Island, Washington
Lisa – Sunland, California
Joanne – Lynden, Washington
Tom – Orinda, California
THANK YOU!
