Your Joyful, but Clueless Pastor
I’ve been the pastor here now for quite a few years. With that being the case, I’d like to think that I have a pretty good notion of the ministry that is taking place here at Wright’s Chapel. I’m personally involved in some ministries more than others. I’m pretty involved with our youth, involved with our special needs ministry and Mildred Kids, but have always thought I’ve had my finger on the pulse of what else is happening through our church, whether that is the Lumberjacks, or Cindy’s Closet, ministry with our children, our combat veterans, Sunday School, etc. I love it though when I hear about ministry in Jesus name that our church is doing and I didn’t even know it was happening. Sandy Kinkead came in my office today and asked if we could save her some boxes that come through the office. She said that she needs to ship some teddy bears that the crafters had made. When I asked what that was about she told me that our crafters have been making teddy bears for an organization called Friends of the Fallen. I had never heard of the organization, nor did I know that our Crafters were connected. Turns out, it is a small organization that works with the families in our military service. When a loved one has died in service overseas their body is brought back to the Dover air force base. Families, often with young children, will gather at the air force base in order to meet the plane that is carrying the remains of their loved one. The teddy bear project was started as a way to try and help the children in their grief process and to give them something to hold on to during what can be a very emotional time. What they found is that not only do the children appreciate having something to hold on to in that moment when what is called the “dignified transfer” is taking place, but often times the adults need something to cling to too. I appreciate the ministry that our crafters are doing. Although we may never know or meet these children or their parent who is clinging to a teddy bear, I’d like to think that there’s at least a little bit of the love of Jesus in that bear. I know our crafters and the faith they live with and thus I suspect that that teddy bear is clinging to that child as much as that child is clinging to that bear. Thank you Wright’s Chapel Crafters for the ministry you are doing in Jesus name. You made my day!
