Faith is the evidence…
The pictures in this blog post come from my friend Charlie Slaughter’s facebook page. I have never known a man like Charlie.
He is a great man of faith.
He literally believes for Jesus to sustain him in everything he does through prayer. And Jesus has never failed him yet.
But Charlie had to take a step. Which of course led to more steps. Charlie wanted to get the gospel to kids who did not come to church. So he took his skills and abilities for Jesus and he and his wife built a mobile kids ministry center by remodeling an old RV. Complete with multiple security cameras all over his RV and safety measures in this day and age, he went all over the country to projects and low income areas, inner cities & suburbs. He used bubbles, slides, ventriloquism, crafts, games and activities to tell kids and families about Jesus. He called it Kidgrow Quest Ministries. Literally building the “Questmobile” from parts and skills he accumulated by faith.
Then he gave it away.
Yes. He gave it away. His whole ministry that he made with his own sweat and blood and faith. Then he built another one.
Then he gave that one away.
Then he built a Semi trailer to teach kids about Jesus all across the country, many times going into communities where there was no church, or the “church people” would not go to. Even into hurricane ravaged or tornado scourged towns. Right after the disaster occured. Charlie was often en route, on mission for Jesus to provide hope to a broken community.
Charlie & his wife are now building a ministry center…By faith. Do you think anyone will be changed through it? What is the evidence?
We are all called to live on Mission.
There is no two ways of getting around it.
It’s an old illustration. But every time you put your foot on the brake you take a step (literally) of faith. You cannot see your brakes working. But you do it. Naturally, even instinctually. Gas, brake, gas. You don’t even think about it. Some might even fall asleep with their eyes open at the wheel, not realizing how they got from one place to another. But still arriving safely in your driveway somehow. On a subconscious level you have faith.
Matthew 14:29-33 tells us that even during the storm especially during the storms, He calls to us like he called to his disciples…but only Peter was willing to actually come.
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
But I don’t trust God!
What was that? A sigh? A breathing in and a breathing out….subconsciously you do….See! You just did it again…You are passive about it. But you do. Instinctually, without even thinking. You believe God will give you your next breath.
Now use that faith in a different way.
Jesus will smile when you do.
And you may start finding yourself in a different place than you expected. You will wake up and realize what this life is about. And you’ll be “walking on water.”
Charlie is unconventional, Charlie is unusual. Charlie is different. But so are most who do things Jesus calls them to do.
Come, have faith. Why do you doubt?