From Our Family Pastor, Dennis Johns:

From Our Family Pastor, Dennis Johns:
This is a follow up to the last article I wrote. A fast-paced summer had just begun, and VBS week had just ended. I was observing the good fruit of people serving together to gain visible results through fellowship and goodwill as well as eternal rewards in transformed lives. Just this week we packed up the “play floor” from the fellowship hall, signaling the end of summer activities; and it has caused me to reflect further on the benefits of being a part of “the body of Christ” or the church.
In Jesus’ last gathering with His disciples, he exampled love through service as He washed their feet and told them to do likewise; Matthew 13:15 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. He next gives a colossal command in Matthew 13:34, 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” He then prays for unity, not just for the disciples, but for everyone in history that would follow Him. Service, love, and unity were the primary marks of followers of Jesus.
Here are some things we observed during our time at Camp:
Service – on Friday morning of Youth Camp, Fred Oates, a student from River Oaks, jumped up into the luggage area of OUR bus and began to pack our students’ luggage. (Remember it was 100 degrees all week!) He didn’t enter cautiously; he bolted up in there to serve as best he could.
Love – On Thursday night of Youth Camp students shared how they had shut out others from their lives because of past pain and hurt but were now choosing to let go because of God’s love shown them through other students.
Unity – During the week of Youth Camp, we experienced great excitement and joy watching students come together, old and young, to share burdens, blessings, and fellowship in a setting of grace. We have been witnessing this all summer long, and it has continued to build from the first event of the summer.
Sometimes in our journey, we get sidetracked by time, life, ambition, or exhaustion and have a tendency to abandon the most primary facets of the good and beautiful life to which God has called us: a life of service, love and unity. This song from our past is a great reminder of what we should be doing with what God gave us.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.