You know how we pastor types can be – always looking for the cutting edge ideas and surfing the web for cool church websites. When we have the opportunity to visit another church we do so like spies in a foreign land, taking notes on how we are greeted and how the service is conducted. Mind you, we don’t do this in an adversarial role – we just like to see what other churches do and glean ideas. We watch the people to see how they interact with others – both their guests and their family members. It can often be very enlightening.
So let me tell you about one of the most awesome churches i have ever encountered.
I had the opportunity last night to observe over 100 people from this particular church, open their doors and invite the community to a fully prepared, fully served, fully free, sit-down Thanksgiving dinner.
Places were set for 400 guests. The food was prepared all day in anticipation of the event.
When the doors opened, I watched countless servants welcome and seat the guests. Others were immediately at the tables getting tea or water for the guests.
Behind the scenes there were two service lines making plates that were then handed to a crowd of servers who carried the plates with a welcoming smile to the guests. As the folks finished their meals, there were literally teams of people to bus the tables and make sure the guests had what they needed.
I was blown away by not only the number of folks who committed their time to serve but also by the attitudes with which they worked. Rarely does a pastor get to see such service in action – it was amazing and a true gift from God.
I am always looking for sources of inspiration and illustrations I can use in my writing and speaking. I was truly blessed to be able to observe and witness such an outpouring of God’s love by so many believers at one time in one place.
But the most humbling thing about this experience was that it occurred at our church. This act was carried out by the people God has allowed me to serve and I got the opportunity to literally watch God at work.
It was a picture of an awesome church serving an amazing God!
I am so blessed!
Clay in the Hands 
I am thankful for your leadership, and the opportunity to watch our church family work so willingly together. I have never seen the whole body come together like they did last night.
Doris – You did such an amazing job! I am so thankful for all you did to make the meal possible! You are a true blessing!
Brian, What a sweet story. You opened your church to your community and they came. They were blessed. You were blessed.