Pastor Wayne's World
Fear
I have faced fear in my life on several occasions, some of it real, but many of it imagined. In the Bible one phrase is repeated 365 times. That phrase is “Do not be afraid”. 365 times implies to me it is important and maybe I need to live my life according to that precept. Usually, I don’t. Hey, I’m human just like you so yes, we all deal with the emotion of fear.
I can honestly say that in my 2 years of being appointed as your pastor here at Hebron UMC I have only experienced fear twice. Last year at Vacation Bible School when I challenged the kids and you as a congregation to raise money to send Bibles to kids in other nations and languages. You all went above and beyond what I imagined, and I can still smell the cream pies even today as I type this.
This year for VBS, in the heat of the moment, I challenged you all once again to not just collect $250 for clean water for kids in Honduras, but for every $100 over that goal, I would take a bucket of water being poured over me. You would think that I would learn. Once again all of you went above and beyond and I paid for it.
On Monday night the kids had reached the $250 mark. Fear, I felt fear. Two more days to go. It was not looking good. By the end of VBS we raised $1070! I tried making all kinds of excuses that I couldn't be at the Wednesday night closing ceremony, but they all failed.
9 buckets of water had my name on them.
How amazing is that! World Vision has a program called Water for Honduras and for $5 one child will have clean water to drink for an entire year! We partnered with them as our mission project for VBS and so 214 kids will be getting clean water! Praise God!
So, I faced my fear and kept repeating that phrase Do Not Be Afraid and took my buckets of water! Now, the most amazing lesson out of it all is that I only had 8 buckets of water poured over my head because Owen Thacker stood in my place as a true forever friend and took one of my buckets! Thank you, Owen!
So, I faced my fear and kept repeating that phrase Do Not Be Afraid and took my buckets of water! Now, the most amazing lesson out of it all is that I only had 8 buckets of water poured over my head because Owen Thacker stood in my place as a true forever friend and took one of my buckets!
Thank you, Owen!
It reminds me of someone else who took our place on the cross and died for our sins and rose again on the third day and sits on the righthand of God. I’m no longer afraid with friends like Owen and Jesus, I have nothing to fear!
UPDATE: We are now up to $1170 which means 234 kids get clean water! Praise God, thank you, Jesus!
Pastor Wayne
I have faced fear in my life on several occasions, some of it real, but many of it imagined. In the Bible one phrase is repeated 365 times. That phrase is “Do not be afraid”. 365 times implies to me it is important and maybe I need to live my life according to that precept. Usually, I don’t. Hey, I’m human just like you so yes, we all deal with the emotion of fear.
I can honestly say that in my 2 years of being appointed as your pastor here at Hebron UMC I have only experienced fear twice. Last year at Vacation Bible School when I challenged the kids and you as a congregation to raise money to send Bibles to kids in other nations and languages. You all went above and beyond what I imagined, and I can still smell the cream pies even today as I type this.
This year for VBS, in the heat of the moment, I challenged you all once again to not just collect $250 for clean water for kids in Honduras, but for every $100 over that goal, I would take a bucket of water being poured over me. You would think that I would learn. Once again all of you went above and beyond and I paid for it.
On Monday night the kids had reached the $250 mark. Fear, I felt fear. Two more days to go. It was not looking good. By the end of VBS we raised $1070! I tried making all kinds of excuses that I couldn't be at the Wednesday night closing ceremony, but they all failed.
9 buckets of water had my name on them.
How amazing is that! World Vision has a program called Water for Honduras and for $5 one child will have clean water to drink for an entire year! We partnered with them as our mission project for VBS and so 214 kids will be getting clean water! Praise God!
So, I faced my fear and kept repeating that phrase Do Not Be Afraid and took my buckets of water! Now, the most amazing lesson out of it all is that I only had 8 buckets of water poured over my head because Owen Thacker stood in my place as a true forever friend and took one of my buckets! Thank you, Owen!
So, I faced my fear and kept repeating that phrase Do Not Be Afraid and took my buckets of water! Now, the most amazing lesson out of it all is that I only had 8 buckets of water poured over my head because Owen Thacker stood in my place as a true forever friend and took one of my buckets!
Thank you, Owen!
It reminds me of someone else who took our place on the cross and died for our sins and rose again on the third day and sits on the righthand of God. I’m no longer afraid with friends like Owen and Jesus, I have nothing to fear!
UPDATE: We are now up to $1170 which means 234 kids get clean water! Praise God, thank you, Jesus!
Pastor Wayne