Drew Boswell

a place for us to share ideas, talk about life, and learn together.

A Week of Missions at Mission Frederick

This week Summit Trace and two others churches joined together to do mission work all over Frederick county. Having just returned from vacation I was ready to get busy. Even though the churches were local (except for one from Mississippi) they decided to stay at one church and pretend as though they were away on a mission trip (kind of like a stay-cation). We shared meals together, worshipped together, and enjoyed  each others company for three days.

I had originally intended to help with some of the VBS sites but was assigned to some construction sites instead. Whatever we do for the Lord, it is important to stay flexible. I worked with a man and three teenaged girls, where we painted, did some landscaping, and minor home repair. The weather was great, and we were able to really help some families.

What really brought my heart joy was how three different churches worked together without any concern for who was going to get “the credit,” or who was “in charge,” etc. The three churches acted as one unit whose desire was to help other people and to share God’s love. The three days ended with a carnival at a local church and many of the families who we were able to help were in attendance.

It is my prayer that this spirit of cooperation will continue in the years to come, and that this effort will grow. Next summer World Changers is coming to Frederick County and we will be able to experience this fellowship on a much larger scale. Please join me in prayer that this will grow and that many will be reached for Christ as the church works together in love.

A Father’s Delight

This picture was taken at Caleb and Joshua’s birthday party a few weeks ago (Caleb was about to go for his second time on the roller coaster). We were at Adventure Park for a little over three hours and had a blast. As the day went on Caleb told me that he couldn’t stop smiling. He screamed with delight riding the roller coaster, spun in the whirl-a-hurl, and was shot with water canons in the bumper boats.  It is a wonderful feeling to know that as a parent you have orchestrated something that is truly bringing your kids happiness.

Matthew 7:7-11 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find;knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

I love to give my children good things, and to bring them joy. It is unlike any feeling that I have ever experienced. The Bible is true that I am evil, make mistakes, and will fail more times than I succeed. But what a joy to know that God, my (perfect) Father, delights in blessing His children with “good things.” It’s not about getting more stuff, but the relationship. God knows what you need, and He delights in giving it to you — but he desires the relationship so He requires that you ask. He does not give you what you need from afar, He delights in seeing your face, talking with you in the cool of the day, and hearing from your heart. His delight is you and your relationship with Him.

I went on the roller coaster with Caleb, I go to the beach on vacation and build sand castles, and I sit beside him in Cub Scouts. I delight in my relationship with my son (and all of my children). It brings my heart joy to know that God does the same thing (but infinitely more) when He thinks of me as His child.  Go and spend some time with your Heavenly Father today, He is waiting with a smile on His face.

A New Beginning; First Steps in a New Ministry

I have been hired as the Pastor of Families and Children at First Baptist Church in Valdosta Georgia.  During a series of question and answer times with the congregation I received multiple forms of the same question, “what new programs are you going to start?,” or “what are you going to do that’s new?” I explained that I desired to gather a team of people in order to put together an overall long-range plan for the spiritual formation of the children and the strength of the families, and then either keep, tweak, or add new programs to help us accomplish that plan.

The church is looking to begin a new journey. They are looking for vision, creativity, and direction from the Lord. So together we will begin a new journey together (once I sell my house and move to Georgia).  But the hanging question is “so what now?” Every now and then in life you get a mulligan, a do over, a new beginning. Just like a new day, God gives a chance to begin anew.

It has been said, “every great journey begins with the first step.” So what should that first step be? My nature already begins to rush toward logos, web sites, print materials, programming, recruiting, policies and procedures, conferences, but my experience shouts “stop.” In know from mistakes I have made in the past, the first step has to be prayer, Bible study and making sure that I am where I need to be with the Lord and nothing else. He has to lead, and I have to follow. Then I have to surround myself with people who understand this essential first step (and do so in their own lives). The first step in a great journey is two steps back to God. One step in our own wisdom, and two steps back to piety.  God does what only He can do; He moves the church forward, as we go back to Him time and time again.

How can we put something together that will “turn the world upside down,” if we are doing it our own strength and our own wisdom? The truth is that we will get a great looking, sharp, crisp, professional, and cool stuff – but at the end of the day it will be hollow, it won’t last, and it won’t do what you intended for it to do (trust me).

So we begin our journey with pleading for God to lead us, guide us, and give us the plan. We then pour our lives into the plan that God has given us.  We prepare our hearts to be able to even hear from the Lord, and to be able to fathom His plan. Let us pray that it will bring Him all the glory, and that His church will be strong for future generations.  Isn’t that exciting? God is going to give us a plan (maybe in pieces, maybe all at once) as we seek His face and give Him glory.  This plan will be wonderful, beautiful, and together we will change the world.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith." Ephesians 2:8

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