Blitz Build

Carpentersville Milestones

Birthday wishes go out to Kirsten Harry and Dave MacKenzie. You both get an extra piece of cake for serving on your birthdays.

Also congrats to future homeowner's Bob and Jen Green, celebrating 8 years of marriage on Wednesday. (teaser: you'll get to know this couple a little better on Thursday, so check back)

Serving in Chicago

Last year, Blitz Build volunteers helped demolish the walls of the classrooms at the once abandoned building in the Austin community.  "Right now, the Catalyst School has over 200 students enrolled in the adjoining building and really needs more space," says Gary Fisher, construction manager for the Blitz Build volunteers. 

Gary is no stranger to the project.  He lead the Blitz Build team here last year, has provided his construction business for contract work at minimal cost, and has led other teams of volunteers here two weekends a month.

"It's really great to see this start taking shape," he said pointing out the newly windowed exterior.   Soon these 11 classrooms will be finished, in time to open its doors to the expanded enrollment of 450 children this Fall.  Once that is done, the project will focus on renovating the auditorium and new cafeteria in the basement.

Another Cabin at Riverwoods

Work is still underway on the newest cabin at Riverwoods Christian Center in St. Charles, Illinois.  This latest addition will be a valuable asset at the camp continues to reach at risk youth.  "We're making good progress," says construction manager Frank Yarosh. "We're finishing up the roof, laying tile in the bathroom, and workers are mudding the drywall right now.  There won't be much more we can do inside until the mud dries, and that could be a couple days because it's so humid out.  But, fortunately there is plenty to do outside."

Later this week, the team may also head off into the woods to help construct team building exercises for the campers to experience.  "We weren't planning on that, but we got the manpower and the time . . . Let do it!"

Hot, Hot, Hot

Word is it reached 115 degrees in Mississippi.

"Why do you serve?

"So, why do you serve?" asked Mike, team leader for the Elgin rehab project.  The group had gathered as they usually do for morning instructions and devotional time. (download HERE).  

"I've used my skill for 45 years to serve myself" said Patrick, a construction leader for the site. "When God got a hold of me, he brought me to my knees. He broke me.  Now I see that my skills are for others."

"I've been out of work for 4 months now," stated another volunteer. "When I heard about the Blitz Build opportunity to serve for the week, it was a no-brainer."

Another volunteer, a young college student, offered, "For me it wasn't a no-brainer.  I'm on Summer break and have always thought of vacation time as for myself.  But my pastor challenged me to give up some of that time, so here I am."

Mike also shared a touching story of Demetrius, an young man he befriended during a serving trip to the Dominican Republic several years ago.  Mike decided to empower Demetrius by offering him his tool belt and saying,"You're going to do the work, I'll show you how."  It was a decision that impacted  both men, building a friendship that some compared to father and son.  Mike later shared "Demi" grew from that experience, enrolled in carpentry classes, and was able to become an accomplished craftsman and start to live a life for others, not himself.

Tragically, several weeks ago Mike learned that "Demi" was hit by a vehicle and died as a result. Although saddened by the lost of his Dominican son, Mike forges on looking to build new relationship with those he works with."Community building goes both ways. You impact the individual and the community as whole.  Demi was able to make positive choices in his life and as a result of the relationships he built surrendered his life to Christ along the way."

  

Blitz Build Devotional (Day 4)

What does God want for the community you are serving in today? Take a quick look at the houses, businesses, and people in the area where you are working. What does God think about them?

Jesus told a story in the gospel of Luke that shows the heart of God toward the people in this community. Luke 15: 8-10; ”Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

A serving church has a role in developing communities and neighborhoods that are healthy and transformed. As discussed in The Externally Focused Church, one of the best examples of this came in the first centuries. “ When the devastating plagues of the first three centuries swept over Europe, those who were able fled the cities-but not the Christians.  They stayed and ministered to the sick and dying, whether they were Christians or not. Throughout the following centuries, the church played a major role in meeting social needs and curing social ills.” There are many great examples of churches today that are playing similar roles in their communities.

God has continually been in the business of using His people (like you and those working next to you) to bring hope to those who need it. It is entirely possible and very probable that within view of your current work site there are people who are far from God and do not even know that they are loved by Him and that he wants them to belong to His family.

Respond:

Ask God to allow you to intersect today with someone who is outside of His family and to whom you can express in some way His love.

Pray for those who live and work within view of your work site – pray that those outside of a relationship with Christ will come to know the truth about Him.