"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."
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