"I Want to be the Start of a Chain Reaction"

"No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a washtub or shoves it under the bed. No, you set it up on a lamp stand so those who enter the room can see their way. We're not keeping secrets; we're telling them. We're not hiding things; we're bringing everything out into the open. So be careful that you don't become misers of what you hear. Generosity begets generosity." - Luke 8:16-18, The Message

Eric prepares food at a homeless shelter in Hollywood. For more photos from the week, click on any of the images you see here!

Last night, during our closing worship and discussion, Eric from Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church made a statement that almost got overlooked. We had just completed a 20 minute sharing time, where teens and adults from the Church of Christ of Goshen, Connecticut and Walnut Creek (CA) Presbyterian Church discussed a "rose" (something beautiful from the week), a "thorn" (something annoying or challenging), and a "bud" (a hope for the future.)

Eric raises his hand, right after everyone has shared, and says, "I have one more bud." My first inclination was to keep the evening moving along, because we had many more elements to cover, and so I almost said, "hold your thought until after we're all done." But I didn't, and Eric blossomed this incredible idea, linking a commercial he had seen with the work and experiences they had had this week:

"I want to be the start of a chain reaction of helping others and encouraging people."

Indeed, it touched the entire group. We certainly do need to keep our light out in the open, to brighten the lives and souls of others. I am so blessed to sit back and watch how God allows the service and the outreach to unlock doors, no pun intended, in the hearts and minds of these young people.

To the Goshen Creekinites, or the Walnut Goshians, you have reached out across this huge city called Los Angeles, and from what I see, you're reaching out across the country in new connections with each other. I assure you, the love and joy that you all radiated this week is bright, and inspiring, and fills us with new hope.

Bless you all!

Matthew

Impromptu Worship, God brings it all together!

Working at Project Angel Food

Before saying goodbye....