I have a confession to make. When I was asked to consider being the new Outreach chair, I really struggled with my decision. I kept thinking about how there would be one more meeting a month to go to, there would be more responsibility of being a council member and chairing a committee. I already had the monthly Outreach meeting, one late night every week with worship team practice and a part-time job in addition to my full-time job. How much more could I give of myself? How would I handle this with all my other commitments I already had? I had plenty of excuses. The more I wanted to turn and run from the commitment, the more God nudged me and said it would all work out. So, I accepted, but not with excitement.

There was a lot of outreaching to be done, and we just didn't have enough committee members to accomplish it all and I was feeling discouraged. Where were we going to get more outreachers? Then God spoke to me through one of Dwight's sermons on having a heart for something. I have always had a heart for outreach and soon found out that some other people did too and were willing to give of their time to be on the committee. God had provided new life into the Outreach committee by touching their hearts as well. God changed my doubt to excitement and I am so grateful for the people He has provided.

In addition to our already existing support of Missions, PADS, Community Christian Food Pantry, Catalyst/Sharefest and the Christmas Adopt-a-Family programs, we are working on some other ways we can reach out. We are discussing how to form an evangelism team to connect with those not currently attending a church; we are going to begin a Prayer Shawl ministry where we gather to pray for specific individuals and then make a shawl for them to keep; we are going to again have hospitality dinners to connect with people in a smaller, casual home setting; and we are going to be meeting with the Bostons to see how we can help support the orphanage in Haiti. Just in the last couple of months, we have reconnected with Love Inc. and have committed to their furniture ministry and we are working to create a team to help with their clothing ministry. Love Inc. has many needs and we will be making you aware of those if you wish to help out in any way.

The great thing about outreach is that you don't have to be on the committee to do it. Outreach is about reaching out to others and showing them that they matter and that someone cares about them. It's about giving and doing for others and maybe having an opportunity to share the good news of God's love and grace.

We recently introduced the "Pass It On!" cards. Hopefully by now, you have had an opportunity to give a few away. How did it make you feel when you did something nice for someone and then passed on the card in the hopes they would keep passing it on? I'll bet it made you feel good, and why not keep that feeling going? There are plenty of cards to keep passing out and we should keep it going until they are all gone. You never know if you might be that one person who passed on the card to someone who was searching for answers and by reading John 3:16 on the back of it made a difference in their life or even saved their life. Oprah has her "Big Give" and Ty Pennington has his "Extreme Makeover – Home Edition" where they are helping make a difference in people's lives, and the people that participate in these shows are experiencing what giving and reaching out is all about. God gave us the biggest give of all; His son dying on the cross so that we might be saved and have a new life in Him. It's up to us to share that message with others who have not yet been saved, so PASS IT ON!