Center Baptist Church Christ is the center of all we do. Col 1:18

Mission Trip: Chicago 2004

On the Trip: Seth, Gabe, Logan, Cameron Rob, Austin, Autumn, Ryan Kylee, Katie, Kela, Mitch Dennis, Debbie, Gina

• Each morning the team will be assisting the member of the Old St. Paul Baptist Church with projects around the church and in the area, or sightseeing.

• During VBS the team will be teaching crafts, sharing God’s Word through puppet shows and other various activities.

Sunday

Wow! Did we ever have church!!!

First of all, for all of the parents out there, all is well and everyone is doing great. We had a full day of church, and I mean church.

Our day started with a trip to the breakfast buffet, which was pretty amazing. It was a full buffet with eggs, bacon, sausage, french toast, omlets to order, bread and a full menu of fruit. By the way, I did eat fruit and drank my orange juice. I have to keep up my strength. We left for the church around 8:45 AM, got caught in the middle of a large intersection and in order to get out of it the first car, not mine, had to run the light. There were not many cars so that was not a problem. The policeman at the intersection however was another story. He did talk to the driver not to give a ticket, but because he thought we were lost. It is always good to meet new people. He did give us better directions to the church which saved us some time.

At the church we started Sunday School at 9:30 AM and ended the morning service at 1:30 PM. That is five hours if your counting. We had lunch at the church with the congregation with plenty of food. At 3:30 PM we had church again. This time it only lasted till around 5:30. I had the privilege of preaching the first service while a minister from the First Brethren Church of Chicago preached the second. It was a special service to recognize Reverend Jakes from Old St. Paul. Needless to say, we feel like we have been to church.

Before you get the wrong idea, we were warmly received and made to feel at home. This church is full of warm hearted people with a burden for their community. That is just like us with the only difference in the look of the neighborhood. Pastor Jakes is a kind man and God has given him a special gift to minister in a difficult area.

Some of the highlight were Logan giving a Sunday School review, Robby reading some scripture and saying a few words for part of the second service, Autumn doing a piano solo, all of the kids singing a special for the second service, all of the kids leading a song with some fun actions for the evening service at the hotel and our youth praise group leading worship for the evening service at the hotel.

Well, that’s about it for now. It’s getting late and I’m ready to think about another day.

Take care and keep us in your prayers. God has truly blessed us and I’m confident the blessings will continue.

Pastor Mitch and the rest of the missionaries in Chicago