1 00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:06,800 When, when I think about this missional Living Group, I, I 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:08,840 think about that verse quite a bit. 3 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:12,440 So if you were to ask someone, or I guess tell someone that, 4 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:15,880 hey, I'm a Christian, and that surprises them, if they can't 5 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:18,720 tell by how I'm living my life that I'm a Christian, then I I 6 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:22,800 think that's a problem. Hey, everyone, and welcome back 7 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:26,000 to the Grace Church Podcast and when you made us your host. 8 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:28,320 And today we're highlighting missional living. 9 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:31,560 While that phrase may be new to some, it connects directly to 10 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:34,760 one of our 6 core values of discipleship, being culturally 11 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,080 engaged. Simply put, that means 12 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:39,800 intentionally creating opportunities outside the church 13 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:43,560 to share the hope of the gospel. Living missionally involves both 14 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:47,280 personal responsibility and communal opportunity, and today, 15 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:50,040 two members from our downtown campus join me to share how 16 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:52,760 missional living groups have helped catalyze and strengthen 17 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:54,640 this value in their everyday lives. 18 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:57,520 Paul Gato and Beau Patterson welcome guys. 19 00:00:57,520 --> 00:00:59,560 We're glad to have y'all. Glad to be here. 20 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:01,960 Happy to be here. Before we dive into our topic 21 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:04,920 for today, I'll have you both do a little bit of a quick intro. 22 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:07,640 So how long have y'all been at Downtown? 23 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,200 Tell us a little bit about your job, your family, all that good 24 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:14,520 stuff. Yeah, so my wife and I, Tinsley, 25 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:17,600 we, we are from Charleston and we've been in the Greenville 26 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,160 area 7A year or something like that. 27 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:23,280 And, and that's how I found grace actually is is I was 28 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:26,280 living downtown and just walked to the first church I could see 29 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:28,520 on Sunday morning and. It's an easy one to spot with 30 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:30,440 that steeple. Up there, yeah, exactly. 31 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:34,520 So, so and I never left. So I I still tell the story. 32 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:36,960 Joey Espinosa sat me on the front row. 33 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:40,040 I'm not a front row person. I I quickly moved to the 34 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:41,440 balcony. Shout out balcony. 35 00:01:42,320 --> 00:01:44,720 Is Joey Espinosa the first person everyone meets at 36 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:46,240 downtown? I think, I think he knows 37 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:47,960 everybody. I think he knows everybody. 38 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:51,960 But so yeah, we've been at Grace since and and we've we've loved 39 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:54,400 every second of it. We've got two boys with a third 40 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:55,880 on the way. Let's go. 41 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:58,600 Yep. So expecting our third end of 42 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:02,320 September and and yeah, my wife and I work at a a technology 43 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:04,440 company here locally called Vivacity. 44 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,160 We provide technology to school districts. 45 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:09,240 Yeah, that kind of thing. So that's awesome. 46 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,360 We'll be praying for Bo and Tinsley and they're busy 47 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:14,480 households. Yes, that would be great. 48 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,480 What about you, Paul? Well, so yeah, my name is Paul 49 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:19,840 Gate. Oh, my wife Patty and I have 50 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:23,080 been members downtown for about ten years. 51 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:25,280 I'm retired. I spent most of my career with a 52 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:29,440 Caterpillar big heavy equipment manufacturer and move down here 53 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:31,040 really with no connections at all. 54 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:34,920 So just tried out different churches and really like Grace 55 00:02:34,920 --> 00:02:38,280 weren't crazy about the videos, but other that we really like 56 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:40,400 the the ministries that they were involved in in the 57 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:42,920 teaching. We thought was was fundamental 58 00:02:42,920 --> 00:02:47,360 and was really great and so so yeah, so we've got three kids 59 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:50,400 and just this past month added two grandchildren. 60 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:53,120 So one out in San Diego. We have 3 grandchildren out 61 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:55,360 there and 1:00 here in Greenville and we were blessed 62 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:57,680 to be present for both of those or so. 63 00:02:57,920 --> 00:03:01,240 Very exciting about that and it unique to have one now locally. 64 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:04,080 Yeah, very sure. No, that's a fun season to be 65 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:07,320 in. So Paul and Bo are Co leaders 66 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:11,400 for a missional Living Group at downtown and really just ask 67 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:13,760 them to come in and share how it's been going. 68 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:17,960 But also just wanted to talk big picture on what it means for us 69 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:22,680 to live on mission as believers, which I feel like living on 70 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:26,160 mission or missional living, like those are phrases that we 71 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:29,400 use a lot. We throw them out a little bit 72 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,200 to the point where we're like what does that even mean? 73 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:35,240 So maybe just start out? Can y'all just define like what 74 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:37,520 do we mean when we say missional living? 75 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,200 Yeah, I'm, let me go ahead and take that one. 76 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:43,880 And as you say, Whitney, there's lots of definitions for it. 77 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:47,360 For me, it's, I guess intentionally pouring yourself 78 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:51,160 into somebody who's living at the margins in the name of Jesus 79 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:53,320 Christ. And like I said, that's other 80 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:56,880 people have different, different definitions for it. 81 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,600 But that can be done here in Greenville or that can be done 82 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,200 on the other side of the world. But the idea is you're getting 83 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:04,560 up every day and thinking about, OK, how can I serve? 84 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:07,600 How can I walk in the footsteps of Jesus for somebody who's can 85 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:10,640 never pay me back and kind of looking at it that way? 86 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:14,400 Yeah, that's well said. You know, seeking after people 87 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:17,120 who are vulnerable and, and that's the way that Jesus lived 88 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:19,000 his life. He lives life on mission. 89 00:04:19,399 --> 00:04:21,880 And so we're just trying to emulate the kinds of things that 90 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:25,080 he did. So then what has missional 91 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:27,520 living looked like for you guys personally? 92 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:32,200 And how, how did you even get to a point where you're like, OK, I 93 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:35,400 think I really want this to be a big part of what I'm doing and 94 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:37,200 just thinking really intentionally about it. 95 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:44,560 Yeah, I mean, I think for for me, it's I'm more of a doer, I 96 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:47,280 think just by nature, like I want to, I want to jump in and 97 00:04:47,280 --> 00:04:50,960 help, like if someone needs help moving, I want to be the person 98 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:55,440 to do that. And and so where actually Paul 99 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:58,760 and Ty Burke reached out to me about the mission of living 100 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:01,200 groups and their ideas for it. And, and when they walked me 101 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:03,560 through it, it was just like, oh, that is right down my alley. 102 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:10,200 But what what came from it was moments of discomfort and some 103 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:14,280 awkwardness in realizing that that that wasn't, it wasn't 104 00:05:14,280 --> 00:05:16,680 exactly as down my alley as I thought it was. 105 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:18,320 But but I mean that in a good way. 106 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:20,280 So, so thanks for still reaching out to me, Paul. 107 00:05:20,280 --> 00:05:25,440 But, but yeah, it's, it's I, I just come back to, you know, 108 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:28,280 when I, when I lay my head in the pillow at night, it's, it's, 109 00:05:28,280 --> 00:05:30,440 you know, God, what else can I do? 110 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:34,040 And, and reveal that to me. And, and that's something I 111 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:37,040 think about a lot. And so, so mission of living is, 112 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:39,440 is that, and, and I thought Paul's definition was perfect, 113 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:43,200 but it's, it's just what can we do where we're at? 114 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:46,160 And that's, and, and where we're at right now is, is Greenville, 115 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:48,960 SC and that's our community. And we want to, we want to do 116 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:52,320 things to spread the gospel, talk about our testimony and, 117 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:55,200 and really just be an image bearer for Christ. 118 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:57,240 Yeah. Have you always kind of had that 119 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:00,520 bent of just like wanting to help, wanting to do, or was that 120 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:01,880 something that you've learned over time? 121 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:05,040 I think it's something I've always had It's I I grew up 122 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:10,680 painfully shy, like incredibly shy, like yes, like like hide 123 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:14,560 behind my parents when you know, when they introduced me level of 124 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:17,160 shy like it. So it's, it's maybe wild that 125 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:22,480 I'm on a podcast right now, but so I, I was always just more 126 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:25,960 comfortable doing something instead of, instead of talking 127 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:29,640 about things, instead of, you know, trying to really connect 128 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:32,080 on a deeper level of just like, just just tell me what I can do. 129 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:34,240 I want to help. I don't want to talk about it 130 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:36,440 really, just just just point me in the right direction and I'll 131 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:38,000 go. So yeah, it was more natural for 132 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:38,880 me. That's cool. 133 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:40,080 No, I love that. Yeah. 134 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:42,680 So, and I want to give some credit to Bowen and Tinsley 135 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:45,520 because he talks about serving where your your plan and where 136 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:47,600 you are. But where where they work with 137 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:51,120 their company, they they're very flexible in terms of giving 138 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:53,960 employees the opportunity to serve in the community and to 139 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:55,400 give them that time and have that built in. 140 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:58,840 And that's a a very, very creative idea and I think giving 141 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:01,280 encouraging people to do that and go out and serve in some 142 00:07:01,280 --> 00:07:02,960 capacity. Yeah, absolutely. 143 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:04,960 And for you all to take advantage of that opportunity is 144 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:05,560 great. Yeah. 145 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:10,200 What about you, Paul? So I would say for Patty and I, 146 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:12,400 you know, we moved a lot during the course of my career. 147 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:16,160 And for us, a priority anytime we came to a new city was one 148 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:19,400 find a church home and then find a ministry that we can get 149 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:22,080 involved in and typically was through the church. 150 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:26,040 And that's where grace is, is just wonderful is that we talked 151 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,920 about people at the margins and, and we have so many ministries 152 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,760 that can focus. I mean, pick, pick an area and, 153 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:33,600 and we've got some ministry where you can serve. 154 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:37,480 And so that was really, I think what what prompted us and just, 155 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:39,920 you know, with the idea that we we grew up in families where I 156 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:42,680 think service was a big part of that and you just try to pass it 157 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:44,720 on to your kids. Yeah, absolutely. 158 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:48,440 I love, I love that you guys see the ways that God has kind of 159 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:50,080 uniquely gifted you for some of those. 160 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:53,920 But you've also mentioned that some of it is just, you choose 161 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:57,120 to do it and you are obedient and you perceive that. 162 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:00,200 I mean, if if I had to ask like why? 163 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:03,520 Why is this something that we are called to do as believers? 164 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:06,640 I don't want to just take that for granted, but what? 165 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:10,640 What is it about Scripture and about the gospel that compels us 166 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:14,960 to live our lives like this? Yeah, so I, I, I come back to to 167 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:19,280 James too when I think about serving really and and if a 168 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:22,400 brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and 169 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:25,320 one of one of you who says to them go in peace, stay warm and 170 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:27,600 be well fed, but you don't give them what the body needs. 171 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:30,360 What good is it? When when I think about this 172 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:33,880 mission of Living Group, I I think about that verse quite a 173 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:37,120 bit. So if, if you were to ask 174 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:41,080 someone, you know, or I guess tell someone that, hey, I'm a 175 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:44,680 Christian and that surprises them, if they can't tell by how 176 00:08:44,680 --> 00:08:47,040 I'm living my life that I'm a Christian, then I, I think 177 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:50,120 that's a problem. And so that, that is, that is 178 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:52,600 stepping out and that's, that's being uncomfortable, that that's 179 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:56,600 also wearing a hard on your sleeves sometimes and, and maybe 180 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:00,520 in settings where that's not the norm here in the United States, 181 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:03,360 you know, work culture, corporate America, that kind of 182 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:05,120 thing. So yeah. 183 00:09:05,680 --> 00:09:07,320 Yeah. And I'll talk a little bit about 184 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:09,800 Scott, since he's not here and he can't defend himself. 185 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:15,520 He taught a Power of money course in the fall that my group 186 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:18,920 was in, and he made this point that oftentimes the first 187 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:22,520 commands we think about from the Bible are maybe related to 188 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:29,800 worship or gratitude, knowing Scripture, prayer, evangelizing, 189 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:32,400 and obviously all of those are really good and important 190 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:35,560 things. But oftentimes we can gloss over 191 00:09:35,560 --> 00:09:39,120 how many times God tells us to care for the poor in Scripture. 192 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:43,920 And I think it's like 300 to 400 times, something like that. 193 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:50,920 Umm, and even in that there's this case for we care for the 194 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:55,240 vulnerable because God tells his people like you were once 195 00:09:55,240 --> 00:10:00,200 vulnerable and I cared for you. Umm, in first Peter, it talks 196 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:03,520 about like you didn't have an identity and God made you a 197 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:07,320 people and you received no mercy, but then you received 198 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:10,360 God's mercy, you know? So that just really shapes up 199 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:12,800 for us. Like why this is our 200 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,440 responsibility is because we know what it's like to be 201 00:10:15,680 --> 00:10:19,120 vulnerable and to have been cared for really well by God. 202 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:21,440 So then we get to go do that for others. 203 00:10:21,680 --> 00:10:24,560 Yeah. Now for me, I would say it's the 204 00:10:24,560 --> 00:10:28,240 Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, S 31 through 46 is the sheep and 205 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:30,640 the goats. And there's just your list of 206 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:32,680 the vulnerable, right? So he goes through it with the 207 00:10:32,680 --> 00:10:35,760 hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the prisoner, the sick and the 208 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:37,560 stranger. And then we're supposed to be 209 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:41,200 focused on them. And so that that to me is pretty 210 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:45,240 clear. And then Isaiah 117 says, learn 211 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:48,600 to do right, seek justice, defend the oppressed, take up 212 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:51,600 the cause of the fatherless and plead the case of the widow. 213 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:55,400 And you know, as again, look at where grace is focused and it's 214 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:58,320 it's all of those areas. And you have the opportunity as 215 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:00,520 a member of Grace and to just plug into to one of those 216 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:02,280 ministries. Yeah, absolutely. 217 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:05,760 And we try to, we try to make it as easy for you as you can, but 218 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:08,720 you got to say yes. So, well, tell us a little bit 219 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:12,800 about we keep talking about these missional living groups at 220 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:15,360 downtown. What is that? 221 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:17,560 What and what have y'all been doing? 222 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:21,640 Well, so we started talking about it probably 18 months ago 223 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:24,760 or so and realized Taylor's was the Taylor's campus was actually 224 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:28,400 doing something like that. So met with with Donald Spann 225 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:30,280 there, talked about what they were doing and they had three or 226 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:34,480 four groups that were meeting less and serving more. 227 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:38,560 They also had a capstone trip, I think was a international 228 00:11:38,560 --> 00:11:40,760 missions trip, which is something we didn't do. 229 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:43,280 We had a, a group that just recently went to Kenya, but for 230 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:45,640 the most part, we were going to focus locally. 231 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:47,960 So kind of took what they had and, and built on that. 232 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:51,040 And so we've got four different groups, kind of like a Home 233 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:53,520 group about that size, you know, 12 to 16 people. 234 00:11:54,560 --> 00:11:57,680 And we meet once a month with the full group with all, all 235 00:11:57,680 --> 00:12:00,160 four groups meeting together. We'll meet typically at a 236 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:02,960 partner's location. So homes of Hope, front Porch 237 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:06,720 housing, Elias Mill Village. It gets you on their campus. 238 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:09,080 So you learn a lot more about them by being on their campus. 239 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:11,360 So that's once a month and once a month you meet with just your 240 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:14,480 small group and then the rest of the time you're you're serving. 241 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:18,680 And we're usually reading a, a text. 242 00:12:18,680 --> 00:12:21,760 Tim Keller has one called Generous Justice that we've been 243 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:23,840 reading along with with doing that work. 244 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:26,800 So we have the opportunity to discuss that in the small group, 245 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:30,160 but then also to hear from the leaders of our partners in the 246 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:31,560 large group once a month as well. 247 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:33,640 Yeah. And what are just some of the 248 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:37,200 things that you guys have benefited from personally? 249 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:38,720 What have you learned? Just what? 250 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:40,800 What's some of the fruit that you've seen even in the other 251 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:44,480 members of your group? Yeah, I think for me, one of the 252 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:47,640 cool things is, you know, Paul mentioned the different meeting 253 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:50,160 spots that we go to, you know, front porch housing, Elias is a 254 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:54,000 couple of examples. But just learning about how much 255 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:56,960 good work is being done in Greenville. 256 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:02,320 And I, I just didn't realize, you know, how many opportunities 257 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:04,040 were out there. And so that's really cool. 258 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:06,960 So we talked a lot about, you know, just, you know, try 259 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:10,320 something and see if it fits your, your gift, your gifting. 260 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:13,000 And, you know, because there's so many opportunities that we're 261 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:15,240 learning about, I think we're able to try a lot of different 262 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:16,680 things. And hey, that, that piqued my 263 00:13:16,680 --> 00:13:18,080 interest. I might circle back with them 264 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:20,800 when our, when our group is over or next weekend or whatever. 265 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:23,360 So I, I think that's been the cool part is just, it's just the 266 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:28,120 variety of needs that are out there and then us having the 267 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:30,440 opportunities to, to learn about them. 268 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:33,280 And then, you know, one day serve there if that's if it 269 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:34,320 resonates. Yeah. 270 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:38,920 And I have not lived a ton of places in my life, but it does 271 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:42,080 seem like Greenville, Anderson, Spartanburg, like they really 272 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:43,640 are. It's just some incredible 273 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:48,400 nonprofits that we're partnered with and like you said, just 274 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:51,720 people who are doing great work who have, you know, figured it 275 00:13:51,720 --> 00:13:52,800 out. They spent a lot of time 276 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:54,880 thinking about it. They've built the connections 277 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:57,760 with the community. And so then a lot of what we're 278 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:00,120 doing is just showing up. We're following their lead. 279 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:03,160 You know, we've talked about this idea of partnership on the 280 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:07,120 podcast before and really just making ourselves available to 281 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:10,720 support instead of having to be the people who are always in 282 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:13,080 charge and figuring everything out. 283 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:16,720 What, what are just some personal anecdotes that stick 284 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:20,800 out in your mind of maybe a funny story or as you guys have 285 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:24,520 been going out, as you've been surveying, just some things that 286 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:27,560 are just this you want to celebrate honestly. 287 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,600 Well, we have two areas where we're focused on. 288 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:33,520 So one is Carolina High, we're focused on Carolina High School. 289 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:37,320 And then through World Relief we're wrapping around Guatemalan 290 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:40,880 family, refugee family that's been here a little over a year. 291 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:43,640 So it's a family of five, Grandma, mom, mom's not very 292 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:47,240 old, she's only 30, but she's got a 14 year old daughter, 11 293 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:48,760 year old daughter and a seven-year old son. 294 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:52,040 And they are just, I mean, they love it here. 295 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:55,400 It's just been a lot of fun to really kind of show what our 296 00:14:55,400 --> 00:15:00,120 community has to, to offer. And they're the oldest girl will 297 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:03,080 turn 15 later this year. So it's a quinceanera time. 298 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:05,240 So we're talking about. Notice how I said that with a 299 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:06,720 Spanish accent. You did great. 300 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:09,800 So we've got to figure out what that is all about. 301 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:12,720 But now we want to we want to provide that for her. 302 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:15,520 And then the seven-year old boy, my name's Paul. 303 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:17,840 He calls me Paoul. So I barely pronounced it the 304 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:20,640 wrong way, but you know, he, they're picking up English 305 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:21,800 quickly. They're all going to school, 306 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:24,720 really loving it. And the other day I, I was 307 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:26,160 explaining something to him and he goes, Paul. 308 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:28,600 Well, that's easy peasy. You know, I mean, it's just, 309 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:31,520 it's just so much fun to see him growing, just the zest that he 310 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:34,360 has for, for life. Yeah, seeing that in real time, 311 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:35,440 that's awesome. Yeah. 312 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:39,200 Yeah, And, and I want to call out too, there's awkwardness 313 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:44,080 there just is. I mean, I think that that's 314 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:46,160 serving, right? You have to step out and you 315 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:48,040 have to sort of embrace that awkwardness. 316 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:50,280 And, and we've we've had those moments too. 317 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:53,320 And I think those are, those are kind of the fun memories. 318 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:57,040 If you really do embrace it is, is you know, that, that car ride 319 00:15:57,040 --> 00:16:00,720 or that interaction or, you know, we serve food to that 320 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:04,680 person that really didn't want to talk and they, they came back 321 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:07,280 for seconds and thirds and we kept serving them anyway. 322 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:09,920 It's just there's, there's awkwardness involved. 323 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:11,720 And so I think it's important for people to know when we talk 324 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:15,520 about living on mission is is it's not going to be comfortable 325 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:19,080 all the time. It will be fruitful most likely 326 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:21,720 but but there is definitely awkwardness involved. 327 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:25,840 Yeah, and you bring up a good point that I mean, it's time we 328 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:28,840 keep using this word mission. And I love the Mission 329 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:33,040 Impossible movies and like they are called Mission Impossible 330 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:36,560 because he's super uncomfortable and it's not going well and it's 331 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:39,600 very difficult. And maybe he manages to pull it 332 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:42,720 out in the very end. But there is something about a 333 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:45,800 mission that is hard, that is difficult. 334 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:49,200 How have you guys just seen that play out? 335 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:52,720 But then I mean, why is it worth it just to push through that 336 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:55,600 discomfort and that difficulty? Yeah, well, I'm especially 337 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:58,440 blessed because according to my wife Patty, my spiritual gift is 338 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:01,520 social awkward. And if you have an awkward 339 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:04,800 situation. From everybody else if. 340 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:07,359 You have an awkward situation, invite me and I'll make it 341 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:10,640 really awkward. But and and part of it is just 342 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:12,960 getting older. I'm 66 years old now. 343 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:14,800 So you get the point where you don't care anymore. 344 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:16,760 It's like, you know, So what if I embarrass myself? 345 00:17:17,079 --> 00:17:19,839 You lean into it and we've talked about our family from 346 00:17:19,839 --> 00:17:21,680 Guatemala. I don't hablo much. 347 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:24,720 And so when we're in the car, lots of times it's quiet and I 348 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:27,440 don't like that. So I go to stoplight and I get 349 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:31,240 on Google Translate and but it's, you know, you just as I 350 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:35,560 say, you just lean into it. The example I would think of the 351 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:39,520 the most is I, I do some work as a guardian at litem. 352 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:43,120 And when you first show up, nobody really wants you there. 353 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:44,440 They don't know what you're there for. 354 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:47,520 You're an advocate for the child and the bio parents definitely 355 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:49,640 don't want you there and the foster parents are kind of 356 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:53,280 figuring out what your role is and but over time to gain their 357 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:55,960 confidence is is such a wonderful feeling. 358 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:58,240 And then the case closes and grandma's sending you pictures 359 00:17:58,240 --> 00:17:59,840 of the kids and how things are going. 360 00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:02,960 I mean, that's, I guess that would be the, the earthly reward 361 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:06,160 anyway, that you feel like that's, that you're making a 362 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:08,760 difference that way and that you've earn their trust. 363 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:12,120 And so and and even with our Guatemalan family, it's plenty 364 00:18:12,120 --> 00:18:15,960 awkward, both says. But just to I guess see their 365 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:19,200 the appreciation that they have for makes it makes it 366 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:21,440 worthwhile. And I think it's important that 367 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:22,920 you're talking about like all of that. 368 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:28,320 It happens over time. That the good feeling part comes 369 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:31,040 at the end, sometimes it never. Comes and that's a good point. 370 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:33,400 Sometimes you just never get around the awkwardness and. 371 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:35,360 Just live with it and that's OK, right? 372 00:18:35,360 --> 00:18:39,600 That the no one's ever died of awkwardness so far that we know 373 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:44,720 of I guess is possible. But yeah, that the hard part, 374 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:47,400 the difficulty part that's, that's going to be probably a 375 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:50,480 little bit more than than the fun part, but that's part of 376 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:54,120 what we're signing on for. And and we can be OK. 377 00:18:54,120 --> 00:18:57,000 Just like everything else that we talk about in our lives when 378 00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:01,960 it comes to difficulty is we of all people are equipped and able 379 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:06,360 to withstand all of that because securing Christ, you know, we 380 00:19:06,360 --> 00:19:09,320 don't have to sit and wonder like, does this person like me, 381 00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:11,960 do they hate me? And should I talk about Jesus 382 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:13,280 more? Should I talk about Jesus less? 383 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:16,880 We don't have to spend all of that around in our minds because 384 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:19,480 like the Spirit is in US. And if we're just submitting 385 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:24,000 ourselves to His purpose, then you know God will bring fruit 386 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:26,000 out of that, even if we never get to see it and. 387 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:31,480 Candidly, suffering's biblical and I think, I think we sang the 388 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:35,120 song on Sunday, son of suffering, you know, which is 389 00:19:35,120 --> 00:19:38,200 one that I love that we sang, but suffering's biblical, it's, 390 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:41,840 it's part of it. It's, you know, fasting is hard 391 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:44,840 and praying is hard and having, you know, reading your Bible 392 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:49,080 that discipline is, is hard. And so I, I think it, it leads 393 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:51,840 to spiritual endurance and spiritual grit. 394 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:54,600 And I think, I think that's just an important part of, of living 395 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:57,240 a Christian life. And so I, I think that's a 396 00:19:57,240 --> 00:19:59,880 reminder too, like the the awkwardness is part of, that's 397 00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:02,600 part of that suffering and that's OK, yeah. 398 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:05,720 And coming back to the book of James, you know, talking about 399 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:09,720 the trials are meant for us to build endurance and like we get 400 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:13,520 discipled and God is forming us through these processes. 401 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:18,040 So for you guys, how have you seen just as you have submitted 402 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:22,000 yourself to some difficulty and some inconvenience, like how 403 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:24,920 have you just seen God work in your own life and reveal things 404 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:26,080 to you? Yeah, I. 405 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:29,360 Think sometimes you feel guilty because it's like, I'm going to 406 00:20:29,360 --> 00:20:31,280 go serve and I'm not, I'm not excited about it. 407 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:33,280 You know, there's a lot of other things I'd rather be doing. 408 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:35,920 But just to the point you both made that sometimes there's 409 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:37,920 suffering involved. It's supposed to be sacrificial. 410 00:20:39,360 --> 00:20:44,600 And, you know, I, I think one of the things that I do sometimes, 411 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:48,440 even though I try not to, it's a human reaction as you start 412 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:51,840 stereotyping folks. So prisoners, if you're working 413 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:53,920 with prisoners, there's a certain stereotype that you 414 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:56,080 have. But when you when you meet them 415 00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:58,760 and when you get that, you form that relationship with them, you 416 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:02,240 kind of, you kind of work through the, you realize they're 417 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:06,200 image bearers and they've got any characteristics and they 418 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:08,720 know everybody doesn't just fall into one, one package. 419 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:11,760 I think that's something I think I've learned from this, from 420 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:13,600 this process. Yeah, that's cool. 421 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:18,960 I think for me, it's, I think I've started seeing more 422 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:21,800 opportunities around me. I think it's been a little bit 423 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:25,120 more top, top of mind as, as my wife and I, you know, we pray 424 00:21:25,120 --> 00:21:29,480 through these opportunities and we, we just, they keep popping 425 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:31,520 up now. And so, so then, then we got to 426 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:33,040 decide, you know, what to say no to. 427 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:35,240 And then Paul, you mentioned guilt that I think there's some 428 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:37,560 guilt involved that we wish we could do more. 429 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:39,960 I feel like that's a common talk track when we get in our small 430 00:21:39,960 --> 00:21:42,800 groups is this is great. We love what we're doing. 431 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:45,000 We love our group, we love the conversation, we love where 432 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:47,720 we're serving. We just, I wish we could do more 433 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:49,560 for that family. I wish we could do more for 434 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:52,240 Carolina high school. And, and, and there is a level 435 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:54,400 of guilt involved. And I think that tension is a 436 00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:57,120 good thing. I, I think I love that, that our 437 00:21:57,120 --> 00:21:58,840 group as a whole just wants to do more. 438 00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:02,080 But, but there is, there is some guilt associated with it too, 439 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:04,160 for sure. And, and you start to see that 440 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:06,760 as, as more and more opportunities kind of pop up 441 00:22:06,760 --> 00:22:09,520 around me. I should talk to that person. 442 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:10,960 I should reach out to that person. 443 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:14,280 You can't do it all. And and so you really do have to 444 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:16,840 rely on the spirit there to to guide you and, and where he 445 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:20,160 wants you to go. And so, yeah, that's, that's 446 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:21,720 kind of been the big thing for me. 447 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:24,560 Yeah. And I think it's interesting 448 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:28,200 that both of y'all kind of mentioned this phenomenon of 449 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:33,040 maybe we'll call it noticing or maybe a better word is 450 00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:37,440 curiosity. So as you serve, as you're 451 00:22:37,440 --> 00:22:40,200 engaging with people in a different environment than the 452 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:43,640 one that you're used to, you start to see outside of 453 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:46,440 yourself. You start to wonder like, hey, 454 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:49,640 that that person probably needs something. 455 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:54,040 Maybe let me ask a question. Hey, like, do you need any tires 456 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:56,840 on your car? Or, you know, Paul, you're 457 00:22:56,840 --> 00:23:01,040 talking about stereotyping people and you start to ask 458 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:05,240 questions, you start to spend time with people and you're 459 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:07,320 like, OK, wait. I think this paradigm that I 460 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:11,440 built up in my head of what you're like is not true. 461 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:16,040 And and I think that is a key principle to serving in in 462 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:17,880 missional living. So can you all talk about that a 463 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:20,600 little bit? Just how how is view developed, 464 00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:25,360 this sense of curiosity and in practice that almost as a 465 00:23:25,360 --> 00:23:26,520 discipline? Yeah. 466 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:27,840 It's. Interesting and and Beau 467 00:23:27,840 --> 00:23:29,440 mentioned some of the discussions we've had in our 468 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:31,760 small Group 1 is living missionally. 469 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:33,400 Do you have to live in the neighborhood? 470 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:35,760 Because so many of the leaders that we've talked to again, 471 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:39,320 Elias Mill Village front porch housing the leaders are there 472 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:41,720 and they're living there. And we've had folks say, you 473 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:43,680 know, if you're serving as a missionary in China, you're 474 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:47,080 there, it's there every morning when you get up here, you can we 475 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:49,120 talked about Greenville has the haves and have nots. 476 00:23:49,120 --> 00:23:51,480 If you want to live amongst the haves all the time, you can't 477 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:54,200 you have to be intentional about it. 478 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:58,360 And so I think that's been really a, a challenge to say, 479 00:23:58,360 --> 00:24:00,640 no, I'm going to be intentional. I'm going to go out and I'm 480 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:04,880 going to actually engage. But but the, the idea is, you 481 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:07,400 know, you can, you can live one place and serve another. 482 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:09,640 You end up spending a lot of time there anyway. 483 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:12,960 You just have to find what that balances is for you. 484 00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:14,920 There may be family reasons or other reasons you live 485 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:17,520 someplace, but you've got to then be intentional to make sure 486 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:19,240 you go out and interact with folks. 487 00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:20,760 As we say, they're at the margins. 488 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:21,560 Yeah. And then? 489 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:25,120 You can notice like you can't notice if you're not around it 490 00:24:25,120 --> 00:24:27,160 and you're not seeing it if you're removed. 491 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:28,720 And you'll never know what people need. 492 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:32,080 But if it's your neighbor and you see them mowing their lawn 493 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:35,440 or getting their mail or you see the flat tire on their car, then 494 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:37,760 you say, hey, what can I do for you? 495 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:39,520 You know, right? Yeah, That's great. 496 00:24:39,520 --> 00:24:42,160 Do you have any thoughts around curiosity, though? 497 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:44,080 No, I. I think Paul had the nail on the 498 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:45,240 head. Intentionality. 499 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:48,320 I mean, I think that's the word. And remaining curious. 500 00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:51,320 So it's looking around your neighborhood. 501 00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:53,160 It's it's where are those opportunities? 502 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:55,160 And I think the more you do it, the more you see it. 503 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:56,920 Yeah. And so I think that's that's 504 00:24:56,920 --> 00:24:58,320 there's some momentum involved there. 505 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:00,120 But intent, intentionality is a word. 506 00:25:00,120 --> 00:25:02,000 I can't I can't put a better one than Paul just did. 507 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:03,040 Yeah, that's. Great. 508 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:06,880 And you guys have kind of already alluded to this a little 509 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:08,040 bit. I mean, we talked about the 510 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:10,840 difficult parts, the the awkwardness, the discomfort. 511 00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:14,040 That's certainly part of it. But there's also a lot of joy to 512 00:25:14,040 --> 00:25:15,680 be had. You know, and Paul, you gave a 513 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:18,880 great example of being a guardian ad litem in that moment 514 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:23,120 where you get pictures of the kids and you see the fruit. 515 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:26,880 What are some things that come to mind for you guys where 516 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:30,480 you're like, this is a joy and a privilege, and because of this 517 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:32,360 one moment, I'll keep doing this forever? 518 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:38,360 For me, I often time when we finish up as a group or if we 519 00:25:38,360 --> 00:25:42,920 finish a serving opportunity, I walk away energized. 520 00:25:43,120 --> 00:25:45,520 That that's it probably goes back to that being my 521 00:25:45,520 --> 00:25:48,520 personality a little bit, just how I, you know, how kind of how 522 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:50,640 I grew up, but I walk away energized. 523 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:52,440 So for me, there is some selfishness there. 524 00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:55,920 You know, I, I like going out there doing the work because it 525 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:59,520 energizes me. And so, so there is, there's a, 526 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:00,840 there's joy associated with that. 527 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:02,920 And then we, we just have a fun group too. 528 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:05,720 I think that helps, you know, you hear some horror stories 529 00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:09,400 about groups that not, not everyone, you know, melt, melt 530 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:11,920 together real well, but we, we love our group and so that that 531 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:14,120 makes it fun too. So when you're serving alongside 532 00:26:14,120 --> 00:26:17,320 people that you also just happen to enjoy hanging out with 533 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:19,760 socially, that makes it a lot of fun as well. 534 00:26:19,840 --> 00:26:22,360 The. Community piece for sure. 535 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:25,600 So I'll give you another example from one of our other ministries 536 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:28,720 as Jumpstart. So the prison ministry and I 537 00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:32,280 have the privilege of working there Tuesday afternoons and New 538 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:35,520 Year's Eve this past year, One of the gentleman that I work 539 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:38,360 with who've been incarcerated for seven years was being 540 00:26:38,360 --> 00:26:40,280 released. So I was taking him from there 541 00:26:40,280 --> 00:26:43,560 to the Restoration Village, which is a jump start facility 542 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:46,400 in Wellford. And the thing to note is that 543 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:49,360 December 31st was also our 42nd wedding anniversary. 544 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:52,080 So what, what my wife was like, really, what are you doing? 545 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:55,440 And, and anyway, so I picked this gentleman up. 546 00:26:55,440 --> 00:26:57,760 He was 25 years old. They said he'd been in prison 547 00:26:58,040 --> 00:26:59,800 for eight years. So we went, he was incarcerated 548 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:04,200 at 17 and you know, it was, he was, you know, he was nervous. 549 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:05,680 This was different. He hadn't been out. 550 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:09,240 We stopped to eat along the way. And he said, I haven't held a 551 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:11,840 real knife for eight years. I mean, that's just plastic 552 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:15,120 utensils that they get. But before he left, several of 553 00:27:15,120 --> 00:27:18,480 the guy that the older guys who are in the program prayed with 554 00:27:18,480 --> 00:27:21,720 him. And, and I know these guys and a 555 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:24,120 couple of them are lifers and one of them had been on death 556 00:27:24,120 --> 00:27:27,240 row for 18 years. So they're not doing it to try 557 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:29,720 and beef up their parole resume. They're doing it because they 558 00:27:29,720 --> 00:27:31,960 believe in the transformational power of Jesus Christ. 559 00:27:32,240 --> 00:27:33,680 So he was really touched by that. 560 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:36,840 Well, then when we arrived at the campus at Jumpstart, there's 561 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:38,800 five more guys, you know, to meet him. 562 00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:41,080 And I thought, well, I'm going to have to help and try and get 563 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:43,360 him to feel comfortable. It's like I'm pretty much OK, 564 00:27:43,360 --> 00:27:44,680 Paul, thanks. We'll see you. 565 00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:47,120 And they, they just took him in, showed him where he's going to 566 00:27:47,120 --> 00:27:49,520 be living. He had a report in that day with 567 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:51,440 his parole officer as to where he was going to be living. 568 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:54,120 And again, it was he used the word privilege. 569 00:27:54,120 --> 00:27:56,040 And it was just to be a privilege part of that and 570 00:27:56,040 --> 00:28:00,280 realize I was just a cog in the whole machine, but proud to be 571 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:01,440 part of that. That was great. 572 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:02,200 Yeah. It's. 573 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:05,480 Like you get this little window into the Kingdom, you know, and 574 00:28:05,480 --> 00:28:07,960 it's, it's invisible most of the time. 575 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:11,800 And you know, you don't always get to see the progress, but 576 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:15,080 then when you do, you're like that this is everything that 577 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:17,280 we're living for. This is everything that Christ 578 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:20,040 has come for. Yeah. 579 00:28:20,040 --> 00:28:25,000 And to your point, Beau, I think like there is part of it that 580 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:26,880 can feel a little selfish, you know? 581 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:29,920 And certainly we don't do all of these things just for what we're 582 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:31,560 personally going to get out of it. 583 00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:34,760 But I love the phrase, especially when it comes to 584 00:28:34,760 --> 00:28:37,080 serving. I think God wants far more for 585 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:39,760 us than he wants from us. You know, we usually view it 586 00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:43,200 through the lens of, Oh my gosh, you're asking for my time and 587 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:46,080 you're asking for my money and, you know, my giftings and all 588 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:48,640 this kind of stuff. And how much do I have to give, 589 00:28:48,680 --> 00:28:53,040 You know, and doing it long enough, you really just start to 590 00:28:53,040 --> 00:28:55,680 see, like, Kaz just trying to show me the Kingdom. 591 00:28:55,680 --> 00:28:57,000 He's trying to give me the window. 592 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:00,200 He's trying to bless me, give me the privilege of being a part of 593 00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:03,040 something. So then for someone who's 594 00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:08,480 listening who is like this, I love all of this, This is so 595 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:11,240 cool. This is compelling to me and but 596 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:12,960 I just don't know where to get started. 597 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:18,080 Like what advice would you have for them of here's one step that 598 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:20,880 you can take towards missional living today? 599 00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:25,600 Yeah, I guess my thought would be take take that first step be 600 00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:27,920 deliberate about it. So don't talk about it. 601 00:29:28,040 --> 00:29:29,760 Find something and sign up for it. 602 00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:32,200 And again, I can't remember if it was mad or Bill, but they 603 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:35,400 said try stuff see if you die and you probably will not. 604 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:38,800 But part of finding out what your gifts are in which where 605 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:40,680 you want to serve is finding out where you don't want to serve. 606 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:43,160 And if you try it once and it's not your thing, that's fine and 607 00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:46,160 move on to, to something else and try and get on the campus. 608 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:49,040 Boat talked about that as well, that the benefit of being at 609 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:51,960 these places as opposed to hearing about them and giving 610 00:29:51,960 --> 00:29:54,920 money is great. But being their present, I think 611 00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:57,200 helps quite a bit and learn about what what they do. 612 00:29:57,200 --> 00:29:59,960 And, and, and I guess the last thing I would say is what are 613 00:29:59,960 --> 00:30:02,880 their needs as opposed to kind of what, what can I bring to 614 00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:04,000 them? We'll find out what they really 615 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:05,880 need. Because we've come in to some 616 00:30:05,880 --> 00:30:08,160 Carolina Highway, had some ideas of what we should do there. 617 00:30:08,160 --> 00:30:10,960 And they said, you know what, our special Ed department has a 618 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:13,200 couple new teachers. They need folks to go on field 619 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:15,920 trips with them. And it's like really, cuz that 620 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:17,480 can be awkward. There's that word again. 621 00:30:17,600 --> 00:30:19,240 And we said, you know, let's, let's do it. 622 00:30:19,240 --> 00:30:21,680 And we've, and I know all about the Greenville bus system. 623 00:30:21,680 --> 00:30:25,640 I took a field trip with them. I tell you, it's so that's been 624 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:28,120 been really rewarding. So take that, take that first 625 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:30,160 step and lean into the awkwardness. 626 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:31,520 Yeah, that's. Great. 627 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:34,320 And to piggyback. A little bit along with taking 628 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:36,000 that first step. You know it. 629 00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:40,080 Anyone that I've known long now knows that my most consistent 630 00:30:40,080 --> 00:30:42,680 prayer is for opportunity, courage and wisdom. 631 00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:45,240 And it's. Opportunity. 632 00:30:45,320 --> 00:30:47,960 I want the Lord to show me opportunities and provide them 633 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:49,920 to me. It's it's courage to take 634 00:30:49,920 --> 00:30:52,160 advantage of those opportunities when he presents them to me. 635 00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:55,760 And then it's wisdom by the Holy Spirit to to say the right thing 636 00:30:55,760 --> 00:30:58,640 and really not screw it up. And so opportunity, courage and 637 00:30:58,640 --> 00:31:00,840 wisdom to to kind of go along with what Paul said. 638 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:03,600 Yes, dive in. But I think pray to the Spirit 639 00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:05,960 to to guide you throughout throughout that. 640 00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:09,280 That's a great. Balance of both of those pieces 641 00:31:09,360 --> 00:31:15,120 of wait on the Lord, consider him first and involve him in 642 00:31:15,120 --> 00:31:17,600 that process. Don't just barrelhead first. 643 00:31:17,880 --> 00:31:22,400 But also if you know that your bent is to wait too long and not 644 00:31:22,400 --> 00:31:25,040 do something, you know, at some point you do just have to take a 645 00:31:25,040 --> 00:31:27,080 step. Umm, and we do both of those 646 00:31:27,080 --> 00:31:29,400 things in tandem. Umm, like so many areas of our 647 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:34,160 life, So and I, yeah, I'd say to please reach out to your staff, 648 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:36,600 to the leaders around you. We do have so many 649 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:38,840 opportunities. If your campus doesn't have 650 00:31:38,840 --> 00:31:41,320 missional living groups, they are serving somewhere and 651 00:31:41,320 --> 00:31:43,600 missional living is happening in some capacity. 652 00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:46,160 So you just have to ask, you have to find out what 653 00:31:46,160 --> 00:31:49,680 opportunities are available and then ask for the courage to to 654 00:31:49,680 --> 00:31:52,400 step into it. So guys, thank you just for 655 00:31:52,400 --> 00:31:55,120 being here and just for teaching us a little bit more. 656 00:31:55,120 --> 00:31:57,320 I'm I'm grateful and I'm encouraged by the work that 657 00:31:57,320 --> 00:31:59,000 y'all have been doing very good. Well, thank. 658 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:00,040 You for having us. Thank you. 659 00:32:00,040 --> 00:32:01,440 It's been. Great, Paul would. 660 00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:05,160 You, before we end, would you just pray for our people and 661 00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:09,560 just that our church would be a body that is living on mission 662 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:10,840 for Christ? Oh, absolutely. 663 00:32:11,440 --> 00:32:14,000 Heavenly Father, we just thank you for this time together with 664 00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:17,160 Owen with the in the discussion we've had and just pray that 665 00:32:17,160 --> 00:32:21,720 you'd be with the members of Grace Church with the 666 00:32:21,720 --> 00:32:24,480 opportunities that they have to serve that we would overcome our 667 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:28,560 human tendencies, which are more towards fear and more towards, 668 00:32:28,800 --> 00:32:31,120 you know, fear of being awkward. We have stereotypes. 669 00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:33,080 There's lots of things to overcome, but that we would be 670 00:32:33,440 --> 00:32:36,920 truly seekers, seekers for opportunities to to walk in the 671 00:32:36,920 --> 00:32:40,120 footsteps of Jesus and to live lives that are are are pleasing 672 00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:42,560 to you, Father. And we know they're out there 673 00:32:42,560 --> 00:32:45,920 helping us to just take that that first step and to find that 674 00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:48,640 particular niche. Lord, where we can, we can serve 675 00:32:48,640 --> 00:32:52,280 somebody who's living at the margins and that we can 676 00:32:52,280 --> 00:32:54,280 basically be a reflection of Jesus. 677 00:32:54,680 --> 00:32:56,760 Lord, as always, it's in your son's name and we pray. 678 00:32:57,120 --> 00:32:58,320 Amen. Amen. 679 00:32:58,800 --> 00:33:00,360 Amen. Thanks guys. 680 00:33:00,360 --> 00:33:02,280 Thanks for listening. We'll see you all at next time 681 00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:03,480 on the Grace Church Podcast.