In a church in Texas our church had the wonderful opportunity to partner with another congregation for a Vacation Bible School desiring to connect with families in an impoverished neighborhood. A friend and mentor of mine was the pastor of a missional church ministering with families in this community and he and I used to meet together each month to talk, share some coffee, and pray with each other. I had a wonderful secretary who helped us team up and organize a Vacation Bible School in the courtyard/playground of one of the apartment complexes not far from my friend’s church. We distributed Free Bibles and invited all the kids to come learn with us, play some games and have some hot dogs and snacks. It was a great day. As we were teaching some 1st graders things were going well, we had played a game and had some goldfish, and began with a childrens’ Bible story. Then, out of nowhere one kid saw a beer bottle smashed it against the curb and began threatening the other kids and us with it… the mother bear protector came out in one of our ladies and she stood up and walked straight toward this broken glass wielding 1st grader saying, “In the name of Jesus, put down that bottle!” The kid dropped it, she hugged him, and we went on with VBS. We found out weeks later from my friend that this young boy had decided to follow Jesus. Later, at that same VBS in that housing project… the battery on the truck from the church that towed the trailer and all the supplies died, and the battery of the minivan of our friends who were jumping off the truck also died. AAA roadside assistance refused to come to that community at that time of day. Our friend’s van finally started, but the truck still would not. So we sent our kids home with our friends. The projects became a very different place after dark. No more kids laughing and playing, no more grandmothers sitting outside smiling, watching the kids. As it got darker we began to seeing the darker side of drug and human trafficking. We again called on the name of Jesus for help and my pastor friend had an idea and went home to get his truck. As we sat and waited for my pastor friend to come pick us and the trailer up, a van with blacked out windows slowly pulled up and stopped. Anita and I looked at each other and said, “it’s been fun…” and we silently called on the name of Jesus. The window slowly rolls down and inside we see police officers, who say, “what are you doing here?” They needed to keep patrolling to protect and serve the people there, so they kept driving. No taxis would come to that area and definitely would not tow a trailer. Finally, my friend came with a tiny Datsun truck to tow our giant 2 ton trailer loaded with chairs, tables, and grills… we loaded it up and Anita got in the cab with my friend and I rode on the hitch to make sure it didn’t come loose because the ball didn’t fit the trailer. We slowly drove through town with sparks flying from under the hitch with every bump as it bottomed out and scrapped the pavement. When we finally arrived home with our kids late that night we once again called on the name of Jesus praising Him for making it home alive and in one piece!
Paul told the church he loved, that because of Jesus’ humility to come to the earth and save us, His Name would be powerful and above every name. He says, “For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow — in heaven and on earth and under the earth — and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 CSB What’s in a name? When we are fearful, we can call on the name of Jesus! When we are blessed we can call out praise to the name of Jesus! His Name is powerful and wonderful...above all names!
Hang in there people, God is with us! I’m praying for you all!
