The Seedbed

So what’s going on at Adventureland this summer?

This has been a very hectic summer for me and I really haven’t been able to write much about it, but rest assured that the Spirit of God is still very active in our congregation.

We are saddened, but rejoicing that God has moved our beloved brother and leader, Steve, to another ministry in His Kingdom. Yet, through this time of trial, God has proved to us, once again, that it is not about any leader, but about Him. He has once again demonstrated to us that “. . . My grace is sufficient . . .” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Aside from the chapel service, which continues to be well attended, and is the strong cornerstone of the activities in our Christian community, the small groups continue to be the solid building that is being built upon that chapel group’s foundation. About 40 different individuals are involved in five different study groups, each of which contains eight to 20 participants (obviously many attend more than one group). As before, I have the Monday night group (still the best group). Bob Johnson has the Tuesday night group. John and Judy Long facilitate the Wednesday night group. We studied the Lord’s prayer in the first session, and are now studying the story of Joseph, and how it teaches us to overcome life’s trials. Jack Gregory has the big group on Wednesday morning and is leading us in a study of the Minor Prophets.

The most exciting thing is the Thursday night study. We are studying the “Truth Project”, which is a series of DVD lessons published by The Truth Project, which is a part of Focus on the Family. The purpose of The Truth Project is to put forth an international effort to educate believers (and consequently non-believers) to have a Biblical world view. It is a very intense study, and very inspiring. I have only been able to attend a few of the sessions because of my work schedule, but I am looking forward to reviewing the DVDs later. This study started out in Steve and Dana Pinkley’s home, but grew so large that is had to be moved to the Bondurant Federated Church, where twenty to thirty of us gather for this each Thursday night.

While the number of individuals that are involved in Bible study is down from last year (we had over sixty folks then) the outstanding thing that I have seen is the number of new people that are involved. The Adventureland congregation is kind of like a revolving door, where new folks come in, are fed by the word of God, and when they are grown thereby, are sent out by the Holy Spirit to minister to the world. Additionally, I am blessed when I reflect on how much many of us “old-timers” in the congregation have grown throughout the years that I have had opportunity to observe them.

Several years ago, when I was considering whether I should pursue an education in a place called a “Seminary” I learned that this word from which these schools took their name meant “seedbed”. After observing this phenomenon for ten seasons now, I am coming to believe that God is maintaining a seedbed here in our Christian community at Adventureland.

I have reflected often over the last couple of years upon plants, and upon my past experiences in gardening. I remember how I used to plant those tomato seeds in the little planting flats; seedbeds in which they were nurtured and cared for until the outer environment was ready, and they were ready, to be planted in the place where they would grow, and produce their fruit for the remainder of their lives.

Adventureland is our seminary, our seedbed, where God is preparing us to go out into the world of ministry. I have seen so many, and I would include myself in this number, who were so immature and so vulnerable in our Christian walk, when we came here. We were nurtured by the Holy Spirit, and were made strong by His power, and His teaching, and have gone forth from this seedbed to be planted in God’s outer garden when the time is right, to be the fruitful plants that Jesus, the Master Gardener is proud to show to any who will see.

Thanks for sharing this moment with me today.