{"id":2555,"date":"2025-01-28T10:29:02","date_gmt":"2025-01-28T15:29:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/a-community-that-builds-and-molds-each-other\/"},"modified":"2025-01-28T13:18:41","modified_gmt":"2025-01-28T18:18:41","slug":"a-community-that-builds-and-molds-each-other","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/a-community-that-builds-and-molds-each-other\/","title":{"rendered":"A community that builds and molds each other."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
I would hear a church member of mine say, \u201cWe are better together.\u201d It reminds me of what Scripture says in Acts 2: 42-47 (see below) <\/pre>\n\n\n\n
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In other words, you see God\u2019s intent for society, for community is for people to lean on one another. There is statical data  that proves people need people. Look at covid! Look at what it did to not only our young people but our country. It caused us to take \u201csocial distancing\u201d to the extreme where neighbors don\u2019t check on neighbors, family isn\u2019t family like it used to be, people take more than they give, where folks frown upon each other verses build up, where it\u2019s more raping, killing, and robing than peace, love, and happiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a community have we gone too far off of the deep end? Is there hope? As some folks would say, \u201care we damned to hell as a society?\u201d Please post your thoughts and comments in the comment section below. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
If I could answer, my response is NO we have not gone too far off of the deep end, YES there is hope, NO we are not, and we are definitely not going up in flames. You see I don\u2019t care what our country is talking about regarding all the changes that will directly and indirectly affect our people, because NO MATTER WHO OUR PRESIDENT IS, GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. MY LORD REIGNS MAJESTICALLY. I don\u2019t know about y\u2019all but I know the promises of God, I know what He has for me is for me, and no matter what I will always believe in the biblical community and what I know it stands for. You better ask somebody! <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Growing up I had mommy and daddy. I had Aunt Earline, Aunt Bell, Aunt Bess, Aunt Tal, Uncle George, Sister, Uncle Bre, Uncle Tommy, Uncle Robert, Jr., Aunt Croach. I had Cousin Melissa, Meg, Jason, Jacqueline, Tasha, Sharon, Michael, etc. I had neighbors Michael Priester, Irick, Leah, Ronald, Elizabeth, Janet, Hope, and the list goes on. Yes I had momma and daddy, aunts and uncles, neighbors, but I also had a community of believers. Yep that\u2019s right, I had folks like Ojetta, Alex, Leon, Isaac, Sarah, Anissa, Mrs Rosa, Carla, Fran, Eva, Mariam, Marlene, Genieve, Vernandine, Val, Mrs Rembert, and more that comprised the body of Christ. And before my NST family\/community of believers it was folks like Rev. Durant, Roy Lee, Deacon White, Sister Stacey and others at Liberty Hill and folks like Rev. Glover at Reid Chapel that were all apart of my upbringing and my biblical community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Y\u2019all I can sit here at my work seat and thank God that though Ralph & Willia did not have much money, they were some of the most spiritually rich folks I knew. I thank God that though my brother and I didn\u2019t have the latest Jordans, we grew up knowing and having a relationship with God. We didn\u2019t have the chains and the drip but we served the One who was enslaved, hung, bled and died for you and I. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do y\u2019all know the type of community I\u2019m talking about? The community that helped build and mold its people?! <\/strong>Did you grow up in a community like that? Do you live in a community like that? Are you the community? I\u2019d love to get your response in the comment section below! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
I know somebody who does, but I won\u2019t call any names. This person grew up in a community like I was describing above in Gaston, NC. He attended a church by the name of First Baptist Church that was an example of what the scripture reading of today was talking about, Acts 2:42-47. He talked about how his current place of worship reminded him of home! Stop and think about your childhood memories. Now think about the sounds, the smells, what activities, or people remind you of your home and childhood growing up. Could it be freshly baked cookies, apples, pears, fresh baked bread, peach cobbler? Or maybe the sound of kids running, playing basketball, or maybe the screeching of a rocking chair?? <\/em>For this person he remembered the church! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He remembers the children\u2019s church ministry and the importance of the church bus. He remembers the prayers of the Saints, he remembers being picked up on every Wednesday and Sunday so he could go into the House of the Lord and worship with beloved community, with his brothers and sisters in Christ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
My friend said, \u201cAfter visiting several churches we just didn\u2019t feel that togetherness nor family feeling.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do ya\u2019ll know how many people feel like that in current times? Do ya\u2019ll realize the amount of folks who still social distancing from church, worshipping together even as family because the flu, covid, RSV, and other stuff going around? I wonder if it\u2019s the same folks who spend all their money at Target, Walmart & McDonald\u2019s? (Shade) <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bible tells us how Jesus built community. Men were handpicked to pray with, cry with, build with, preach with, teach with, build relationships with. Jesus was with and for the people, but even He had a clique. His clique were what we call the 12 disciples! The Bible tells us that not even Jesus did life alone so why do we think we can? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You got grown folks running around all tight lipped talking about, \u201cI don\u2019t need nobody!\u201d Boy stop! Who you spreading them lies to?! <\/em><\/strong>Because the last time I checked when you were hungry, somebody fed you. When you were thirsty, somebody gave your tail something to drink. And if my memory serves me correctly, I remember Progressive down the way doing a fish fry to get your butt out of jail!! Hello somebody, it\u2019s time to stop capping and be real!!! <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
So let me get back on task, because God laid something on my spirit and I\u2019m taking my 15 minute \u201csmokeless break\u201d to tell any and everybody about the One who can save anybody. I came to tell you what Jesus told me to tell you this morning. We got to stop hoarding and stop taking away from the poor to satisfy and help the rich stay rich, we\u2019ve got to stop hiding the truth and only worrying about self, it\u2019s time to get \u201cback to the basics\u201d and get our spiritual survival kits restocked, replenished, and in good standings. It\u2019s church for the church to start churching, the family to start familying, and for people to be people. Yes that\u2019s right, it\u2019s time to be the community again! And if you saying you been doing, then good! Keep doing and encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same. <\/strong>Alright moving on! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are unfortunate circumstances that happen that force us out of our comfort zone and it forces us to be beloved community. Things like house fires, child hunger, physical abuse, gun violence, bullying. These situations cause us to come together for one cause. It\u2019s situations like these that helped a friend of mine have a BIG HEART for community and have admiration for first responders. He had folks from the Rescue squad who took him in when his house was engulfed in flames and provided a roof over his head, food, and clothes. Experiencing this as a young teenager could have caused him to be rebellious and even blame God but it did the exact opposite. He gave of his time to volunteer at the squadron, he went on to be a prominent member of society, a Business leader, a community advocate, a voice for those poor and in need, a mover and a shaker for the Lord, and so much more. At the age of 15 he became an inspiration. He showed what it meant to rebuild and give back after loosing almost everything and how community shaped and molded him BUT most importantly he showed how he never lost sight of God, his love for biblical community, and he uses that to fuel his fight for Justice, equality, and teaching our young men and women in Sunday school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s stories like this that built community, restore hope, make you smile, and give you a reason to be apart of the change that God has helping in our community. It starts with folks like this. It starts with folks like Stacey that see the need in the Irmo area to build an inclusive parks for young children and adults who have special needs. It starts with folks like Kelly who saw the need of beloved community and started Koinonia of Columbia with her husband Dave. It takes folks like Jasmine who understand the importance of credit and financial literacy that help folks like me become a homeowner. It starts with men of God like Pastor Steven that preach the Good News and encourage a world whom is hurting. It starts with folks like Faith and Jamika that give of themselves tirelessly to educate, rehabilitate, and provide proper nourishment to our senior citizens and\/or young people. Y\u2019all my list goes on and on but I pray you get the point. It starts with folks like YOU that are reading today\u2019s message. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Y\u2019all I want to encourage us to be like the Assistant Manager of Rent-A-Center who saw a need and although he couldn\u2019t replace the house that was lost due a fire, he could provide furniture to put in their new place. Or even my very on Pastor who wears several hats but by the grace of God found it in his heart to become the 32nd Chaplain for our local police department. Working for Law Enforcement myself I know the importance of lifting and building this community of brave women and men up daily. Shout out to all First Responders, I thank you and appreciate your daily sacrifice to support our community and to keep us healthy and safe. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
I received a CALL TO ACTION that I believe is fitting and I\u2019ve added some of my own that I would like to share with you: <\/p>\n\n\n\n