Upcoming Events

Richard Paschal

Bonnie Beattie

D12 Groups gives the heart of our church a heartbeat.  I can hear the life of Jesus
thumping as we move together through the years.  It has been seven years now
that I have been in a D12 group and led a D12 group.  I am expectant each
time we meet as to what God will do for all of us within the issues of life.
He has been so faithful as we walk thru new marriages, job changes, business
ventures, health issues, children, ministries, serving, rebellion countered
by obedience that make up each life.  Each issue teaching us how God so
gently deals with our fears and cares as He continues to perfect His bigger
plan of "go and make disciplies of all nations". 

I remember the grace that warms my heart when remembering a mission trip our
group took to Tecate, Mexico, several years ago.  We worked on several
projects but the church within the church will always stand out in my mind.
It was the last day of serving and it was our time to travel back to the
comforts of our homes.   We were all anxious to return to hot showers and
with silent vows not to eat beans for breakfast again for a time.  Tired but
warmed of heart these men and women in our D12 group had served and overcome
hardship, obstacles, and our desires for comfort to give just a small part
of ourselves to Bible students, orphans, and one special pastor.  It was the
pastor's heart that will burn in my heart the picture of humility and grace
forever.  We were just one team of many from SCF who took on the task to
build a new church building and a house for this man of God over a period of
months.  Our last stop on this mission trip was to see the progress on the
church since not all of us worked there during the week. 

It was Sunday.  There is no way to describe the joy as we looked in at the
old church still standing inside the structure of a new building.  The old
was broken and weak.  The new was bigger and stronger, covering and
protecting.  It stood ready to receive the people with a new roof to
overcome the old.  The plan was to tear down the old church when the new was
complete.  The Mexican pastor, reclaimed by Jesus from a previous life of
addiction and drugs cried and told us his testimony of love and faith
through the journey to this time of joy.   He thanked us for the work we had
done.  The spirit of love and compassion moved thru every heart inside that
old church like I had never felt before or since.  God covered all of us
with a new love of His people.  We sobbed as his words were translated
because we were faced with the truth of how little we had done when you look
at the faithfulness of this one warrior for the kingdom.  When we left, we
could not speak.  Our generally jovial exchanges were hushed by a spirit of
humility from our God who knows the hearts of all men. 

God has always been faithful to show us how any time we encourage each other
in the D12 to serve others, His heart beats just a little louder for all of
us to hear.  Without D12 we would not be bound together, encouraged by each
one, to make the bigger sacrifices.  God is a big God who works in our
little lives. 

So, we have together studied, served, traveled, cried, prayed and watched
God be faithful in all.  My testimony of D12 is really about becoming that
person God wants me to be.  He, thru my sisters, and by the prodding of
life's issues taught us all about learning to love others more than myself.
I can only thank Him and ask for the strength to keep seeking him as I am
linked together by His love to those whom He has called to my side.  The
training we receive in our D12 is a love lesson from God's very heart that
will effect generations, cities and nations.

It is a growing experience to invest in the lives of others.  It keeps me
close to Daddy God, because it is humbling to think that I might even know
what is best for all the needs in a even a small group.  When you consider
leading a D12 you look at your inadequacies and human frailities, wondering,
"Can you really use me?"   What you discover is that it's really only you He
wants to use - no one else will do.
 
Ps 33:11  But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his
heart through all generations.