A Year of Jubilee
As I shared Sunday, Love Tallahassee can be more than a moment. It can be a movement of God when we engage in sustainable Jubilee ministry across our community. Nehemiah was one of the first and possibly only examples we have in the Old Testament to implement a Jubilee year. Jesus embodied the message in Luke 4, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” As a result of Love Tallahassee, what if this was a Jubilee year in our community? Where is the one place that Christ could use you to change the world this year?
In Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson’s book, The Externally Focused Quest, the writers challenge believers to discover a “kingdom assignment,” the place where we can live out the good works that God has prepared for us. The assignment reflects Paul’s declaration in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
This Sunday, we’ll be scouting the city, seeing 5 places where that could potentially take place within a 5-mile radius of the church: ECHO, Sabal Palm Elementary, FAMU and FSU Baptist Campus Ministries, and the Shelter. Each place represents one of several places FBC people are engaged in transformational ministry. A kingdom assignment is just that: a person or a place where you can make an impact this next year.
Many of you are already engaged in this kind of work at these places and many others: Prison Ministry, International work at Alumni Village, and Florida Baptist Children’s Home. Our College Ministry is launching an adopt-a-student ministry October 11. We do not lack for opportunities and partnerships. We are offering you an opportunity to make a difference in the life of one person.
Some of you already know and have begun to be invested in someone else’s life. If you have not discovered what that Kingdom Assignment could be, as you Scout the City this Sunday, look around. Ask God to open your eyes, and begin to pray. On October 13, I’ll ask you to write down your kingdom assignment and turn it in. Unlike other programs, this one is personal. Yours may not be the same as someone else’s. We may not even have a program in place designed for your specific calling. We just want to pray for you, encourage you along the journey this year, and empower you to live it out. If our staff can assist you in giving direction or discernment, we want to do that. Just seek out one of our pastoral staff, and ask them to help.
Along the way this month, we’ve had several milestones. Thank you for Packing the Plaza Sunday, September 15. I’m so grateful to our parking task force for the idea. You demonstrated great flexibility and hospitality. Keep up the good work.
October 1 is the deadline to volunteer for First Love. We need you. I hope you plan to be there. Call Joyce if you need a volunteer form or more forms for your friends. Sunday, let’s start the Jubilee and celebrate what God is doing in the city.