A Team Effort

Last Friday, the Space Shuttle Atlantisblasted off on its last flight to the International Space Station, marking an end to the shuttle program after 30 years. I can't say I've really kept up with the shuttle for many years, but I was surprised to hear the program was coming to an end.

I do remember as a kid the fascination we all had with the space program, in the days of the Apollo trips to the moon, the lunar modules, and that historic night we all got to stay up late and hear Neil Armstrong say, "One small step for man...." as he took that first step onto the surface of the moon.

That was 42 years ago this week, July 20, 1969. Even after all these many years and ater all the hundreds of astronauts that have made it into space, it's the name Neil Armstrong that is still most associated with the NASA voyages.

In reality, Armstrong was one of 218,000 people involved in making that first lunar landing happen. He may have gotten most of the recognition, but he would have been the first to tell you that it was a team effort. He never would have made it to the moon had it not been for a team of thousands of committed individuals who had worked day and night for years to make it happen.

I recently heard a story about a horse-pulling contest held at a county fair. The second place winner pulled a sled of 1,000 pounds. The first place winner pulled a sled of 1,500 pounds. But when the two horses were teamed up, together they pulled 4,000 pounds of weight.

Our walk as believers--and the ministry we carry out as the church--is likewise a "team sport." God intends for us to work together to do what we could never do by ourselves.

That is never truer than when we as a church join together for a wonderful ministry effort like the Vacation Bible School that lies before us next week. Already, so many of you have put so much time and effort into planning, writing, preparing, and praying for this week of ministry to the children of our church and our community. Working together as partners in ministry, God has already been honored, and He will be even more next week as this ministry bears fruit in the hundred or so children who will be on our campus.

Thanks to each of you, in advance, for your service, and thanks be to God for the eternal things He is doing to do in the lives of boys and girls next week. Please join us in praying for this work---and don't forget to invite the kids from your neighborhood to be with us!

I'm praying for you, and look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

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