The Experience of Saying Thanks
- Roland Blackman
- Dec 20, 2011
Moving. The only word to describe the Takoma Park Seventh Day Adventist Church’s (TPC) Youth Department’s (YD) Thanksgiving Dinner was moving. It was moving to witness 35 young people volunteer a Sunday afternoon to give to the Church’s community. The most moving aspect was to know that the idea for the Dinner began as a tiny seed within the YD and grew to something that could definitely move mountains.
A month before the event, the YD began the plan to host TPC’s first annual community Thanksgiving dinner. It is easy to recognize that so many inhabitants of our neighboring communities are hungry and we hoped that the outreach program would minister to folks by letting them know that TPC cares. However, we knew that we would need the help of the church family.
The YD began by reaching out to members of the church. The church family responded supportively. Members volunteered to prepare dishes, deacons volunteered to set-up and break down tables and chairs, and others helped to establish a web presence for the event. The commitment of the church family and the willingness of everyone to move to action were both encouraging and a deep expression of love.
Whilst the church family was moving to action the YD was beginning the work in the community. For weeks, any church member could find YD activists passing out flyers at the weekly Takoma Park Market, the Metro Stations, or neighboring communities, so that people would know that TPC is here to meet their needs. Passing out the flyers was a moving experience because it gave the YD an opportunity to share God’s love with His children. Unquestionably lives were permanently changed because of this ministry.
Without complaint people happily volunteered to do whatever they could to ensure the dinner’s success. Some cooked, while others decorated. Some planned activities for the children, served food, and set-up audio and sound for the program, while others took pictures or greeted people. Everyone seemed to find a task they enjoyed doing and they “did it all to the glory of God.”
After all of the food was cooked and over 100 people had been fed; after Bruce Williams, Mayor of Takoma Park, spoke about how the event touched him, the most moving part happened. A lady in attendance approached us and asked if she could sing a song for everyone. Of course we said yes and asked if she was ready. She shyly replied that she first wanted to freshen up so that she would look her best. When she eventually approached the microphone, she said she wanted to sing a song as an expression of her gratefulness for the dinner. She declared that that she “was moved to sing.”
As I sit here and type, I can’t help but to agree. On Sunday, November 20, 2011, we were all moved to do something for God, because we were grateful for all He has done for us.
