Freedom in Red Springs, NC

Itineration Stop #2- Freedom Assembly, Red Springs, NC
Photos courtesy of Sister Shirley.

I sit here staring blankly at my computer screen somewhat in the same way that I stared blankly at Brother Charles Kelly as he was introducing me yesterday morning. But with each step that I took that brought me closer and closer to the pulpit, my mind became flooded with what seemed like a thousand thoughts that had no rhythm or organization to them, and my heart was overwhelmed not with nervousness or fear, but with what I now understand as the beginnings of a brokenness for the children and youth of Kosovo that make up 1,400,00+ of the country's 2,000,000+ people.

With my eyes jumping all across the faces in the crowd and the clock that was telling me that my time to share was already dwindling, I did the only thing that I could do. Nothing. I quickly without uttering a word aloud or in my mind, surrendered my tongue to the Holy Spirit, asking Him to speak the words that needed to be spoken. I apparently forgot about my left hand, as it trembled every so often as I spoke. The pulpit was adequate for "hiding behind", and my pant pocket worked even better (note to self, remove car keys before speaking).

I couldn't, even now, tell you half of what I said. And if I could, I don't think I could say it in the same order, or with the same conviction. There was so much more that I wanted to say, there was so much more that I thought I was going to say but didn't, and yet, it didn't bother me in the least. And as I spoke, for only the second time in my life I found myself on the verge of weeping for something. I don't mean crying like you cry at a sappy movie or when you clip the corner of a wall with your elbow. I mean finding yourself being emotionally emptied. The first time was at the funeral of my great grandmother over 5 years ago. This time wasn't like the first. It wasn't a reaction to grief, or loss, but in some ways it was like that first time. My heart felt like it was being rung out like a sponge and just when you thought all the water was out, it was rung some more.

What brought this purposed and necessary breaking was watching the youth drama team perform through dance a couple of stirring worship songs a few minutes before I spoke. I could see the joy in their faces and in their dancing, and it was overwhelming to try and imagine how much this blessed the heart of Jesus Christ, who they were singing to and about.



It then hit me that He desires this also from the youth in Kosovo. He desires to have an intimate Father, son/daughter relationship with each and every one of them. He desires, like all parents desire, to have His children tell Him they love Him. He desires for them to rejoice in the salvation and freedom they have, to forget about all else and commune with Him through the giving of themselves in selfless worship.

I spoke about the race that we are all called to run in this life. It is not a walk-a-thon. It is not a race against our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a race against the evil in this world that is racing ever as fast as we to steal, kill, and destroy. It is a race to take the love and Good News of Jesus Christ to those who are perishing, those who do not know what true freedom, hope, and life really are. And a truth that should motivate us all the more is that we know not the day nor the hour of Christ's rapture of His Church.

After a wonderful and inspiring message from Brother Kelly on how to be a positive person in a negative world we then moved across the hall to what appeared to be a re-creation of the feeding of the five thousand. The spread of food in celebration and appreciation of their pastor, Matthew Jones, took me back to the days of Homecoming celebrations at my late great-grandmother's church. Another thing that struck me was how everyone was serving one another, even the pastors and their wives, leading by example.





As our time there was winding down, we thanked Pastor Jones and his wife for sharing their Pastor Appreciation Day with us, and Brother and Sister Kelly for having us as their guest missionaries. We've been given an open invitation to return, and we certainly will. We got in our car yesterday morning not knowing what we'd find, experience, and in my case, what to say. What we found was freedom in Red Springs, NC.



From left to right:

Me & Lindsey, Pastor & Mrs. Matthew Jones, Dr. & Mrs. Charles Kelly


Next stop... November 16th, Pembroke Assembly of God, Pembroke, NC