On, Friday, April 24^th . . . we experienced some really joyful celebration over dinner while taking the opportunity to honor many of the remarkable volunteers who serve tirelessly at Atlanta Union Mission. It was an exciting night of food, fun, entertainment and fellowship as we issued a heart-felt “thank you!” to people who regularly give of their time, talents and treasure. The evening’s musical treat was provided by our own “My Sister’s House Choir.” Through their talent, these ladies honored God and thanked our volunteers for all they do!

It was so exciting to walk around, meet people and hear about how they are serving the Mission. What I heard several times from the guests was how much they loved what they do in their volunteer work and how serving at the Mission has deeply impacted their own lives. I was overwhelmed with stories of leading others to Christ, wonderful parties with shelter kids, opportunities to lead a chapel service, the excitement of teaching Bible studies, the joy of serving meals, and the times of fellowship while on clean up duty. It occurred to me that there are consistent themes in these simple acts of service: The idea of people loving other people for and through Christ; sacrificing (even though no one would admit that it was a sacrifice!); and providing encouragement and hope to God’s children!

An exciting highlight of the evening was asking all the volunteers to stand and having them remain standing or sit based upon years of service. It was amazing to see how many people have been serving the Mission for over 20 years! In fact, one faithful volunteer, Wes, was the clear standout with the longest service of 41 years! And, the bottom line is that whether you are a first year volunteer or an AUM regular with over 40 years, we couldn’t do it without you! We praise and thank God for all of you!

On Saturday, April 25^th . . . at The Potter’s House in Jefferson GA, we celebrated an exciting “Homecoming” with over 200 graduates and their families. The graduates, families and AUM alumnae gathered together to honor God, enjoy the blessings of family time, and reconnect with friends. It was an absolutely great day! There was an array of activities with games, puppet shows, hay rides, horseshoes, delicious food, and, of course, great music! We celebrated together God’s goodness and what He has done and is doing in the lives of people at The Potter’s House!

This was my first AUM Homecoming and, wow, what a spectacular time it was! I had the opportunity to make many new friends, to hear their stories, and to learn about how the Lord is directing their lives. I was blessed personally to meet many reunited families, and to join in as they celebrated the day and praised God’s kindness and mercy. By the end of the day we experienced wonderful and heart-gripping testimonies from men whose lives have been dramatically changed through the love of Jesus and the work of so many caring staff members and volunteers! It was an awe-inspiring time hearing the stories of how these men had lost everything in the grip of life-long addictions, homelessness and despair; how they arrived at The Potter’s House; and how God, the staff, and other men reached in to change their lives! One man’s testimony told of how his 84 year old mother’s continuous prayers for him had been answered. As he spoke his mother, wife, children, and grandchildren listened intently from the audience. We capped off the celebration by singing praise songs together. The praise time was highlighted when our own Jay Cory cranked up his harmonica with a spirited rendition of “I’ll fly away”!

Two great celebrations! On behalf of the entire Atlanta Union Mission, I want to thank all of you who volunteer and share in the Lord’s work. We couldn’t do what we do without you! You are a blessing to us all! To the graduates of The Potter’s House, to our staff, and to our entire organization, you are one of the main reasons that the Mission continues to rescue lives, offer hope and touch people with the saving knowledge of Christ. You are a living testimony to the faithfulness of God, to how much He really loves us, and to how He cares for us all.

It was great being at both of these events, meeting so many people and seeing the power of God!

As I reflect on the volunteer dinner and the homecoming event, God’s word from Romans 8: 38-39 connects directly to the extraordinary concept of how “infinitely” God really loves us: “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below - indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Blessings and thank God for all of you!

Jim