Thanks to your generosity over the years, we have been able to serve the students at McCarter Elementary in the name of Jesus with no strings attached. It’s kind of awesome to be in the position that whenever the staff at McCarter Elementary sees a need, the first phone call they make is to Western Hills Church.

This year we want to not only answer a need but also continue to bless the school. Above is a list of coats that the school knows its students need. We will be taking the coats to McCarter AS SOON AS THEY COME IN so the school can get them to the kids as soon as possible.

We also want to make sure that every kid gets a hat and gloves. So if you can’t get a coat, could you make some hats and gloves part of your Black Friday list? We will be collecting coats, hats & gloves in the lobby of the church FROM THIS SUNDAY UNTIL SUNDAY, DEC. 16TH. But the sooner we get them, the sooner they can get to the kids.

I was grabbing coffee with a local community leader a couple of weeks ago, and they asked me what’s the incentive to do these types of things because, “It’s never in the news. You guys never get any credit for doing these kinds of things.” I smiled and took a long sip of my salted caramel macchiato.

I gently observed that this is why I love being a pastor, not a politician. Why I love the church more than I do governmental agencies. We can (and must) do the right thing simply because it’s the right thing. No pretense. No aspirations for future benefit or applause. Don’t have to wait to be pushed or pressured into doing it. Don’t even need permission. Just bless people. Just love on them. No strings attached. No agenda.

Our audience isn’t the masses. It isn’t the kids or their parents. It’s not the news cycle. Our audience is One. The One. The One who crafted and gifted His Church to be strategically located in neighborhoods across the world to BE A BLESSING in His name. To live out the reality of Jesus. That’s it.

Pure. Simple. No agendas. No politics. No public relations. Just… obedience.

There was a pretty hefty pause in the conversation as he smiled and took his own long sip from his coffee. “Well said, my friend. Well said.”

I nodded, knowing that the saying it part is easy. Time to move from “Well said” to “Well done.”