Our Small Group

We have been tremendously blessed with our small group Bible study here in Birmingham. Over the past 15 months, we've been learning together what it means to follow Christ. I love that when we're studying verses like "Sell all that you have and follow Christ" or "Take up your cross daily (paraphrased)," they challenge us not to just sweep it under the rug as one of those crazy things Jesus said, but to be obedient to this radical God we follow.

As a result, the small group might scatter all over the world by next year. Three of the couples are actively pursuing serving long-term missions in places like Asia, Central America or Africa. One couple has already left to start a small group in their neighborhood with internationals. Other crazy things? One of the couples takes pizza every week to a local park to feed and hang out with the homeless there. Another woman was treating one of her occupational therapy patients, found out he was homeless, and eventually she and her husband decided to invite him to stay at their house.

Why would anyone do these things? Only, solely, because the love of Christ compels us.

All this is to show some pictures of Josiah at a homeless feeding. I took more, but they didn't turn out great. We really just joined in with what Frank & Bekah do once a month.

I love that our small group has adopted Josiah as their mascot. And I love bringing him to meet people who are from a different background than he is. The people we served loved getting to say hi to our little one. Children are kind of a universal bond. I found that true in China and here. On my own, it would take a lot more effort for them to warm to me. But with Josiah, barriers are broken down immediately.

One of Frank's nephews had Heely/roller-skate shoes on. Josiah was amazed at him.