One as they are one.

Creative ministry is unique but ministry shouldn't be unique. I am finding more and more that I want to be less and less unique in the ministries that I do. I want anyone to be able to do the ministry that I do, if I wasn't able to do it then there should be no lapse in the flow and the impact that the ministry has on people. There is a huge cry for uniqueness, for separation, for individualism and its creeping into the church. There are so many ministries, so many churches who are doing the same thing that they are no longer unique, they are watered down. The way I see it, through my tiny scope of knowledge and influence, the only way the church is effective is through the grace and leading of the Jesus through the Holy Spirit and with that, partnership. John 17:20 talks about the incredible importance of this partnership when Jesus prays “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." He wants us to be one unit, one body, all in one boat, not uniquely rowing in our own desired direction but all together, towards one common goal and that goal is that the world will believe that God sent his Son.
I have been so blessed to be able to experience partnership in ministry over the past few years with every ministry I have done. The last Saturday of each month I experience what Jesus was praying, people together being one mind and one mission, one as they are one. Partnerships make the community cookouts possible, they are impossible if they were unique to one person or one ministry, it would fall apart. From humble beginnings to what they are now, the community cookouts have an impact far beyond what we could have hoped for. They not only feed the body but they restore the souls of those that are coming and its all because people have one desire, to see that Jesus is made known to the least of these and make sure that they no longer feel like the least of these. There are so many good things happening in Flint and I in no way believe that our cookouts are better or worse than any other ministry or program that is happening. What I do believe is that God is doing and will continue to do amazing things through them. Hundreds of people are coming each month through out the community and from every walk of life to share a meal and share their hearts. One of my favorite stories is a pastor was talking with a man in prison, he didn't know the pastor and the pastor didn't know him. The man told the pastor "i went to these cookouts and I was invested in. I saw Jesus there."

Please visit our website www.Flintcookout.com for more info on what we've been doing and how you can get involved.
If you would like to ensure that this ministry continues and would like to support it.
Feel free to visit http://goodjustice.com/shop.php to donate. When you fill out your information you will see "Add special instructions to the seller" there you can type in "Community Cookouts.” All donations it will go directly to support and further this ministry.
One as we are one.
Patrick Bradway.

Location:Colchester Rd,Flint,United States