The living Gospel

The Gospel Motivates the giving of ourselves to a community (2 Cor. 8:8-9) Paul is encouraging the Corinthians to excel in the act of the grace of giving (v. 7). The way he motivates them is not by addressing their willpower through their guilt (legalism). He doesn’t just say, “Look at all of the people in the world hurting...how could you not help them?!?!?” Instead he tells them to look at Christ and his example of sacrifice in the Gospel. If we are gripped by the humility of Christ in sacrificing for us by taking on human flesh and becoming “poor” then we will have no problem becoming poor for others.

The Gospel Drives our Love for One Another (1 John 4:7-12) The only way we know how to love others is when we believe in the amazing love of God for us. You can try to love others. You can try to curb your man-centeredness and love of yourself, however, the only way that we can truly love people is by understanding what love is and how it has been applied to us. “In this is love” – God’s act of sending Christ to die for us is the very definition of love. Now show me a people who understand that kind of love that was lavished on them, and you will see a people who have no problem loving others. You see the reason we have such a hard time loving others is because we don’t fully realize how much God loved us. If we did, then our lives would overflow with love. So in your battle to love people don’t just wake up tomorrow and determine that you are going to love people today...wake up tomorrow and remind yourself of how much God loved you...then see what happens.

I hope you’re starting to see a picture of why the Gospel is so important to God's view of community in Flint. It is our faith in the Gospel that shapes everything we do and gives us the power to do it. As we begin to understand the Gospel in Scripture and its impact on our lives we realize that our lives have a radically different identity than we had before. New identity – When we think about our identity we define ourselves by who we are individually, however, because of the Gospel we have a new identity. We no longer define ourselves by who we are as individuals but by who we are as Children of God and as members of the body of Christ. You cannot divorce our identity from Christ and you cannot divorce our identity from the body of Christ. We are no longer children of wrath, we are children of God (Rom. 8:1). And we are no longer individuals we are a people. We are a community, we are the living Gospel.

My statement of Faith

Statement of faith for Patrick Bradway.

I believe that all scripture is from God and is supported by the life of Jesus Christ. I believe that the bible is accurate and applicable to today as it was in the days it was written. I believe that God’s plan is for the redemption of all mankind for those who call on His name and believe that he sent His Son to take the punishment and judgment for our sins. I stand firm on the belief that God’s plan is eternal, without end, and that He exists outside of our time but is fully interactive within our time and with us. I believe that God works though each part of His character, though His Son and though his Spirit and that each part works together to glorify His name. I believe that man was created for a purpose to have a relationship with but because of sin was separated from that relationship and needed reconciliation. That reconciliation came though Jesus becoming a man, living a sinless, God honoring and selfless life and accomplished that which all other sacrifices could not do, a personal and intimate relationship between God and man though Jesus by placing my faith in the person of Jesus. I believe that the church was and is God’s plan to reach a world that is lost in sin. I do not believe that the church is perfect, when it first began and I do not believe it is perfect now. I believe that God choses to use imperfect people and imperfect churches to go out and share the gospel of Jesus. Our role as the church is to participate in out reach and ministry and to support those who ministry to the church though tithes and giving. I believe that God is living and active and Heaven and Hell are realities that exist and each are full of people who know that Jesus is real and has defeated death. I believe God’s plan for my life is unique but is not meant for my alone but is meant for me to impact those around me and share the story of Jesus with those that He has put into my life. I believe that all of this is done though partnerships with Churches and organization. I love Jesus and I know the call He has for my life.

How to Run a Community Cookout.

WHAT IS IT:
Community Cookouts are a great way to get to know members of the community, Our aim is to create a opportunity for people to come together and share a meal and get to know each other.

Target demographic: Flint residents and surrounding areas, business owners, students and anyone else.

The best place we have found to have cookouts is behind the riverfront dorms, in the Riverfront park downtown Flint. It is a very central spot.

Costs: On average it costs 200 to 300 per cookout.

How Many to Plan For: Anywhere from 100 to 250

Staple Supplies Needed: 225 burger paddies, 225 hot dogs, Burger and hot dog buns, 250 plates, 250 cups, napkins, Utensils, 2 gallons of water, 8 to 10 gallons of pop/juice (4 or 5 choices) ketchup, mustard, relish, ice for the summer.

SUGGESTIONS:
Keep it simple. Partnership is the way to make this possible.

Keep the math simple. Keeping prices low and manageable is best. Be sure to purchase hot dogs, buns and chips at GFS or Sam’s Club or a wholesale company -- buying in bulk saves money.

Let people know about your cookout ahead of time. Post signs in your church and give people hand outs. You could advertise on your web site or in a newsletter.

Realize that it will take work. It takes a coordinated effort to make cookouts happen. Recruit people before, during and after. Before the cookouts there is a lot of prep of getting food organized and packed to go. During the cookouts there is set up and making sure that things go smoothly and correctly. Have a few people on standby for crowd control if needed.

Things to do the Week of the Cookout
Pray, partnership with God is most important

Contact other churches, groups and organizations.

Give cookout fliers to members.

Check and double check on food supplies for the cookout. Get as many people to cook as possible.

Purchase any necessary items.

Things to do the Day before the Cookout:

Put anything that needs to be refrigerated in the refrigerator.

Unthaw any frozen meat or buns.

Contact any help that you will need the day of.

Things to do the Day of the Cookout

Morning

10:30
Start cooking any frozen food (usually takes 60 to 90 minutes).

Arrange to have people assist you with bringing supplies to location.
Load truck with tables, grill and food.

Afternoon
12:30

Unload all the materials. Short term parking is available on Beach St for unloading.

Set up tables, start grill, arrange food on table, plug in water heater if needed. Grab trash cans near the area.
Parking is available on Lyon Street.

2 or more people walk to warming center during the cold months and announce to anyone staying there.
Enjoy a meal and great conversation.

You do not have to stay until 4. Cook until you are out of food or out of people to eat the food. Pack up and clean up the area. Leave it better than how you found it.

After the cookout.

Make sure all trash is collected and taken to dumpsters. We want to make sure that we leave the area better then what we found it. There should be no indication that we were there afterwards.

Unload supplies. Clean tables, clean grill, clean utensils, Store food that can be frozen in the freezer.
Send out updates on how the cookout went. Post pictures, write blogs, contact churches.


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.

Patrick Bradway.