2 Corinthians 9: 6-8 talks about being generous; give as the Lord has given to you. “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
Remembering this verse, CSM has been blessed to be a part of the hands, feet, and heart of God on Earth as it will be in heaven for the last 50 years. When we think of all the Lord has blessed us with in our lives, we should stop and bow our heads before the Father every day and say, “Thank You”. We have seen God at work every day in the work and ministry He has called us to at CSM. Johnny Lynch, the founder of CSM in 1970, would be proud of the work God has done through this ministry to bless those in need.
The Kingdom blessings we have experienced in the last 11 years at CSM have advanced the Kingdom and glorified the Father. There are countless examples of how God has worked through CSM. One of the most noteworthy was the impact that CSM made in 2011-2013 to restore the state of Alabama and Birmingham after 62 tornados decimated thousands of homes. At that time, we were able to provide new or refurbished homes for over one hundred families. We rejoice in blessing our communities with resources consisting of food, personal care, household, and many other goods, providing millions of dollars of value. In 2014, CSM started to go deeper into our community by partnering with churches and other organizations to invest in relational partnerships, ultimately leading to a more considerable Kingdom Impact. Since 2017, we have reached hundreds of thousands of families during disasters through our partnerships in Birmingham and beyond.
The Kingdom blessing experienced in 2020, and now 2021 has been lived out through our relational partnerships. With churches and non-profits, we invested in serving and sharing our resources during this social, medical, cultural, racial, and spiritual pandemic. Our hands are open: we are ready to receive blessings and just as quickly give them away alongside the Gospel message. We have experienced a cultural change in people’s lives, cultural challenges in our cities, and cultural exchanges in our relationships. The generosity of people who are willing to invest in one another regardless of any differences is astounding. This is how we see heaven manifested on earth, growing in unity with our eternal brothers and sisters. This is a blessing.
The Kingdom blessing that we have seen on the earth is no match for the gift God freely gives to us. A blessing is experiencing God and his goodness and favor in our lives. It is the invisible presence of God in our lives guided by the Holy Spirit to be a blessing in the lives of those with whom we encounter on our life journey. Our lives are to be a blessing because we have been blessed in His generosity of forgiveness and love.
CSM is blessed and wants to bless as the Lord directs our journey of work on earth as it will be one day in heaven. Will you join us to be a blessing with your time as a volunteer? Your talents and giftings will help us advance Kingdom blessings together, more than either of us could do on our own.
Currently, they are sharing a building with Huffman Baptist Church. The two churches first got connected through the Birmingham Baptist Association. The senior pastors even found out they had mutual connections through their mentors who worked closely together. Over the past few years, both churches have found mutual benefits through each other as a church plant and a church struggling to find their identity. From this unique arrangement, Kingdom Fellowship and Huffman Baptist have partnered together in mission work, service, and worship. They even come together during staff meetings.
Tonya Anthony, an active member of Kingdom Fellowship, said, “They do not want to be just another church to attend on Sunday.” They strive to be a community-focused church. They have a passion for sharing the Gospel and serving the community of South Roebuck and beyond. Their mission is to meet people at the crossroads of life with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and help one another along their spiritual growth journey.
