“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:8-10
This summer has been fast and crazy. I know for most of you the same can be said. The team here has been such a blessing to me and our community. I know there is still a lot of uncertainty in our world. Thankfully, our joy and hope is truly found in Christ.
So, if you are feeling the strain of this broken world, remember this is not our home—we are aliens in this land. We are citizens of Heaven. This should free us to live hoping in our King. Knowing that ALL we have and are—these things are found in Him. All our work here is an invitation to join Christ as He loves us and our community. If this is not a hopeful truth for you, please take it to God. Let Him know you are struggling. He has big shoulders. Don’t fake it. Take your fear and doubt to Him. He wants to give you faith. He loves you in your brokenness. In our weakness, He is strong. God wants you to come to Him in truth, however messy that is.
As I have been walking through this year, there have been chances for me to give up, run away, or work even harder in my own strength. These truths have kept me grounded and hopeful. I am happy to know that none of this is dependent on me, but God invites me to come and watch Him do His thing as He loves me and our community.
So please remember, we all are being asked to join God in this crazy work. Thank you all for your faithfulness to the call of Christ.
For our good and God’s glory,
Tim Mitchell, CEO
Parker Street Ministries (PSM) is a 501c3 nonprofit in Lakeland, Florida that follows a Gospel-centered model characterized by living, listening, affirming dignity, and building community together in and through the Parker Street neighborhood. For twenty-two years, PSM’s vision has been to see a city transformed by the power of the Gospel through building champions who make possible desirable neighborhoods, lifetime learners, financial sustainability, and healthy communities for all.