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“Shining Stars”
The FaithWorks family has had the privilege of seeing this talented group meet their challenges head-on, proving that they have what it takes to persevere. We have watched them grow in confidence and hope as they have begun to believe, more and more every day, that they are “children of God” who “shine like stars in the universe,” just as God’s word tells them (Phil. 2:15)
On the night of Tuesday, April 24th, five stars shone brighter than all the rest—the graduates of FaithWorks of Abilene’s thirteenth class proved that the group name they had chosen for themselves was a perfect fit. The Team of Stars strode confidently down the aisle of the picturesque Freedom Fellowship Church as family members, friends, and other FaithWorks supporters beamed with pride. Just as watching a shooting star blaze its path across a dark night draws the heart closer to the Creator, witnessing these five trailblazers enjoy the final culmination of all their efforts stirred awe for the Lord’s amazing designs. At FaithWorks, the students completed a rigorous thirteen-week career-development program in which they identified their job interests and goals, learned marketable job skills, and experienced the unfailing love of God through daily prayer and journaling time in which they connected not only with one another, but with the Lord as well. A number of people argue that the spiritual component is what drives the success of FaithWorks students, as many of them discover, some for the first time, that the strength the Lord gives them through Jesus makes them “more than conquerors,” no matter what they may have experienced in the past (Romans 8:37). The FaithWorks family has had the privilege of seeing this talented group meet their challenges head-on, proving that they have what it takes to persevere. We have watched them grow in confidence and hope as they have begun to believe, more and more every day, that they are “children of God” who “shine like stars in the universe,” just as God’s word tells them (Phil. 2:15). A different translation of this verse describes the role of Christians as “lights in the world.” The Greek word for “light” in this verse is phoster, and there is only one other time in the Bible that this specific word is used—in Revelation, John describes his heavenly vision of “Holy Jerusalem, having the glory of God, and her light was like unto a stone most precious” (Rev. 21:10-11). Each follower of Christ has the potential to reflect God’s glory as luminously as heaven—in fact, we are designed and called to do just that. FaithWorks graduation reminds everyone present of the reasons we are designed to reflect God’s glory: like a bright star at night, His light in us is pure. More importantly, it is such a beautiful contrast to the darkness around it. At each graduation ceremony, there is an indescribable glow on the faces of the FaithWorks students when they receive recognition of their success and accept deeply into their spirits that, of all their supporters, it is God who is most proud of them. He knew all along they were equipped to shine, because He created them just for that purpose. This Team of Stars has shown us, through their determination and integrity, that we are all the unfinished, yet highly valued work of a loving and persistent Father. It has been a joy to dream big with them throughout this semester, and we will continue to encourage them in all that they do. The body of Christ is an intricate network of “stars in the universe,” much like the night sky, so we pray they remember that there is an entire constellation of people ready and willing to help them shine in the next season of their lives.
“The God of Jacob is Our Fortress”
The Lord’s careful plans for that morning became evident as everyone turned to the psalm of that day, which just so happened to be Psalm 46 (Each FaithWorks class reads one Psalm per day during their 13 weeks in the program). “The Lord Almighty is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress,” He reminded. And “Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.” In the quiet of the morning, surrounded and hemmed in in that holy place, He whispered, “Be still and know that I am God.”
It was a beautiful autumn morning—sunny, but cool. Peaceful. Utterly still. Six FaithWorks students gathered at Jacob’s Dream on the campus of Abilene Christian University for their morning devotional. Daily devotional and prayer time is an integral part of the FaithWorks program. As students share their prayer needs, they begin to understand more about each other and more about the God who loves them unconditionally. This trust-building tradition often proves to be the students’ favorite aspect of FaithWorks. Although they had been meeting for a psalm reading and prayer every morning since class began, this morning was different, a special occasion. It was a morning crafted by God, especially for each of them. I imagine His excitement as they gathered, overwhelmed by the magnitude and detail of the scene in front of them. I imagine that His heart leapt in anticipation of what He was about to reveal in each of their hearts. This was the first time any of them had laid eyes on the sculpture—they spent time exploring, weaving in between columns and stones and making different combinations out of the words etched on each one. Everyone noticed something different, and everyone connected with a specific aspect of the sculpture, their personalities and passions revealed. As they gathered for the Psalm reading, the marble angels towered over them, their wings spread high. One of the angels’ faces seemed set upon the group, watching intently, ever protective, ever set on His mission to glorify God. I imagine that the Heavenly angels watched, praying and singing as God’s children drank in His words to each of them. The Lord’s careful plans for that morning became evident as everyone turned to the psalm of that day, which just so happened to be Psalm 46 (Each FaithWorks class reads one Psalm per day during their 13 weeks in the program). “The Lord Almighty is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress,” He reminded. And “Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.” In the quiet of the morning, surrounded and hemmed in in that holy place, He whispered, “Be still and know that I am God.” In that moment, seated in front of a dream made real, Psalm 46 was perfect, absolutely fitting, and a precious love-gift from the Father. After reading the Psalm, students were invited to scatter among the masterpiece, finding a place where they felt comfortable, where they could write in their journals, listen, pray, and rest. During this time, God ministered to each of them, pouring out His peace that passes all understanding. Without even meaning to do so, several of the students sat on stones with specific words etched in them, words I believe were the Lord’s promises for their lives--reminders of His faithfulness. One student found herself on a stone with the words “Fail not” engraved on it; another sat in front of the baptismal on a rock that read “Everlasting.” As their attention was drawn to the words they had chosen, the students were in awe of God’s care and attention to detail for the ones He loves. As the group came back together to take prayer requests and pray, several were moved to tears as God’s Holy Spirit of truth stirred in each of them. The group shared their hopes, their dreams, and their struggles, all in the safety of that circle of family and the larger sphere of God’s love. Somehow, it became easier to breathe, and easier to believe. As they left to return back to class, a spirit of peace rested upon the group. And this much became clear: much like Jacob’s Dream sculptor Jack Maxwell labored over his sculpture to bring it to full fruition so that its completion would glorify God, The Father pours Himself out in pursuit of each of His children, never resting until we rest in His capable arms.
"Come and Eat"
We are so thankful for the faithful support of all those who emulate Jesus by serving humbly, with joy and gratitude in their hearts for all the ways Jesus has served each of them.
The kitchen is a popular spot at FaithWorks of Abilene. In the morning, the bubbling sounds of coffee brewing announce the start of another day. Students enrolled in the 13-week career-development program congregate in the kitchen before their morning devotional, each day becoming more like family. A little before noon, tempting smells start drifting out the door, beckoning all to come and enjoy the feast. FaithWorks students, staff, and other lunch guests join hands and gather around the big wooden serving table to pray, blessing the hands that prepared the beautiful spread in front of them. Familiar and new faces alike come together, meeting and making connections—it’s amazing how often the phrase “it’s a small world!” is uttered around the dining room. It’s not uncommon to see graduates from several different classes show up for lunch on the same day. FaithWorks “veterans” know they are welcome at lunch any (and every) day—there will always be enough food, and there will always be someone to give them their full attention, along with a hug or a word of encouragement. Nothing can make a person feel special like a hot meal. Something like food that starts out as an essential becomes a luxury when it’s prepared and served by someone who asks nothing in return—a gift with no strings attached can soften even the hardest of hearts. Sometimes it takes such a simple, yet profound act of service to remind people that they are not alone and, more importantly, that their lives are meaningful enough to invest in. One of Jesus’ most heartrending acts of service was the breakfast he prepared for His beloved disciples after His resurrection. After a long night of fishing, they straggled onto the beach to find a warm fire with fish and bread waiting for them. Jesus invited them to “come and eat breakfast”—he served them (John 21:12-13). It isn’t hard to imagine their reaction—disbelief that soon melted into joy. Picture their faces beaming as they ate, each one feeling loved, cared-for, and significant, all because Someone took the time to demonstrate the love of God to them. How blessed we are to witness similar acts of service on a daily basis around FaithWorks. As a not-for-profit program, the FaithWorks family is supported by an entire network of dedicated volunteers who make it a priority to mirror to our students God’s unfailing compassion. In order for FaithWorks to provide a free lunch to our students each day, we rely on volunteers from all over the Abilene community, who sign up for a day to bring lunch to twenty-five hungry and grateful people. Some get together with their church small groups or work colleagues to provide all the different components of a meal. These generous volunteers donate their time and resources to sustain our students, quite literally. Many of our meal providers have been with FaithWorks since it began in 2002. These volunteers (and many in other areas of our program) represent stability to our students—one married couple has been providing the “first-day-of-school” lunch for every class, practically since class #1. What a gift it is for new, sometimes-nervous students to have a true feast awaiting them as they file into the lunchroom, exhausted and overwhelmed on the first day of class. It is the first tangible act of service in a line of many that communicates to them the heart of FaithWorks (and the heart of their Creator). We are so thankful for the faithful support of all those who emulate Jesus by serving humbly, with joy and gratitude in their hearts for all the ways Jesus has served each of them.
"Building Eternity"
The most amazing thing about our volunteers is their faithfulness—they show up to give of themselves again and again, class after class, captivated by the mission, the heart, and, most of all, the faces of FaithWorks
I grew up in a church family that was passionate about showing me the Lord’s limitless heart. What a blessing this was, and continues to be, in my life! Even as a small child, I found myself feeling like an vital member of a community that nurtured and encouraged me, teaching me all about Jesus in a way that resonated with my young heart. The men and women who taught my Bible classes, sat next to me in church, and surrounded my family always taught me, through their actions, that I was important—not just to them, but also to my Heavenly Father. As the public relations coordinator of FaithWorks of Abilene, a career- and life-skills training program for underemployed people in the Abilene community, I have had the joy of witnessing this same sense of community. Just as my church family played an invaluable role in my spiritual formation, so has the Abilene community nurtured FaithWorks all throughout its formative years. The volunteers who give of their time and of their hearts allow our students to feel valued and believed in by a community that never hesitates to embrace them right where they are, while still instilling in them the confidence to dream big for their lives, just as God does. This reflection of the Father’s love is one of the key elements to success in our program. The beginning of this, our fifth year and our thirteenth FaithWorks class, marked a joyous milestone: after countless hours of planning and hard work, we moved into a new building that offers plenty of space and much room for growth. We are so blessed by our new home, and so grateful to everyone whose labors of love made it possible for us to transition into this exciting new season. Because FaithWorks has the feel of an intimate family, it can be easy to overlook the scope of personal involvement, the huge and varied network of servant hearts that keeps our program running. The most amazing thing about our volunteers is their faithfulness—they show up to give of themselves again and again, class after class, captivated by the mission, the heart, and, most of all, the faces of FaithWorks. Members of the Abilene community have done everything from serving as mentors to our students to painting the walls of our new building. The list of contributors is both overwhelming and humbling. FaithWorks volunteers logged over 1100 hours in the month of January alone, many of those hours consisting of good, old-fashioned manual labor, as we scurried to ready our building to house the new class. On Sunday, February 18th, FaithWorks held an Open House at our new location, 1229 North Mockingbird. Guests were invited to tour all of the building suites and enjoy food and fellowship as we joined together to recognize and honor the hard work of so many. This was a blessed time, the culmination of so much prayer, planning, and community generosity. Those who had seen the building before all the renovations took place were amazed at the transformation of the space into a true home, filled with the Lord’s presence. FaithWorks students and graduates also had the chance to win one of four drawings for a $50 gift card. It was a celebration of gratitude, first and foremost, for a God who opens His hand and satisfies the desires of every living thing (Psalm 145:16), and also for the bountiful support of the Abilene community.
FaithWorks is now accepting applications. There are also various volunteer opportunities, such as becoming a mentor or providing a meal. Please call 437-2272 or stop by 1229 North Mockingbird for more information.
