#crossingmena

Fair warning: my first Tumblr post is going to be really long. Sorry about that but there needs to be background.

So, here's the background:

I was a truck driver for 33 years. I retired as of September 1, 2021. For many years, while I was still in the truck, I talked to our pastor's wife about how I could be a part of the Sunday service and a small group from the road. (Our church, The Crossing, in Mena, AR, calls small groups "Circles") At the time, live stream technology was in its infancy. Fast forward to today. Although its been through several different platforms, The Crossing's Sunday service is now live streamed on YouTube.

At the end of last Sunday's service, the speaker said that if you are forced to choose between the Sunday service or a small group, choose the small group. I immediately thought of all those times that Susan (the pastor's wife) and I had talked about this and all the drivers and far away friends and family that could benefit from a live streamed small group.

I thought to myself, "The technology exists now, in apps like Zoom, to make an online small group possible. Somebody needs to make this happen." The very next thing to enter my mind was NOT my own thought. I heard "You need to do this. You're that somebody. Quit waiting for someone else to do this. You make it happen."

I answered back...QUICKLY..."I don't know how. I don't know how to run Zoom. I don't know enough to lead a small group. I'm still learning stuff every day. I don't know if anyone would attend. I don't want to mess this up. Surely there's someone better suited to do this."

The reply was just as quick and very clear: "Moses couldn't talk right but look what he did with God's help." Well, there's no arguing with that, is there?

I said, "OK, let me talk to Susan since she's been listening to me beg for something like this for years." In the back of my mind, I was hoping she'd tell me that there was already a Zoom Circle or that she knew someone who would be perfect to lead it. Nope, should have known better. She was extremely supportive and even excited about it. She gave me resources to use but was pretty definite that this was a real calling to me from the Holy Spirit and with His help, I could do this.

The rest of the story...

All that to say, here I am, putting it out there. I will be setting up (with the Holy Spirit's help and infinite patience) a Zoom Circle. I'd love to have any and all of my friends and family, their friends and family, really anyone who wants to be part of a close knit community that meets together online to study together, help each other as best we can and point each other to living life Jesus' way to come join in.

There's a lot to figure out...

I'm in the process of learning Tumblr and Zoom right now. If anyone who knows how to run a meeting in Zoom has any advice, I'll gratefully accept. What would be the best day/time to meet? Is once a week enough? Too much? What topic do we want to learn more about to help us do life like Jesus during these crazy times? How would a live streaming small group offer the type of support and close community that an actual in-person Circle does? How do we share a meal together? (because you know we gotta eat!) Those are just a few of the questions flying around in my head like the fall leaves in the Oklahoma wind.

Please, if this sounds like something you'd like to be a part of, just message me. Bonus points if you're a Zoom Jedi. Regardless of interest or response, I will be obedient to His calling, even if I'm the only one there; but I can't believe that would be the case. Someone out there needs this or He would not have called me to do it.

Love you all. God bless and keep you. Until next time.