A Note From Tracy Hipps: We Love the Church

The love of the Lord never ceases to amaze me. Each morning I get up, excited to spend time with my Father in His Word. I sit down and I read from the one-year Bible, as I have done for many years. Today, 2 Corinthians 10:15 was a part of the reading, and in this Paul says, “…we hope that your faith will grow and that our work among you will be greatly enlarged.” For the last six years the Lord has done some amazing ministry through CSM. We have seen this ministry grow and enlarge its reach into the lives of people in Birmingham urban communities. One piece of CSM's mission is to partner with local churches, where we find our greatest value and position. Recently I have heard here different pastor's speak one the Church, and I am reminded that this is the only institution God said He would build.

At CSM we love to work with local churches that love and seek to lift the communities and people they serve. We are a part of the Local Leadership Team for the General Baptist Conference coming to Birmingham in June where we will see the Church rally together to make a difference. We are honored to serve along side the Church to see the gospel change lives. All the resources in the world will not change a life, but the gospel will. We have a responsibility as a para-church to affirm the local church in its mission to “make disciples, who make more disciples.” CSM is intentionally partnered WITH the local church to see lives changed for eternity.

We have been meeting with one local pastor who has a church in Woodlawn, and with whom we are partnering to create a comprehensive cultural approach to achieve better health of body, mind, soul and spirit. We are going to work with this church to pilot our new healthy food education and cooking initiative. This pastor has lost over 160 pounds in the last two years to improve his health. He sees the value of the changes God has helped him make in his own life and is dedicated to disciple his people to take hold of the freedom he has experienced. Discipleship changes lives and impacts lives for eternity. This is why we love working with the local church.

CSM is committed to walk with local church partners who wants to reach their community with a hand-up and not just a hand out. We want to educate people to live empowered lives that will help others. We want to mobilize the body of Christ to see beyond today to change tomorrow. We want to build partnerships that work together to see our city change for Christ.