This Christmas season is upon us, and we are all readying for celebrations, family time and office parties. It is all because a son was born, Jesus. It is for Jesus we will remember this time of year and it brings us all back to why we are here. CSM has now been around 45 years with the vision to serve the least of these. The original vision cast by CSM founder Johnny Lynch is being honored today, while expanding into Christian Community Development and more deeply impacting lives through long term responsible care with the Gospel as our guiding value. This season CSM celebrates reaching and resourcing thousands of people with our local church partners who provide long term care for families.
“To us a son is given” and we are amazed that God loves us so much that He gave his only Son, Jesus. Christ’s teaching from the Gospels commissions us to “make disciples,” and we know that the local church is God’s establishment of continual care for the whole family. CSM was started to help the local church bridge this gap and to help make more disciples with the demonstration of the Gospel and proclamation of the Gospel. This year we have partnered with the local church to see hundreds of people come to Christ, hundreds grow in that relationship, and investment in leaders who make more disciples. Thank you, ministry leaders, for trusting CSM with your responsibility to “make disciples” of all nations.
The part of this verse we all need to remember in our country and around the world is “the government will be on his shoulders.” Wow, what a powerful statement in which we can all rest… to know that no matter who wins elections, God rules the whole world. He is in total control and we can trust Him. This holiday season gives us so much opportunity to give back to those whom we have walked together in unity this year. We thank our donors who believe and support what we accomplish together in our city. We march together into the communities of need and watch God use us all for His glory. Our volunteers of over 10,000 strong this year have faithfully served the “least of these” in our communities of need.
With our Disaster Relief Network, we have given thousands of dollars of resources and substantial help in times of need. Last Christmas, the Hopewell area of Birmingham was hit hard by tornadoes, and thousands came to help and together we served. We have partnered with community leaders who are caring for their neighborhood and who are living out our calling to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves. Our pastors set the spiritual tone for our city to act in love and good deeds. Thanks also goes to our city leaders and government, knowing that God said you have been selected to represent us, while His role is to carry us all on His shoulders.
God’s shoulders will support us all as we restore the Gospel to our great cities, with our lives and through our lives. At CSM we want to thank you for walking together upon the shoulders of our Father to accomplish all the missions, commissions, and great commandments of God. Let’s continue to walk together with the most “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace” – JESUS! Merry Christmas!
