Stay Salty . . .

In Matthew 5:13 Jesus says, "You are the SALT of the earth". Jesus doesn't mean the salt that's in your salt shaker or the salt that keeps your car on an icy road. During the time when Jesus was preaching the Sermon on the Mount salt was highly regarded. The Roman government would even pay the Roman army with salt (that's where our term SALARY came from). Romans were even able to pay the very oppressive taxes with salt. So for Jesus to call us "the SALT of the earth" in essence means "You're important. You matter. You're valuable."

You ARE the SALT of the earth - that does not say "you are the salt of the earth if you do this, or read this, or do this work, or help this person" Jesus said, "You ARE the salt of the earth". There's nothing you can do to make yourself more salty than you already are. But the rest of this verse goes on to say that salt can lose it's saltiness. What are ways that we as Christians can lose our saltiness? Doubt, technology, commercialism, consumerism, guilt, "I'm not good enough" thoughts? Jesus doesn't want us to lose our saltiness. He wants us to be able to be used by him. Did you know that the salt industry claims that salt has 14,000 uses!!! Can you imagine how many uses we can have if we are willing to have God use us??? Me neither!

No matter where we are, on the mountain or in the valley, God will use us if we're just willing!

So let's go out there and STAY SALTY!

Front page, above the fold!

We made the front page of the Grundy County Herald (10/13/11)!

An Adults In Ministry (AIM) fall weekend Ministry Production Team (MPT) from Weekend 2 was pictured at the site, the Grundy County Food Bank (GCFB). Caption under the picture reads, "Mountain T.O.P. Ministries comes through in a big way". Glen Vanden Bosch, director of the food bank, shared this quote, "They were a wonder to behold and we at the food bank are most grateful for their spirit of friendship and willingness to give of their time for the GCFB. Thank you!"

MTOP has been able to partner with the GCFB in many different ways. They are a great supporter of the ministry here, and we are thankful to Glen and the leadership at GCFB. They are one of a few food banks around the county who seek to provide basic necessities to families who are struggling. Despite his health issues, Glen spends many hours a week picking up food to distribute monthly around Grundy County.

Glen and his team provided hot lunches for the MPT as well as set up visitors to check on them. The MPT built a 70' wall to divide the new food bank building into usable space. We appreciate the opportunity to serve hundreds of families through the partnership with GCFB!

Unique.

Though every weekend follows the same format, each weekend presents a certain uniqueness.  New people, new community, new friendships, new pieces of the project puzzle, new devotions, re-newed faith. Truly, that is the beauty and blessing of this place!

Here are some pictures from Weekend 3 and Weekend 4.  Soon, you'll here some reflections from the staff.  Please be in prayer for our last and final weekend, which is so crucial for finishing projects/preparing families to weather the winter.

AIM Weekend 3 ...

AIM Weekend 4 ...

AIM Weekend 2!

It's Fall!  There are 60 volunteers from 8 churches and 6 states in camp this weekend.  They range in age from 27-78.  This weekend alone, they'll put in 976 volunteers hours and add an estimated value of $18,173.12 to eight different homes and the Grundy County Food Bank in rural Appalachia.  The furthest group is from Appleton, Wisconsin and the closest is from Brentwood, TN.

Check out how it's going....