Thanks Murfreesboro District UMW!*

[*This blog post could also be titled: "Reasons Why I Don't Mind Working On Saturdays"]

This past Saturday, Mountain T.O.P. was invited to speak at the Murfreesboro District UMW's A Day Set Apart at Morton Memorial UMC, Monteagle. I got the privileged of speaking since my mother is a member of the UMW at Morton; thought, I wouldn't turn down the offer to talk about ministry. Or to accept a love offering. Or to eat Marge's jello salad*!

[*If you were there, you know exactly what I'm talking about. When Mom invited me to speak, that was my next question: "Will we be having Marge's salad?".]

There were many different churches represented in the 75 ladies who attended the event. When I asked if anyone had heard of MTOP (though I knew a couple in the crowd who are current attendees), about half raised their hands*. I was beautiful how aspects of MTOP's mission fit so perfectly in the theme of the day: how to abide in the peace of Christ while engaged in work. I often tell folks that MTOP's niche is how we strive to hold the spiritual formation aspect of what we do as high as the physical work. Some days, it's so hard to remain in Christ's peace when the world swirls around us.

[*After talking to the group, I had conversations with people who's churches youth had attended, parents of former staff, and those who were interested in adopting MTOP as their local mission. It's hard not to miss all of the doors that are being opened...]

And then came time for the love offering, which was the other reason I was there. MTOP was chosen as the local mission to which the offering would be shared. An overwhelming $900 was given! Earlier during the service, I had shared how MTOP was started by a youth group and that no one should underestimate what a small group of people could do when they are on the same mission. That's exactly what the Murfressboro UMW did!