Smokin’ the Water July 5, 2009

Roane Church had an incredible opportunity yesterday to engage our community.  One of the desires that we have as a part of the DNA of our church is to be a part of the community.  We want to be the hands and feet of Jesus, loving and meeting the needs of people “as we are going”.  Each year, on the 4th of July, Kingston has a huge celebration called “Smokin’ the Water”.  It is a jet boat race right in the heart of Kingston topped off with a fabulous fireworks show.  Last year, Roane Church wanted very much to be a part of the celebration, but it WAS NOT time yet.  We were ready and it was not God’s timing.  It seemed as if you had to know somebody that knew somebody to have a booth for the event.  Well within this year, God has provided us with someone that has been a part of the fabric of the community for his whole life.  Wade Creswell knew the right person to get us a booth. 

For a while, it was kind of up in the air as to if the celebration would even happen due to the ash spill, but when things were a “go” a couple of months back, and Wade got a call about the Michael Dunn Center doing a booth again, he called Melvin right away about Roane Church doing a booth.  Melvin did not want to just be another booth handing out information.   He wanted to have a booth that would be a magnet for people.  He felt like God had put in his heart that a rock wall was the thing to do.  It would be tall to draw people to it.  So, he began calling around.  Because Kingston was rather late in deciding to have the celebration, every place Melvin called for rentals, everything was already rented.  All the rental places told him that he was probably not going to find anything because Pigeon Forge was having a big 4th thing and every other town in the whole U.S.  As I well know, Melvin does not give up easy on anything.  It is just a quality that he possesses.  If God tells him that he/we are suppose to do something, then he will not give up on it until God brings it about.  So, he google one more time “rock walls”.  A group from Chattanooga popped up in the search and he called.  They told him that they did have one remaining rock wall for the 4th and they would come a run it for us!  I heard Melvin from the “church office” which is our basement, let out a hoop and holler.  Not only did God provide a rock wall, but we had a prime spot, under a wonderful shade tree, and perfect for watching an amazing fireworks show.

Now we get to your part.  We need you to pray your head off about what transpired yesterday.  From 9 in the morning until 9 at night, children, teens, and adults got to climb the rock wall for FREE, which was SO cool since everyone else was charging.  From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., people from all of our connection groups handed out information about Roane Church, information about Roane Kids Camp (RKC) coming up on July 13 – 17, and lots and lots of FREE M&Ms.  People are not use to getting things free anymore.  I am praying that GOD will bring an enormous harvest from our feeble efforts.  Pray that those that are looking for hope will come to Roane Church and connect to hope in Jesus.  Pray that there will be families that connect to hope in Jesus because the children come to RKC.  Please pray for RKC.  Pray for our volunteers this week as we make final preparations.