A new song of praise.

“There is always opportunity for a new beginning in our relationship with God… No matter how intimate the companionship we share with Jesus Christ today, there is room for growth and new beginnings.” –Rueben P. Job

“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.” –Psalm 40:3

“O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things.” –Psalm 98:1

I have a new song of praise in my heart this week.  Roger, Andy and I participated in a conference last week. It was the first of its kind, bringing together home repair organizations from all over Appalachia.  Over 80 people from 28 organizations attended.

I often recognize how blessed I am to get to work at Confrontation Point.  This ministry does wonderful things and it is clear that God is at work in what we do.  The conference, however, helped me recognize anew how much our work is needed in Appalachia.  I praise God with a new song that I get to be a part of something so much bigger than I am.

At the conference, there were organizations that put on huge one-day events to gather volunteers to work on homes that need the help.  There are other organizations who are very similar to what Confrontation Point does with our Home Repair trips.  Many at the conference provide other services for people in Appalachia.  One woman puts together backpacks filled with food to send home with kids after school on Fridays so that they have food over the weekends.  That food sometimes comes from God’s Pantry, a ministry in Lexington that Confrontation Point groups volunteer at on Mystery Trips.  All this work, and all these people, help me recognize that Confrontation Point is part of something that God is up to that is bigger than just our ministry.  God is at work in Appalachia, and I have a new song of praise in my heart for that.

So, thanks to all the others who are at work in Appalachia and beyond.  Thanks to all the Confrontation Point groups, and groups that serve with other organizations.  Especially, thanks to God for guidance, for providing so all these organizations can serve, and for calling us into things greater than ourselves.

Brian Reenders
Program Director