I experienced a once in a lifetime moment yesterday during our Stephen Ministry meeting. The group was discussing our Caring Ministry when Gail Steyer invited us to watch Space X launch its Falcon 9 rocket into space in order to deliver supplies to the International Space Station. The things you can do with our smart phones! Certainly, this was a first for me to witness a rocket launch on a smart phone at church. However, that wasn't the once in a lifetime moment. This was the first time that a private business launched a rocket from an Apollo era launch pad so the launch was historic; however, still not the once in a lifetime moment.
The once in a lifetime moment was the fact that one of our very own from JCPC played an integral role in the rocket's successful launch. Ryan Simpson, son of Steve and Helen Simpson and grandson of Helen Steyer is an important member of the Space X team which witnessed the fruits of their labor as the rocket screamed into space.
Gail and I shared a moment before Sunday school and we talked about how Ryan grew up at JCPC. He was an accomplished Eagle Scout as a member of our Troop 2000. Gail told me that while Ryan helped in the process of the successful launch of the Falcon 9 rocket, JCPC helped successfully launch Ryan.
Have you ever thought of JCPC as a launching pad? I remember reading the comments of one of my Christian Education professors who said that the church plays the role of a launching pad for our young people. Brian Daoust told us over the Christmas break that there are more than 60 JCPC young people currently in college.
Let's keep these young people in our prayers. When I look on my Facebook and see people like Davis O'Brien leading the Miracle Dance Marathon at UGA to raise money for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and then leaving with a group for a mission trip to Honduras I am so moved knowing that JCPC has been and continues to be a wonderful launch pad for our kids!
To God be the glory.
Prayer for Today
Loving God, bless the young people of our church so that they will grow in their faith, serve you with fervor and share their unique gifts to make the world a better place. Amen.
