鈥淵ou have a gift that is valuable to the church, and the church has gifts that are valuable to you. And if you unplug, you're robbing the church of that benefit and yourself of the benefit of those gifts,鈥� Pastor Kent Ashley shared at a recent Campbellsville University chapel.
Ashley was part of a panel of pastors in the Campbellsville community, who discussed what legacy means, the role of the church, the challenges of walking with God and how to share faith and lessons with the next generation.
The panel was led by Senior Pastor Dwayne Norman, who preaches at Campbellsville Baptist in Campbellsville.
The panel consisted of Ashley, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Campbellsville; Tyrone Johnson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Campbellsville; Blake Jessie, who serves at Campbellsville Baptist Church; and Brian Rafferty, senior pastor of Elkhorn Baptist Church in Campbellsville.
Norman opened by asking, 鈥淗ow has part of a faith family impacted your own life, maybe during a transitional period such as college or young adulthood?鈥�
Rafferty noted, 鈥淐hurch to me is more than a Sunday service. I do more church outside of the four walls than I do inside. I remember when I was in college and even through my hurting season, losing two children, I thank God for my church family.鈥�
Jessie added when he thinks of how faith has impacted his life, he remembers the power of the local church.
鈥淚f you do not have a local church,鈥� Jessie warned, 鈥測ou are missing so many valuable Godly brothers and sisters who can help guide and direct you.鈥�
Secondly, Norman asked, 鈥淗ow does being a part of a faith family help college students stay grounded in their faith during a time of some newfound independence?鈥�
Johnson noted that he looks at himself as the 鈥減rodigal son,鈥� who 鈥渨ent away from home and didn鈥檛 get grounded in church.鈥�
鈥淚 decided to do other things, but when I came back home, the church poured their love out on me,鈥� Johnson noted.
From there, Ashley helped transition the conversation to a discussion on the faithfulness of God by sharing how the Lord came through for him in a time that he calls, 鈥渨hen he needed help the most.鈥�
Ashley shared about the time in college when he was in his advisor鈥檚 office, threatening to drop out because of a lack of financial support, when his advisor鈥檚 phone rang.
That phone call changed Ashley鈥檚 life.
Ashley鈥檚 advisor told him said the person on the other end of the call was a pastor in a town half an hour away who needed a youth and music pastor.
Ashley鈥檚 advisor asked Ashley if he would be interested in the position that would help him pay for school.
鈥淚 found myself at that church the next Sunday, did a trial run for three weeks, and then they kept me for three years,鈥� Ashley recalled.
The panel also discussed how young people like college students can benefit from going to church and being poured into, even if the people there are significantly older.
鈥淚 just like diversity,鈥� he said, about the church-makeup. 鈥淐ollege students bring energy, life and new perspectives.鈥�
Norman ended the panel in prayer for the students, CU, the growth of the local churches and salvation of souls.
Chapels can be found on the 青瓜视频 Facebook page.
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