Serving In A Town Saturated By Darkness - Thomas Road Missions

I would describe this church as a light I would describe this church as a light in the midst of darkness. The town is in the midst of darkness. The town is in the midst of darkness. The town is surrounded and saturated by drugs and surrounded and saturated by drugs and surrounded and saturated by drugs and alcohol and prostitution. Yet, in the alcohol and prostitution. Yet, in the alcohol and prostitution. Yet, in the midst of that darkness, Horizon Church midst of that darkness, Horizon Church midst of that darkness, Horizon Church is shining bright the gospel and going is shining bright the gospel and going is shining bright the gospel and going into the community in many, many ways to into the community in many, many ways to into the community in many, many ways to share the hope and the redemption that share the hope and the redemption that share the hope and the redemption that they can have in Christ. And they're they can have in Christ. And they're they can have in Christ. And they're doing that through many different mis doing that through many different mis doing that through many different mis ministries, many different ways. And uh ministries, many different ways. And uh ministries, many different ways. And uh the church has grown, the ministries the church has grown, the ministries the church has grown, the ministries have grown, and it is very clear that have grown, and it is very clear that have grown, and it is very clear that God is working in and through this God is working in and through this God is working in and through this church. I think this is a great church. I think this is a great church. I think this is a great experience and I think it's something experience and I think it's something experience and I think it's something that that everybody should do. Everybody that that everybody should do. Everybody that that everybody should do. Everybody should go on a missions trip. I think it should go on a missions trip. I think it should go on a missions trip. I think it really it broadens your horizons, right? really it broadens your horizons, right? really it broadens your horizons, right? I think, you know, it's so easy to get I think, you know, it's so easy to get I think, you know, it's so easy to get pigeonholed and stuck into your own pigeonholed and stuck into your own pigeonholed and stuck into your own situations, your own little things in situations, your own little things in situations, your own little things in life when, you know, the world is so life when, you know, the world is so life when, you know, the world is so much bigger than than what's right in much bigger than than what's right in much bigger than than what's right in front of you. And I think it's important front of you. And I think it's important front of you. And I think it's important to see really um a broader scope of what to see really um a broader scope of what to see really um a broader scope of what people are struggling with, what um what people are struggling with, what um what people are struggling with, what um what other people are dealing with and other people are dealing with and other people are dealing with and putting into perspective situations putting into perspective situations putting into perspective situations sometimes. And I think just seeing the sometimes. And I think just seeing the sometimes. And I think just seeing the the brokenness and seeing the the life the brokenness and seeing the the life the brokenness and seeing the the life transformation that you can witness transformation that you can witness transformation that you can witness being on a trip like this is is really being on a trip like this is is really being on a trip like this is is really impactful and really eye opening. We impactful and really eye opening. We impactful and really eye opening. We come down here to Hakaco and like uh come down here to Hakaco and like uh come down here to Hakaco and like uh they go out and they go every night, they go out and they go every night, they go out and they go every night, once a week, every night they'll go and once a week, every night they'll go and once a week, every night they'll go and feed the homeless or the addicted in the

feed the homeless or the addicted in the feed the homeless or the addicted in the local park. Uh and not all of those local park. Uh and not all of those local park. Uh and not all of those people come to the church the next day people come to the church the next day people come to the church the next day and you know accept the Lord into their and you know accept the Lord into their and you know accept the Lord into their life. Um, but what is a uh healthy life. Um, but what is a uh healthy life. Um, but what is a uh healthy church and what is a faithful church is church and what is a faithful church is church and what is a faithful church is one that continues to serve and one that one that continues to serve and one that one that continues to serve and one that continues to give of itself um whether continues to give of itself um whether continues to give of itself um whether or not it sees what we would call or not it sees what we would call or not it sees what we would call results as in people attending the results as in people attending the results as in people attending the church. church. church. >> I think um what has stood out to me the >> I think um what has stood out to me the >> I think um what has stood out to me the most about meeting these people here is most about meeting these people here is most about meeting these people here is just how on fire they are for the Lord. just how on fire they are for the Lord. just how on fire they are for the Lord. you know, being in a culture like this you know, being in a culture like this you know, being in a culture like this when there where there's so much when there where there's so much when there where there's so much temptation all around you and so much temptation all around you and so much temptation all around you and so much sin and so much brokenness, there's sin and so much brokenness, there's sin and so much brokenness, there's really no room for lukewarm really no room for lukewarm really no room for lukewarm Christianity, right? Like you have to be Christianity, right? Like you have to be Christianity, right? Like you have to be allin or or not at all. Um and I think allin or or not at all. Um and I think allin or or not at all. Um and I think just seeing that that stark contrast just seeing that that stark contrast just seeing that that stark contrast between the two has been really eye between the two has been really eye between the two has been really eye opening to me, you know? Um the people opening to me, you know? Um the people opening to me, you know? Um the people who work in this church and the people who work in this church and the people who work in this church and the people who are believers in this area, like who are believers in this area, like who are believers in this area, like it's it's difficult. It is so difficult, it's it's difficult. It is so difficult, it's it's difficult. It is so difficult, but to see them and how on fire they are but to see them and how on fire they are but to see them and how on fire they are for the Lord um has been really for the Lord um has been really for the Lord um has been really inspiring and um convicting to me in my inspiring and um convicting to me in my inspiring and um convicting to me in my own life as well.

own life as well. own life as well. >> It's truly amazing how love doesn't know >> It's truly amazing how love doesn't know >> It's truly amazing how love doesn't know barriers. And I've seen that in our team barriers. And I've seen that in our team barriers. And I've seen that in our team this whole week as we've stepped into this whole week as we've stepped into this whole week as we've stepped into very uncomfortable situations. very uncomfortable situations. very uncomfortable situations. A simple smile and a loving heart is so A simple smile and a loving heart is so A simple smile and a loving heart is so powerful.