Open Door Christian Church — DeLand, FL

This past Saturday, September 12, more than 20 members and friends of Open Door Christian Church showed up ready to work. They came with gloves, tools, and willing hearts, and by the end of the day our church home looked better inside and out.

What a blessing it is to see the church family roll up its sleeves together.

Out on the Grounds

Our property sits on 10 acres, and there is always something that needs attention. Saturday's crew took it on. Flower beds were weeded and cleaned up. Fallen sticks and debris were gathered, and trash was picked up across the grounds. It's the kind of work that's easy to overlook until it's done, and then everyone notices.

Inside the Building

Indoors, the work was just as busy. The building and restrooms were cleaned out top to bottom. Old light fixtures came down and new ones went up. Damaged drywall was patched and repaired. And those were just the highlights. Many other jobs, big and small, were checked off the list before the day was over.

Lunch and Fellowship

After a busy morning, everyone gathered around for a great lunch. Workers found a seat, caught their breath, and enjoyed good food and even better company. Conversations flowed as people shared stories from the morning's projects and got to know one another a little better.

That time together was every bit as important as the work itself. The early church "ate together with glad and sincere hearts" (Acts 2:46), and there is still something special about sharing a meal with the people you've just served alongside. The work got the job done, but the fellowship built the family.

More Than Maintenance

Some might see a work day as a list of chores. We see something more.

When Nehemiah led God's people in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, the job got done because "the people worked with all their heart" (Nehemiah 4:6). That's exactly what we saw on Saturday. No one was there because they had to be. They were there because they love this church and the Lord it belongs to.

Saturday was also a beautiful picture of the body of Christ at work. Some folks are gifted with a hammer and a drywall knife. Others are gifted with a rake, a broom, or a trash bag and a good attitude. Every one of those gifts mattered. As Scripture says, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others" (1 Peter 4:10).

The church is not a building; the church is the people. But the building and grounds God has entrusted to us are tools for ministry, and caring for them is part of being faithful stewards. When a guest pulls onto our property for the first time, a well-kept campus quietly says, "We've been expecting you, and we're glad you're here."

Thank You

To everyone who gave up their Saturday to serve: thank you. Your time and effort will be a blessing to every person who walks through our doors in the weeks and months ahead. And a special thank you to everyone who helped make lunch happen. You kept the crew fed and gave us all a reason to sit down together.

If you missed this one, we would love to have you join us next time. There is a job for every pair of hands.

Come See It for Yourself

We'd love for you to see the fruit of all that hard work in person. Come worship with us this Sunday at Open Door Christian Church, 1700 S Clara Ave, DeLand. The door is open, and there's a place for you here.