I have always been fascinated by the Amish Community and their Barn raising tendencies. That co-operative spirit captures the heart of a burden sharing and loving community. We have a print in our living room at home that the church gave us that pictures a classic P. Buckley Moss Amish barn-raising. Those people know how to work...and get the job done together. Is not that the ideal? The way God created us to relate to each other?

There are a group of Amish men who go to our church. They lack beards and wear clothes with zippers and none of them drive their buggy's to the work site, but the Homebuilder men have developed a reputation of coming together with a co-operative spirit and meeting other people's needs. They came up big on this past Saturday. And some are taking notice trying to figure it all out.

Ed and Andrea Bonvillain are ready to return to Mali in Africa where Ed (developing and running the laboratory) is a partner in a Christ centered hospital ministry serving women and children and introducing Malians to a relationship with Jesus Christ. Our Dan (Ob/Gyn) and Marcy Nesselroade are also partners in the same work. Ed and Andrea return to Africa on Labor Day. But before they returned...they needed a roof replaced on their home that they rent out here in Springfield. Hence, the Amish Brigade rolled out on Saturday.

While the apostle Paul was very clear on the glory of servants who take the message of the good news wherever their feet take them "Blessed are the feet"...I want to say, "Blessed are the brothers in the Amish Brigade who surround their peers in need with tangible help". The Amish Brigade was out early on Saturday and got right after it. By the time I reached there to thank them in the middle afternoon, they, however tired, were killing off the job. I pulled up and it looked like ants all over the two roofs (house and separate garage). Ever seen the ants move kinetically all over the ant hill at a torrid pace? You have got the picture. Apart from John Johnson being guilty of a hog foul on the pneumatic nail gun (the humble men on the garage were hammering nails), there was a wonderful co-operative spirit. Ok in fairness, John had worked to organize the event...so I guess the big dog gets the nail gun.

There they were, those Amish ants...crawling all over the roof getting the job done. Ed was up there helping, trying to muzzle an outrageous smile, and that not too successfully. Ed and Andrea were so grateful. Their gratitude was only rivaled in the pleasure that the Amish crew was taking in getting the job done.

Ed told me later that the guy heading up the agency serving his family to rent the house when they are gone cannot believe the "friends" he has. Seems Ed's friends are always coming up big to make life work for the family. Some friends! Or is it family? Or is God's family and friends plan the best going? There is nothing quite like the healthy function of the body of Christ.

I love those guys. Those Amish brothers from the "Home Builders" community here at Southgate are dear. As I drove away to their waves my heart was full. What a privilege to be a part of God's family and to shepherd a group of His people who are joyfully serious about serving one another and meeting the needs of their brothers and sisters in Christ. May their tribe increase!

"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another." John 13:35

"Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2

"So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith." Galatians 6:10