Below is a post that Mary left on the GCC Facebook page. I was encouraged and provoked by it and thought we would all benefit from a reminder of the "why" behind what we do. Thanks for posting Mary.

The following is written by Tam Hodge, the wife of Pastor Brent Hodge (Cross Point Hendersonville near Charlotte, NC) and I thought it would encourage GCC servants of the Lord!

"I know there are many who serve in this capacity with churches who set up and tear down every week. It can get tiresome. It can become very frustrating. In fact, you may have grown resentful. But let me offer you a word of encouragement…

You are not just getting up early – You are going before those who will show up for the first time to meet their Savior.

You are not just breaking a sweat – You are sweating in thanks to the One who purposed you to tell the nations.

You are not just setting up 150 chairs – You are providing a place for the wounded to come and sit in the lap of their Healer.

You are not “doing church” – You are creating an experience.

You are not clocking in and out – You are investing in lives!

For every chair you set out…For every crayon you put in a basket…For every book you put out on the book tablel…For every cable you run across a gym floor to an amp…For every sign you hang…For each and everything your hands commit to, you are creating an experience for those to come. You are creating an atmosphere for others to come into and rest. A place for God’s people to enter into to find hope, encouragement, friendship, counsel, healing…life. A safe place for others to meet God.

I know this is hard work. I am exhausted from serving today. I feel like I’ve done a months worth of P90X. And every single second of it is worth it. None of this is about us. It is about God and the ones He sent his son to love on."