So, as everyone knows, Myka was born 6 weeks early. He spent some time in the NICU. So, if we wanted to see him we had to stand in the hallway, call the nurses station and tell them who we are and provide a password. So, without all that information, our little Myka would not have been able to see us and we wouldn't get to see him. Now having this little man was a shock. You ever hear the saying, "It takes a village to raise a child?" Well, it took a church to help bring our child into this world. Due to the fact that Myka was an emergency c-section, we were not prepared. We had our two kids at home, no babysitter. We were to have a baby shower the next day, so we didn't didn't have any clothes or well, anything baby. We were in a world of hurt. However, within a phone call our friends the Webers came by and took the first watch over our kids. Then for the rest of the night it was a church tag team royal. Then the next couple of days, baby items started showing up. Not just from our church, but from friends all over Columbus. I am telling you, our own Pastor left his family and came to our home and slept on the sofa. He beleives and preaches that we are all the hands and feet of Christ. Our Pastor walks the walk and that is so very refreshing in the times we are living.
Last Sunday our Pastor had his father come in and he preached on carrying our brothers load. And FYI if you ever hear Kent York preach do not sit in the front row. You will be a star in the sermon. That's all I am saying. I will say, however, that he is the most amazing speaker I have heard. You know how during a serman you get the feeling that the Pastor is speaking directly to you? Well, that was the case this last Sunday. Brother York talked about his son, which is our Pastor and how young he is. To be honest, I had some concern about his age. Then later on Sunday, I was thinking: when I need my car worked on I go to a mechanic, if I need a water heater put in, I hire someone that has been to school and they do the repair. So, having a Pastor that has spent time in school, followed his own father all over the country preaching, then spending time as a youth Pastor, I beleive he is very qualified to put my faith in him to get me to meet my heavenly Father.
I have been through many Pastors. I have had a very hard time putting my families faith into their hands. Like many at our church, there is a story on how we became part of one of the most God events that could have happened to our family. This coming from a family that has seen so many God moments in our ministry. In a nut shell, a great friend started going to this Church plant. He invited us for months. Well, one weekend we decided to show up. As we pulled up to the school, the sign said "Welcome to Guide Church Baptist." I saw the B word and I was like, "Turn this car around". I don't do Baptist. My wife made me go in, and within 15 minutes of the sermon I was hooked. For the very first time in my life, we have found a church home. I will not go and tell you how the church was started. That is part of the fun getting to know the Pastor and the families that came with him to start the church.
Now during the service this last weekend, we had Brother York talk about Jesus and the roaring lion. He talked about how it is our responsability to help carry our brothers burden. I cannot express the power of this message. It hit me square in the face. Then as I just wrote that, I was hit. I would be denying our brothers the right to carry our burden. Can you imagine that? The love that Christ has put in each and everyone of us is amazing. So, when it comes to inviting others to church, what greater love could we show our brothers and sisters? We need to invite everyone we come into contact with, into our churches. Why would we not want to show that love?
Now, here is some of the fun. During this week, we are having a revival. It starts at 6:30 pm every night with Wednesday night being the final night. So, to make it interesting, Brother York has created a program called the 'Rumble". It's when members of our church invite others to the revival and we get points. Every night, two families rumble and at the end they get prizes. Now, we get a couple that I really enjoy. They have a certian quality that I relate to. On the other hand, Nicole and I are very competitive. I am talking when we are doing things at home, it turns into a race somehow. So, officially, by the rules I need to invite everyone I can to come to our church and listen to a wonderful service, by a fantastic speaker and I get the chance at a prize.
Here is the Michael Hogan small print. Don't come and stand up for the Hogan family. By you being there, my family has already won. We were able to invite you into our church home and we will worship together side by side. That's the grand prize. When they call out the Hayes Family, stand up. I want you there as a guest of the Guide Church Baptist, and yes I said Baptist.
And do you remember how I talked about everything we needed to do to let Myka see his father in the NICU? Well Jesus has made it a lot easier to be able to talk to Him. Getting you through the front door of our church, there is no secret password. I will even open that door for you. So, here is my families personal invite to our church, an invite to come and worship our Father together.
God Bless my friends.
The Hogans
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