Beginning tomorrow the town of Minden will be over flowing with excitement and passion! It is time for our annual St. Jude Auction! Over the next four days, people will come together with one focus, one goal, for one cause; to raise money for the kids at St. Jude. Volunteers take off work to serve in different ways, businesses and individuals donate items and services for the auction, and it is all for the kids at St. Jude.

As a follower of Christ I am inspired by the spirit of community we experience each year in our small town at this event. People coming together for one cause with excitement, expectation, generosity, and love. The passion we see and feel in the hearts of so many for such a worthwhile cause that is so dear to so many in this community.

We have become so divided in our world, our communities, and even our churches. What if the church could inspire, encourage, and bring people together with one focus, one goal, and one cause – Jesus? What if we set aside our personal agendas and focused on God’s agenda? What if we gave generously of ourselves through our gifts, resources, and service? What if we made gathering in community as the body of Christ a priority in our lives? What if we served others with a spirit of humility and grace? What if we lived our lives loving the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and loving others as ourselves? What if we did all of this just to glorify God?

Just like the kids at St. Jude benefit from the efforts of this weekend in Minden, La., the kingdom of God would benefit from our efforts to live, love, and serve in community.

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. Romans 12:4-5

Your fellow sojourner, Jennifer Thomas