Biblical Prophecy Fulfilled in Inasmuch

            The Psalmist says:  “One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts” (Ps. 145:4).  This biblical prophecy is being fulfilled in the expansion of Operation Inasmuch.  Three new states are now in the Operation Inasmuch column and it is due not to slick marketing or strategic planning but to the work of God’s Spirit in which He inspires church folk to share with others His good work through this ministry. 

            First Christian Church of Olathe, KS, (www.fccolathe.org) a suburb of Kansas City, is the first church in Kansas to do Operation Inasmuch.  David Merrick, Pastor, says his church has been doing Operation Inasmuch for several years.  They have found it to be an effective way to demonstrate God’s love in their community.  Some of the unique Inasmuch projects First Christian does is offer free haircuts for children and a project they call We’ll Flip for You—a mattress flipping service for seniors.  Merrick says this project gets more response than any others they do.  “People tell us that flipping their mattress may not sound like a significant thing, but it is a big help to older people who cannot do it themselves.  We have found that this small assistance sometimes opens the way to other ministry for people in our community.”

            Merrick says he learned of Inasmuch from his sister’s church—Glen Oak Christian Church, Peoria, IL (www.glenoakchristian@sbcglobal.net).  It turns out that the Peoria church has been doing Operation Inasmuch for about 5 years, but was not on the Inasmuch radar.  When asked where they learned about Inasmuch, Linda Williams of Glen Oak says:  “I can’t remember.  Our pastor got the idea from somewhere, but that was so long ago that I can’t remember.”  The Glen Oak congregation conducts a variety of projects in their Inasmuch with about a third to half of their church involved.  She says it is one of the best ways they have found to connect with their community and plan to continue doing Inasmuch at least once a year indefinitely.

            Mike Richards, Pastor of Wayside United Methodist Church in Vienna, WV (www.waysideumc.org) , says he first heard about Inasmuch at a conference led by George Bullard of The Columbia Partnership (a partner with Operation Inasmuch).  He used the book on Inasmuch to plan their first ministry event and, as of this spring, they have now held 3 Inasmuch events.  Wayside is the first church in WV to do Inasmuch.  “Thank you for providing a practical way for our church to get outside the walls of our buildings and into the community to show God’s love,” says Richards.  “We plan to continue doing Operation Inasmuch and want to bring other churches in our community in with us.”  So, the Psalmist was right.  Word of God’s mighty acts is spreading and Operation Inasmuch is part of that wonderful mystery.

Breaking News:  On April 19, 1000 churches participated in a statewide Operation Inasmuch in NC in all 100 counties.  The next issue of Hands and Feet will report the results of this amazing event which is being heralded as the largest one-day ministry event ever anywhere!

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