It is hard for me to believe that I have lived in Habersham County for almost a full year. I moved up here after my husband and I got married in April of 2014, and the time as surely flown. As someone who grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta, I can honestly say that I love living in a small town. The people here are genuine people who love to serve others in our community. I have never experienced a fellowship quite like I have experienced since the first day I moved to Clarkesville.
42 The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. 43 A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles.44 All the believers were united and shared everything. 45 They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them. 46 Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity. 47 They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved.
The passage above is from Acts chapter 2, specifically referring to the early church. The early church was small in number, but it was unified. The members of the community met together to worship; they shared meals and fellowship together; and they met one another’s needs. The passage also states that the Lord honored their dedication to the Body of Christ by adding to their numbers daily.
I believe that life in a small town is comparable, in a sense, to the body of Christ. One of the things that first struck me about Habersham County was that its people are dedicated to the community: to the needs of its families, to its businesses, and to its growth. Our community willingly shares its resources with those in need. I love reading articles about churches who will open their doors to those who are cold on the streets. I love the response from the community when one of our own is sick or injured. I love that so many from the community will gather to fellowship together at a local restaurant or a high school football game. In my own church, I see the efforts of those in missions, community outreach, and pastoral ministry reaching out to the community on a daily basis. I love being part of a church who is so dedicated to the community in which we live. There is a lot within our community to be proud of, but most importantly, I believe we are unified by a desire to serve one another.
For non-Christians, the body of Christ can be a hard thing to grasp. How can people so willingly give up their resources in order to serve others? How can someone be so encouraging and so dedicated to the success of someone else? What have I done to deserve this money, these gifts, or this love?
34 “I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. 35 This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.”
These words from John 13 are straight from the mouth of Christ. He calls us to set the example for others in how we love one another. We love because He first loved us, and we serve because our service is for His glorification. I believe that whether for Christ or for the community or both, the service mindset in Habersham County is a beacon for Christ. My hope and my prayer is that we would add to our numbers daily those who are being saved because we are not afraid to serve and to love as Christ calls us to. This is what makes us genuine participants in the body of Christ and true disciples of Jesus Christ in our community!
