Freedom Tabernacle

So this July 4, we had the opportunity to minister to the Freedom Tabernacle church in Kountze, TX.  The most kind-hearted church that we go to all year.  Dahlton and Lisa Smith are the Pastor's there, and they are always such gracious, Christ-like hosts.

There are 3 things to point our from this trip. 

1. Flexibility of Matthew, Cliff, and Carlos! - Not that I'm the most organized person, but when we leave our families to go serve the Lord, you can guarantee we've got a plan of attack.  This time, we had a very loose plan, and under the leadership of Pastor Dahlton, we were instructed to follow the Holy Spirit.  As a result, timing and setlist go out of the window, and each person has to be responsive to the Holy Spirit, as well as ready to follow me as a leader.  Everyone accomplished this.  We changed the set up time, sound check time, setlist, and even keys to the songs within the set list.  The group wanted to worship.  We let God lead, and we served the church that was gathered by communicating with them (did our best), and the Aragon crew was ready and flexible.  Credit it to Christ growing us together.
2. Tent analogy - This year, they went out and found a flat bed trailer for us to play on.  That got us off the ground, and gave us line-of-sight for everyone that was there.  The Aragon Project is about encouraging people to go share their faith.  As we moved to songs like "Shine On," and "Bringing Beautiful Feet," this analogy came to me.  Because we were in the tent and up on the trailer, our vision beyond the skirt of the tent was limited.  I cannot see who is driving by, who is observing from a distance, and am from the most part hidden from them.  As the church, we can't wall ourselves off to the rest of the world, and only see what's "inside the tent."  We must be obedient to the Great Commission, and "Go!" 
   
3. Witnessed to someone I've wanted to witness to for about 15 years - As we walked up and were saying hello to everyone, a familiar face was there. He knew exactly who we were, but I could not place him.  As we talked, I remembered who he was.  This man was someone I watched  my dad witnessed to as soon as we moved to Saratoga.  There were certain places in downtown Saratoga that my dad wanted to win to the Lord, and this guy owned a business on the main road.  I remember dad befriending, and witnessing to him.  He wanted nothing to do with it back then.  Oh how he loved his sin..... oh how we loved our sin.  I talked to him for a brief moment, and turns out that he was there with his chopper and had entered the bike competition earlier.  He shared with me that he had a horrible wreck a few years earlier, and the person in the ambulance told him he was going to die.  That lead into the conversation that my dad has carried on for years.  With all my heart and with tears in my eyes and in my voice, I explained as best I could of what Jesus did for him.  Though we worked for 30 min., he was still cloudy on the understanding, but I believe that the fog will soon lift, and he will be a testimony of the MERCY OF CHRIST!
   

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www.FrankAragon.com
Oh Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth your praise.  Psalm 51:13