Fellowship Around the Table

Some of my favorite times in Humboldt have occurred around the table over meals prepared by Mary, the ladies from Paradise (salsa and sweet tea by the gallons) and in the homes of some of the church members. We have laughed, shared our stories, and pondered deep theological questions. Hours have passed while I have been seated at Nick and Mary’s table.

That was the case on this trip as well. I loved watching the team from Seminole really begin to connect with the people from Humboldt. The Seminole crew jumped right in to help prepare breakfast. The ladies cooked and I even saw the men on two occasions clear the table and wash the dishes.

Questions abound around the Kalyniuk’s table. We talked about everything from how to get this church off the ground to what the Bible says about certain topics. We laughed like lifelong friends I really feel that most of the bonding takes place around that table. Mary reveals her heart and deep burden to see people get saved in that town every time I am welcomed into her home.

I watched as Stephanie played a power point display on her computer for the Humboldt church to see. They were fascinated by the cotton crops, the flat geography, the schools, and pictures of FBC Seminole. One picture of our youth group and children prompted one lady to say you have so many children. I wish we had that many in our whole church. Our fellowship hall often filled with families fellowshipping produces greater attendance on a Wednesday night than FBC Humboldt will have on three months of services combined. We take so much for granted.

It was around Mary’s table we met a teenager named Ryan. Ryan is a college student at Saint Peter’s college in Muenster about eight Kilometers from Humboldt. He often attends FBC Church and has only one other Christian friend who just moved away to Saskatoon. Ryan has nobody else but these believers at FBC Humboldt. It was odd watching an eighteen year old young man gather around fellowship table with everyone being at least twenty to thirty years older than him. He has never known the blessing of a youth group like Solid Rock or an event like Disciple Now.

There is not one child in FBC Humboldt. We have over a hundred in Seminole and several great programs and people who volunteer in these programs. Humboldt could use just one such volunteer. They have no other teenagers or person to develop a Bible Study for students. Surely God is placing this call on someone to leave the American dream in pursuit of God’s dream to plant a healthy, growing, and reproducing church in Humboldt, SAS.

Maybe in the days ahead you and I will be seated at a table fellowshipping and this very topic will come up about volunteers needing to go there and you will feel the tug on your heart to go. It will hurt. I will miss you. I also live to promote the glory of God by expanding His kingdom. If you find yourself fellowshipping around Mary’s table count yourself blessed. If God unites your hearts with the heart of a small band of believers on Canadian soil count yourself blessed. You will be partnering with God for a purpose that will have eternal implications.

Fellowship around the table just might translate into a new life calling and vocation. If you find yourself seated at Nick and Mary’s table please tell them I love them and pray for them. I hope you have the opportunity to fellowship around their table in the furtire and fall in love with them, their church and their community just as dozens of others have as well.