Dividends

Dividends are payments made by corporations to stockholders. The rate of return is connected to the level of risk the investor takes and how profitable the corporation proves to be. For instance, original investors in Ford Motor Company merely believed that Henry Ford’s assembly line concept had merit and risked their funds. Those who trusted Ford’s dream and invested, became wealthy.

Many people have heard our dream and trusted that what we described was worthy of risking their time, skills, and funds. Last week Pat and I attended the annual Spring Garden Academy Thanksgiving program and family dinner. More than 200 people attended, many from the Resurrection Life Church neighborhood. Pat and I collected a dividend!

One family with whom we had shared life and witness for more than ten years reported that they had recently become members of Resurrection Life. The mother said, "My whole life has been changed!" Her daughters and grandchildren also attend and one daughter is a member of the current "Next Generation" class. At least six of the youth who first entered the building to play basketball now attend "The Bridge" youth ministry and are attending Sunday worship.

But, the one bid line item in our dividend payment was the presentation of Spring Garden Academy children. We were thrilled! The elementary school children sang four verses of "Fairest Lord Jesus," all the verses of "Holy, Holy, Holy," and three verses of "Count Your Blessings." To their repertoire they added a quotation in unison of Psalm 115 and Psalm 101 followed by Philippians 4:4-7, all this without a cue card! Tears flowed as I learned that the lyrics of important hymns and lengthy passages of Scripture are imbedded in youthful hearts forever! There is no eraser for the brain!

If you have invested your time, funds or skills, the dividends are beginning to be paid. There is a payday coming, a "well-done good and faithful servant, enter . . ." Heaven will be richer and more boisterous as we share in triumphant adoration with those whose names are written there because of what risks we have taken here. I wish you could have sampled the future joy with us last week.