Dinner at WPBC

This past Sunday night, our students had the chance to spend time with some dear saints from Whispering Pines Baptist Church. For many of our students, ministering with senior adults is -honest!- a step outside their comfort zones. For this evening, WPBC had “church around the tables”, and each GCBI student sat at a table with 7-9 church members.  WPBC provided each student with little bookmark strips of paper with the student’s name, address, and picture, which they were to give the folks who sat with them at their tables – these will serve as a reminder to the church family to pray for “their” student and write them notes of encouragement throughout the year. Elijah & Jordan led in worship with a few old favorites to honor WPBC and a beautiful newer song of praise (which they also shared with Grace Church that morning).

The goal of the evening was to spark conversation between generations – to allow senior adults to share some of their stories with our students and make a God-connection in their relationships.  Having grown from teenager to adult in this church that my father now pastors, it was a delight to see the older, familiar faces leaning with interest as mohawked, pierced, and tattooed young adults shared their own stories!  WPBC is a praying church.  Our students will be lifted up consistently by people who have walked with the Lord for many, many years.  We’ll have additional opportunities throughout the year to minister to and fellowship with WPBC and we’re looking forward to watching God move in the relationships we’ll build.

When my father, Steve Trinkle, closed in prayer for that evening, he offered a gentle yet powerful reminder to the church family.  “These young folks,” he said, “sing the old songs a new way. And they sing new songs to people we will never know and could never reach. But they serve the same Living God that we do. What an encouragement that should be to us!”