Fresh Mannaby Pastor Tim BurtThe Unexpected Gift from God: An Inspirational StoryIt was a beautiful fall Friday night. The team was all there. The preparations were complete, and everything was in place. The guests would be arriving shortly.Pastor Tim had been planning this evening and this experiment for months. He knew there were people in the church who didn’t know each other and likely never would without some help. Over the years, Pastor Tim had learned that people loved to connect over food. So, he planned his first-ever Getting Acquainted Dinner. He had saved money in his budget for the event for over three months, wanting it to be special! His meal plan? Lasagna, salad, warm garlic buttered breadsticks, and strawberry cheesecake for dessert. With prayerful consideration, he thought through every detail of the event.Pastor Tim recruited a kitchen team of 12 and 18 longtime church members to serve as table hosts for the nine tables they filled up. He shared the vision with them all. We will bring 90 newcomers to our church together over a beautiful dinner. The goal was to ensure everyone would feel welcome, enjoy a delicious meal, and make new acquaintances. He believed acquaintances would be sparked, hopefully leading to meaningful relationships and friendships. He asked the team to pray with him for the month leading up to the event.He prepared and sent a letter inviting people who had joined the church in the past three months to attend the free dinner. The sole purpose of the event, he explained, was to help people get to know one another through the first-ever Getting Acquainted Dinner. Pastor Tim also announced from the pulpit that a fun evening was planned for newcomers, and it wouldn’t cost them a thing.The response was wonderful. Within three days of the letter going out, 84 people had signed up.Now, the night was here, and everything was ready. The event was already a success in many ways as prayers had been answered, and the team was filled with anticipation. Pastor Tim and his wife, Renee, served as table hosts with another couple. The dinner was delicious, and everyone enjoyed the icebreaker games. Laughter and lively conversation filled the room.At Pastor Tim and Renee’s table, he turned to Ben, one of the guests, and asked where he was from. “St. Cloud, Minnesota,” Ben replied sharing a bit about his family. Ben explained that he and his sister had lost a brother in a tragic fire. He shared that the most painful part of that loss was not knowing if their brother had accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. It had weighed on Ben and his sister for years as they longed to know they would see their brother in heaven.Just then, Ron, another table host helping Pastor Tim, spoke up. “I knew a man from St. Cloud, Minnesota, who died in a fire. What was your brother’s name?” When Ben told him, Ron’s face lit up. “I knew your brother! I was with him two days before he died. I shared the gospel with him, and he prayed to receive Jesus into his heart that day. Your brother is with the Lord, and you will see him again in heaven.”Ben’s eyes filled with tears. Overwhelmed with emotion, he stood up, walked over, and gave Ron a heartfelt bear hug. Choked with joy, he excused himself and stepped out into the hallway. "I have to call and tell my sister right now!" They could see Ben talking on the phone, both laughing and crying as he shared the incredible news with her.When Ben returned, he addressed the group at the table. “This may be one of the best nights of my life. I came here to meet a few people, but tonight, my sister and I received an unexpected gift from God through someone we met at this table. We now know we will be with our brother in heaven.”Pastor Tim couldn’t imagine a more beautiful way to end the evening than having Ben share his story with all the guests. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as everyone marveled at the night’s unexpected blessing.The entire event went far beyond what anyone had hoped or imagined. Friendships were formed, the experiment was a success, and over the next 30 years, the “Getting Acquainted Dinner” became the church’s most beloved way for people to meet and become acquainted with one another.And for years to come, Pastor Tim often told the story of Ron and Ben at these dinners. He had a saying that always stayed with people: “We all like to pick our friends in life, but when we leave it up to the Lord, God picks our better friends."Proverbs 17:17, NIV "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity."And in case you are wondering, yes, this is a true story!In His love,Pastor Tim Burt
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