Cure for Heart Disease

An increased focus on others is, likewise, a mark of growing spiritually. Once you understand that you are a part of the family of God, your vision grows to see the true size of your spiritual family…or as pastor and author A. W. Tozer conveys—your heart grows. Tozer writes:

The widest thing in the universe is not space; it is the potential capacity of the human heart. Being made in the image of God, it is capable of almost unlimited extension in all directions. And one of the world’s worst tragedies is that we allow our hearts to shrink until there is room in them for little beside ourselves.

Tozer, a realist, also notes that humanly we tend to shrink back from this expanded view of the world and atrophy into self-centeredness.

To avoid this spiritual heart disease and continue to grow in the image of Jesus we must continue to exercise our gifts by serving in ministry. This is why the church places such a high value on engaging you in applying your spiritual gifts in service.

A wonderful opportunity to extend your heart is through the August 16th Back-2-School Bash being held for the residents of the Oakridge neighborhood housing complex. This event is being sponsored by “Just Jesus,” a group of churches teaming together for ministry, including Christian Life Assembly, Des Moines First Assembly, Elim Christian Fellowship, Lutheran Church of Hope and First Federated.

A highlight of this year’s event—in addition to the free barbeque, children’s games, and live entertainment—is the distribution of backpacks filled with school supplies for the children of Oakridge.

Here are a number of ways in which you can be part of this critical ministry

Right Now

• Sponsor a backpack—if you are unable to attend, you can still participate in the event by sponsoring a backpack for $10. Please note on your envelope “Oakridge.”
• School supplies—drop off school supplies in the designated buckets around the church by August 10.
• Pray—daily, that through this serving the residents of the Oakridge neighborhood will feel the love of Jesus and be drawn to know more about how He can impact them for eternity.

Saturday, August 16 | 2–6pm Rain Date: Sunday, August 17 | 2–6pm

• Serve—contact Sherri Stufflebeem, 515.255.2122 or .
• Come and Connect—attend the event to initiate an on-going relationship with one Oakridge resident of your choice.

Through your participation in the Back-2-School Bash you will come to find that the most effective cure for spiritual heart disease is to give a piece of your heart away to someone who needs to experience the heart of Jesus.