Latest / Community Spotlight / Transforming Lives in Charlotte, NC
Transcript
- WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.600 --> 00:00:02.850 <v 0>The Light FM presents Community Spotlight,</v> 2 00:00:02.940 --> 00:00:06.810 a program designed to focus on what's important to you in your community. 3 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:10.170 Now here's Braxton with today's Community Spotlight. 4 00:00:11.070 --> 00:00:15.180 <v 1>We're going to highlight the greater Charlotte area today and what's happening,</v> 5 00:00:15.190 --> 00:00:17.400 what God's doing right there on the ground, 6 00:00:17.940 --> 00:00:19.980 specifically in North Charlotte of Concord, 7 00:00:19.980 --> 00:00:24.810 North Carolina with Kaylin Robinson and Chuck Murray from 8 00:00:24.810 --> 00:00:28.200 Sowing Mustard Seeds and what's going on there. 9 00:00:28.200 --> 00:00:30.810 So welcome to the podcast guys. Thanks for being here. 10 00:00:31.380 --> 00:00:32.100 <v 2>Thank you.</v> 11 00:00:32.100 --> 00:00:33.120 <v 3>Thank you for having us.</v> 12 00:00:33.420 --> 00:00:36.450 <v 1>Yeah. So for folks that are unfamiliar,</v> 13 00:00:36.690 --> 00:00:41.580 I guess give me a little bit of a overview of what is sowing mustard seeds 14 00:00:41.670 --> 00:00:43.530 and why do you do what you do? 15 00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:44.820 <v 2>Well,</v> 16 00:00:44.820 --> 00:00:49.770 sowing mustard seeds is a ministry that wants to spread the good news about 17 00:00:49.780 --> 00:00:53.400 our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that through life, 18 00:00:53.400 --> 00:00:55.080 that we can have life abundantly. 19 00:00:55.470 --> 00:00:59.490 There's a challenge here today that we all go through at times. 20 00:00:59.490 --> 00:01:00.990 There's tribulations, there's pain, 21 00:01:01.470 --> 00:01:06.210 but he has been sent from his father that we can be 22 00:01:07.020 --> 00:01:11.250 given a life that's more abundant, that we don't have to struggle as much, 23 00:01:12.720 --> 00:01:17.520 but we are looking forward to that day and that time that we can be at 24 00:01:17.520 --> 00:01:20.820 peace. And that is his purpose. When he came to give us peace, 25 00:01:20.820 --> 00:01:23.520 those that love him and want to follow him, 26 00:01:23.790 --> 00:01:28.050 that they can do the things that are good in life today. 27 00:01:29.190 --> 00:01:30.390 That may be a challenge today, 28 00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:35.070 but tomorrow it's a better day because he came to give us an 29 00:01:35.080 --> 00:01:40.080 understanding of the promise of the father, of life, of no pain, no troubles, 30 00:01:40.080 --> 00:01:43.110 no crying, no more of these things that plague us. 31 00:01:43.770 --> 00:01:45.690 At times we have afflicted ourselves, 32 00:01:45.690 --> 00:01:49.740 and this is what we want to share with all those who want to understand the 33 00:01:49.740 --> 00:01:52.860 gospel, that there is a savior that God has sent, 34 00:01:53.310 --> 00:01:55.290 that we can live a life more abundantly. 35 00:01:57.240 --> 00:02:01.740 <v 1>So many things in scripture, but also I think for you two,</v> 36 00:02:02.310 --> 00:02:05.850 when you see a need, you want to find a way to meet it. 37 00:02:06.060 --> 00:02:07.830 You want to find a way to help people, 38 00:02:08.520 --> 00:02:13.140 and then that opens the door to shared Jesus. So tell me, I guess first, 39 00:02:13.470 --> 00:02:18.330 what are some of the most common needs you guys see that you try to help people 40 00:02:18.330 --> 00:02:19.163 with? 41 00:02:19.530 --> 00:02:24.000 <v 3>Well, while we're out there, we try to meet them where they are,</v> 42 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:28.590 like you said. And we have people who are struggling through drug addiction, 43 00:02:28.590 --> 00:02:32.130 mental illness, food insecurities. 44 00:02:32.310 --> 00:02:37.080 So we're able to spread the good news by helping them right 45 00:02:37.080 --> 00:02:39.660 there where they are afflicted their insecurities. 46 00:02:39.660 --> 00:02:44.370 So those are the main things that we are trying to do is just help them 47 00:02:44.580 --> 00:02:47.430 become, well. Some of 'em have never been whole, 48 00:02:47.430 --> 00:02:51.180 but help them to wellness by providing their needs. And by that, 49 00:02:51.190 --> 00:02:52.980 it opens the door to share the gospel. 50 00:02:54.060 --> 00:02:55.200 <v 1>So a wide variety.</v> 51 00:02:55.530 --> 00:02:57.390 <v 3>Yes, a wide variety, yes.</v> 52 00:02:57.810 --> 00:03:00.940 <v 1>Yeah. Really literally just be in the hands and feet of Jesus,</v> 53 00:03:00.940 --> 00:03:04.840 just trying to see those needs and sow some seeds. 54 00:03:05.480 --> 00:03:06.313 <v 3>Amen.</v> 55 00:03:06.920 --> 00:03:08.380 <v 2>And to take partners to do that.</v> 56 00:03:08.500 --> 00:03:09.333 <v 3>Yes.</v> 57 00:03:10.030 --> 00:03:14.890 <v 2>And take partners. If I might just add one scripture, one John three 17,</v> 58 00:03:15.430 --> 00:03:19.930 the Bible says that has this world's goods and see his brother in 59 00:03:19.930 --> 00:03:22.600 need and give it him, 60 00:03:22.600 --> 00:03:26.560 not how do you have the love of God? So that's what we want to do, 61 00:03:26.570 --> 00:03:29.350 provide resources as well as life, 62 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:33.160 eternal as far as our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. 63 00:03:35.230 --> 00:03:38.740 <v 1>And I think the question that I have, and maybe somebody else does too,</v> 64 00:03:39.100 --> 00:03:40.240 is why, 65 00:03:41.500 --> 00:03:46.270 what kind of sparked this for you two as to why this was 66 00:03:46.270 --> 00:03:47.103 important? 67 00:03:48.460 --> 00:03:51.460 <v 2>Well, when we see brothers and sisters struggling,</v> 68 00:03:52.180 --> 00:03:55.030 it's been in my heart for a long time in New York, 69 00:03:55.450 --> 00:03:58.150 I used to travel the subway with my five-year-old son. 70 00:03:58.150 --> 00:04:00.580 And I would see others and I would give out food, 71 00:04:00.610 --> 00:04:05.440 me and him and money at times just to help out as much as we 72 00:04:05.440 --> 00:04:10.330 could from Penn Station, port Authority, anywhere we would go, Queens, Brooklyn. 73 00:04:10.600 --> 00:04:12.610 So it's always been embedded into me. 74 00:04:12.760 --> 00:04:17.560 I have a family that they believe in giving and those that are in need, 75 00:04:17.860 --> 00:04:21.640 that's what we achieve to do. And I believe that's what we're called to do, 76 00:04:21.650 --> 00:04:22.780 each and every one of us. 77 00:04:24.130 --> 00:04:25.630 <v 3>And as for me,</v> 78 00:04:25.930 --> 00:04:29.410 I started wanting to help others because at times 79 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:35.890 we were unsheltered my mom and my sisters and I, and so we struggled. 80 00:04:38.200 --> 00:04:40.330 And when we were homeless, 81 00:04:40.750 --> 00:04:44.770 I always wanted to give back from a young child because I was there, 82 00:04:45.760 --> 00:04:47.410 even with Kaiser Library, 83 00:04:47.410 --> 00:04:52.330 because we also helped children that may be struggl struggling reading 84 00:04:52.330 --> 00:04:53.020 and writing. 85 00:04:53.020 --> 00:04:57.850 I also struggled with that early on because of what I was going 86 00:04:57.860 --> 00:04:59.620 through being unsheltered. 87 00:05:01.060 --> 00:05:02.920 So I just want to give back to that as well. 88 00:05:04.090 --> 00:05:07.870 <v 1>And what you do, it's a very good thing.</v> 89 00:05:08.350 --> 00:05:12.670 It is what God calls us to do, but it's not easy. 90 00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:19.030 And so for someone listening right now that's not in the Charlotte area, 91 00:05:20.200 --> 00:05:22.840 say they're in Knoxville or wherever, 92 00:05:24.460 --> 00:05:26.950 but they have a heart for Jesus, they have a heart for people. 93 00:05:27.160 --> 00:05:31.240 But taking that next step and actually serving, 94 00:05:31.480 --> 00:05:35.140 doing something about it, that's the hard part. 95 00:05:35.350 --> 00:05:39.250 So what kind of encouragement do you guys have to say to someone, Hey, 96 00:05:39.580 --> 00:05:42.880 this is what we've been through. This is how we feel. We love the Lord, 97 00:05:42.880 --> 00:05:47.140 we love Jesus, and we love these people. We take it to the next level. 98 00:05:47.530 --> 00:05:49.120 <v 3>Yes, take a step.</v> 99 00:05:49.930 --> 00:05:54.160 It can start just as small as a seed, as a mustard seed, 100 00:05:54.370 --> 00:05:58.400 and it will grow because when people see that you're there doing things for the 101 00:05:58.400 --> 00:06:03.050 Lord out of the kindness of your heart and God will provide. And so we just say, 102 00:06:03.050 --> 00:06:05.960 take that first small step and it will grow. 103 00:06:06.950 --> 00:06:10.670 <v 1>Yeah. Yeah. Okay. How about somebody in Concord,</v> 104 00:06:10.880 --> 00:06:15.530 in Charlotte that would like to come alongside help you guys? 105 00:06:15.590 --> 00:06:19.460 What does that look like? What kind of things can they do? Tell me about that. 106 00:06:21.050 --> 00:06:23.900 <v 3>Well, some of the things that we do, we're out in the community daily,</v> 107 00:06:23.900 --> 00:06:28.010 whether it's reading to the children, helping them prevent the summer slide, 108 00:06:28.020 --> 00:06:30.890 we're doing that now with our partners. 109 00:06:31.310 --> 00:06:34.730 We have Kai's mobile library where we need volunteers. 110 00:06:34.760 --> 00:06:38.540 They can go out with us to different camps and different things like that in the 111 00:06:38.540 --> 00:06:43.130 underserved community and give back. We also go out daily, 112 00:06:43.160 --> 00:06:47.810 but also on Sundays you can find us in Charlotte 113 00:06:47.820 --> 00:06:51.530 locally at the wall and surrounding areas, giving out blessing bags, 114 00:06:51.530 --> 00:06:53.150 giving out hygiene products. 115 00:06:53.150 --> 00:06:57.800 So we would love for people to come out and volunteer with us and time and 116 00:06:58.040 --> 00:06:59.330 even resources. 117 00:07:00.230 --> 00:07:04.340 <v 1>Okay. What about during the school year? I know school's just now let out,</v> 118 00:07:04.340 --> 00:07:07.250 but next thing we know it's going to be school time. 119 00:07:07.790 --> 00:07:09.290 What do you do during school? 120 00:07:09.590 --> 00:07:12.080 <v 3>We've actually partnered with Communities and School,</v> 121 00:07:12.620 --> 00:07:16.940 which is they actually help all the underserved schools. 122 00:07:16.940 --> 00:07:21.170 And we give school supplies. We give out food as well. 123 00:07:21.560 --> 00:07:25.010 Snacks, healthy snacks and different things like that. Uniforms, 124 00:07:25.280 --> 00:07:29.630 we just give so much of shoes, so whatever they need. 125 00:07:29.690 --> 00:07:34.160 Especially we gave out book bags and different things like that, 126 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:38.330 books as well, so they can always stay encouraged. 127 00:07:38.330 --> 00:07:41.150 And a lot of times children don't want to go to school if they don't have 128 00:07:41.150 --> 00:07:42.800 clothing and things like that. Coats, 129 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:46.610 we had a coat drive and hats and gloves that we gave out as well. 130 00:07:46.610 --> 00:07:50.390 So we always are giving back to the community and to schools. 131 00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:52.940 <v 2>Because we're always out in the community.</v> 132 00:07:52.940 --> 00:07:57.620 So we're always talking to children as well. And they're out of school. 133 00:07:57.630 --> 00:08:01.160 And I talk to parents as long I have books in the car and I make sure that I 134 00:08:01.400 --> 00:08:05.570 have books so I can share with the children and the parents as well and say, 135 00:08:05.570 --> 00:08:08.180 well, here's my car. If you want to volunteer, 136 00:08:08.510 --> 00:08:11.330 go on the website and you can come out and you can join us. 137 00:08:11.720 --> 00:08:14.600 So that's a way that we go out to reach the community, 138 00:08:14.810 --> 00:08:16.310 the children that are out of school as well, 139 00:08:16.340 --> 00:08:19.550 because you see children at the park or you may see them in other areas, 140 00:08:19.550 --> 00:08:21.170 they may be walking with their parents. 141 00:08:21.440 --> 00:08:25.220 So more or less I go out and I have books that I share with the children, 142 00:08:25.220 --> 00:08:28.190 especially because we are looking to the children, 143 00:08:28.550 --> 00:08:33.260 because the children are a future to this world today to a 144 00:08:33.270 --> 00:08:34.700 degree. When I say a future, 145 00:08:35.060 --> 00:08:39.620 learning how to be responsible for what they do, 146 00:08:39.620 --> 00:08:42.560 what they say, and how they live. And that's what we teach. 147 00:08:43.040 --> 00:08:47.870 We try to train up our children where they should go and they may hold on to the 148 00:08:47.870 --> 00:08:48.830 truth. Amen. 149 00:08:49.910 --> 00:08:53.030 <v 1>Speaking of passing out your card, Chuck,</v> 150 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:57.000 pass out your card over the air here. How can somebody get in touch? 151 00:08:57.720 --> 00:09:02.720 <v 3>Www.sowingmustardseedsministry.org.</v> 152 00:09:03.660 --> 00:09:05.460 They will be able to find out more about us. 153 00:09:05.820 --> 00:09:09.840 <v 1>Yes. Okay. That's sowing mustard seeds ministry.org.</v> 154 00:09:10.140 --> 00:09:11.370 <v 2>Dot org. Yes.</v> 155 00:09:11.970 --> 00:09:16.020 <v 1>Okay. Very good. Well, I appreciate you guys joining me.</v> 156 00:09:16.020 --> 00:09:19.560 Thank you so much for what you do, for your heart, for the Lord, 157 00:09:19.560 --> 00:09:23.280 for people around you and seeing those needs and trying to find a way to meet 158 00:09:23.280 --> 00:09:26.940 'em. So that's what God calls us to do, 159 00:09:26.940 --> 00:09:30.390 and so I'm thankful to hear a little taste of what you guys do. So thanks. 160 00:09:30.750 --> 00:09:33.570 <v 3>And thank you so much for what you all do at Line F,</v> 161 00:09:33.570 --> 00:09:37.800 and we truly appreciate you and the opportunity to help spread the good news. 162 00:09:38.430 --> 00:09:40.740 <v 1>Well, you're welcome. We're in this together. We're in this together. Amen.</v> 163 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:44.340 <v 2>We are in this together. Yes, me are called,</v> 164 00:09:44.340 --> 00:09:48.690 but we got to understand that when we call, let's do the will of the Lord. 165 00:09:49.950 --> 00:09:54.390 <v 1>Amen. By the way, thanks to our sponsor, Turner Business Appraisers in Matthews,</v> 166 00:09:54.510 --> 00:09:55.343 North Carolina. 167 00:09:56.580 --> 00:09:58.680 <v 0>We hope you enjoyed today's community spotlight,</v> 168 00:09:58.680 --> 00:10:01.620 covering issues that matter to you in your community. 169 00:10:02.010 --> 00:10:04.500 If you have a suggestion for a future program, 170 00:10:04.500 --> 00:10:08.520 just call 803 3 0 96 48. 171 00:10:08.610 --> 00:10:12.510 That's 803 3 0 9 6 4 8. 172 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:17.070 Be sure to join us next week for another community spotlight with Braxton on the 173 00:10:17.080 --> 00:10:17.880 Light fm.