Welcome to July!
“ ‘Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I Myself will help you,’ declares the Lord, your Redeemer.” Isaiah 41:14
As I was thinking about the article for July, I went back to our first article in January, and I’d like to share a quote from it. “Many of you haven’t ever heard of us because it hasn’t been our goal to build an organization; let’s face it, there are already three very successful churches on Fishers. So, we’ve spent the last ten plus years figuring out where we fit in without being redundant…”
“Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.” 1 Thessalonians 2:9 “Paul went to visit them, and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.” Acts 18:3
Ever since I became a pastor back in 1991, I’ve been influenced by these two scriptures and have been led to be a bi-vocational pastor. For the majority of my life, I’ve been in excavation, carpentry, masonry, and landscaping. Even though I am currently pastoring COTR, I am also a property manager, and this leads me to our topic for this month. As a property manager, I’m always on the lookout on how to have a nice lawn, all the while trying to be as environmentally conscious as possible. With the rodent control strategies that I highlighted last month in mind, I’m also trying to find ways to deal with one of our lawn’s enemies: grubs! The typical go to solution is the insecticide Dylox. “Dylox (active ingredient: trichlorfon,) is a potent organophosphate insecticide. It is moderately to highly toxic to humans, pets, birds, and aquatic life.” US Environmental Protection Agency While researching potential solutions for grub infestation I came across Beneficial Nematodes. “Beneficial Nematodes are worm-like, naturally occurring microscopic organisms found throughout the world. There are nematode varieties that live in land, water, and the bodies of living things. In fact, nematodes are so ubiquitous that (according to a 2019 study) scientists have determined that there are 57 billion nematodes for each human on earth. The type of nematode that we sell here at ARBICO are the type that prey on insects, known as Entomopathogenic Nematodes (EPNs). Specifically, soil-dwelling EPNs. They control over 200 pests, including grubs, fungus gnats and fleas. Soil nematodes naturally create healthy soil and are essential to a thriving ecosystem. They aid in maintaining a healthy soil structure by aerating it, play a huge role in decomposition, and are active participants in cycling carbon and nutrients. The arctic nematode scientists I mentioned before determined that a large and healthy nematode population is directly related to soil carbon.” Arbico Organics
Getting back to my opening paragraph; when COTR began, I felt as though God asked us, “COTR,” if we’d be willing to become “worms” for Him. You see, worms are busy underground and are never seen. Without the “worm,” the soil wouldn’t be a hospitable place for things to grow. It was as if He was saying that we would be doing things that would not be seen by most, and we would never get credit, but we would be essential in His plan to bring an exceedingly beautiful, bountiful, cheerful, kind, and precious world to Fishers Island. Spiritually speaking, if COTR is willing to serve Fishers Island behind the scenes, without expecting credit, it would be helpful in coming alongside of the three other existing churches in bringing our community into a fruitful existence.
Having said all of that, I think it’s important now that the community of which COTR has been serving, has some insights (without breaking confidentialities,) about us, in order that we can better connect with you and share more of what we have to offer. I’ve already been introducing you to our Wildlife Rescue Branch, but there are other things that we’re excited to reveal throughout this year.
We welcome you to come check us out on Sunday mornings at 11 for fellowship, bible study, theological discussion, and prayer. It’s a very informal, comfortable, relaxed environment where you can just come sit, or share your insights.
As you drive by the building in which we are meeting, (2043 Crescent ave…right next to the community garden,) you’ll notice that we are making some changes. Stay Tuned!
We hope you enjoy your time on Fishers Island in July, and we hope you’ll come say hello!
All the best!
