I’m delighted to share our first guest post from Rebecca Hamilton, Key Ministry’s Executive Director and the glue that holds our team together. In addition to her role with our team, Rebecca serves as a volunteer member of the leadership team of the Breathe Respite Ministry at her home church. Here’s a story from Rebecca of a contact that promises to recapture territory for God’s Kingdom in Northwest Pennsylvania.

Once I crossed the border into western Pennsylvania, the terrain turned almost immediately more hilly, the roads more winding.  The town center of this small, charming town had its post office, restaurant, hardware store, and watering hole, all nestled around a few traffic lights. As I continued through town and reached the church that was my ultimate destination, I had still only travelled a little over an hour from Key Ministry’s offices in the eastern suburbs of Cleveland.

The volunteers and staff members with whom I would meet once I arrived proved to be an incredibly ambitious bunch. They were interested in providing respite care at their church for kids with special needs as an act of worship and outreach in their rural community. They found us on the internet and called to get information about how to begin the process. This is one of my favorite parts of my job.  I’ve been able to volunteer at my own church to help with its respite outreach, and  I see first-hand what an incredible blessing it is to the families we serve.  I see how God uses us to reach out to those in need, so I love when I’m able to share some of the things we’ve learned with others.

In our first meeting, I was asked to provide a brief overview of respite care….the what, why, and how of making it happen.  In a meeting of this sort, I would typically expect to meet a group of perhaps 6-10 passionate Christians who want to make this dream a reality for their church. What I found instead was over 50 people who were ready and willing to serve once they learned how to proceed. This was my first inkling that this church meant business! They were kicking butt and taking names for the Kingdom, and I was delighted to be along for the ride!

We covered all the specifics that night; I fielded a few phone calls and e-mails with last-minute questions before these proverbial little birds were ready to fly. Their first respite night is coming up this Friday, and once a month thereafter.  I can’t wait to hear all the stories that will come from their sincere desire to serve their community for Christ. I’m privileged to have been a small part of what I know will shine a bright, pure light toward Christ. Please join us in praying for their efforts, and for the efforts of every church that wants to serve in this way.  His love is amazing!