"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers…. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." --Acts 2:42,46-47
Recorded by Luke in the book of Acts is the remarkable work of God, growing his church from a small group of men and women to thousands in the Middle East and Southern Europe. God's People would ultimately become a global phenomenon. Today, as we grow closer to “every tribe and language and people and nation,” the Church has a significant presence in much of the world. Today’s Church continues to distinguish itself in the same ways as the first church – through commitment to the Bible and community, sharing the Lord’s Supper and praying for each other and our communities. The Church plays an important role in every society in which it resides.
TEAM is one evidence of the Church’s role in the Greater Tomball community. As an extension of the ministry of our sponsor churches, we provide assistance to those who find themselves in financial crisis. We seek to live out Christ’s commands to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” This mandate for TEAM is my constant consideration, along with my motivation to be better every day. How can TEAM fulfill its mission in even more substantive ways than it is today? That thought is ever-present on my mind.
An important next step for TEAM is to move into a mentor role with select clients. Many, but not all, of TEAM clients find themselves in difficult circumstances and our assistance provides a short-term safety net. However, other clients find themselves in an endless cycle of crisis. For those willing to take counsel, mentorship could help these clients break the cycle. This COVID challenge put a temporary hold on our efforts to move forward in developing a mentor program, but by God’s help we will re-engage to get this off the ground. Please pray with me that TEAM is able to grow into its next level of service to the Greater Tomball community.
J. Barry Hart, Jr.
Executive Director
Tomball Emergency Assistance Ministries