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Anchor House: Week 6 Buried Treasure

When I started at Anchor House I committed to write at least one blog per week. Writing is something I enjoy and a way I get to interact with God. I can recall wanting to write about Anchor House in the days before I started, but my knowledge was limited.. 

To be honest I felt like I knew three things before I joined Anchor House. First,  Anchor House was a mission at Port Manatee (the Seaport, not the jail) Second, I knew it was a mission that my church, Westside Christian Church, supported with our Show Love funds.  Third, I knew God was calling me to serve Him there. However, what happened at Anchor House day to day was something of a mystery to me.  

After being here for a few weeks I have learned quite a bit. I know where to look to find out when ships are coming in or departing.  I have learned that I am just tall enough to hit my head where most seafarers don’t. I have learned that flexibility is the key to serving at a seaport. One of the greatest things I have learned is that Anchor House is a buried treasure. Many in our community don’t realize how much they are impacted on a daily basis by Seaport Manatee.  They do not know that there is a mission with a global impact right here at the seaport. I believe one of the reasons I am here is to help unearth this treasure and share what God is doing here at SeaPort Manatee and across the world through Anchor House.  

After Jesus rose from the dead, he met with the disciples.  The first thing he told them was, "All authority on heaven and earth has been given to me."  Essentially Jesus is saying, "Listen, I just died and came back to life. I'm in charge here and everywhere.”.  Then he tells them, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). Many of us know this as the "Great Commission.". Jesus telling us that we have a job to do.  We are to share the good news and create more of His followers. So, we now know what we are to do, but How?

Jesus tells us that the greatest commandments are to love God and love our neighbors (Luke 10:27). Love is the key to it all. John 13:34 clarifies as Jesus says that we are to love like He loves us.”  Jesus loves through relationships, complete restoration, immense grace, serving others, and difficult truth. That is the way we are to love.  That is the way we are to be known as followers of Jesus, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35). 

Back to that buried treasure.  How do we uncover it? We do so by loving.  We love God and let him lead the mission and ministry.  We love our neighbors meeting them right where they are. We love them regardless of their past. We love them as His children, regardless if they have accepted Jesus as their Heavenly Father.  

Want to know what really happens at Anchor House? We are making disciples, one loving interaction after another. We are busy uncovering the true buried treasure, Jesus. 

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Matt



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