Slideshow image

What does love actually look like on a Thursday evening at HOTL Jackson?

Spoiler alert: It looks like pure, unfiltered chaos wrapped in

wet towels, laughing kids, and an alarming amount of water.

Recently at Heart O' the Lakes, we survived—I mean,

hosted—our community Splash Bash at the Jackson Campus.

We had roughly 60 kids and families come to the event for free food, fun stations, and the kind of fellowship that makes you forget you are completely soaked.

But events like this aren’t just about having a ridiculously good time. They are about planting seeds. When we open our doors, we are basically telling our neighbors: You are seen. You are cared for. And you matter immensely to God.

Faith That Actually Works: Embracing Your Inner "Spiritual Mutt"

In the church world, it is super easy to get stuck in our own denominational cinematic universes. But let’s be real for a second: true spiritual vigor comes from being a spiritual mutt.

Whether we are borrowing the passionate energy of the Pentecostals, the unapologetic, rock-solid faith of the Baptists, the practical holiness of the Wesleyans, or the deep reverence of liturgical traditions, God calls us to pull together the absolute best parts of our shared heritage.

Traditions are great. They give us roots. But if they don’t actually produce the character of Jesus in us, they are about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. When we were handing out hot dogs at Splash Bash, we weren’t representing some narrow religious label—we were just trying to live out the active, ridiculous love of Christ.

The Ultimate Toolkit: Equipped by the Word

So, how do we actually know how to love our community without making it weird? We look to the manual.

As 2 Timothy 3:16–17 so beautifully points out, all Scripture is breathed out by God to teach, correct, train, and equip us for every good work.

The Bible isn't just an ancient textbook to debate on the internet. It equips our actual human hands to serve. When God's Word shapes our hearts, reaching out to our community is just the natural overflow of being fully equipped by Him.

Kindness Is a Choice (Not a Happy Accident)

Look at King David in 2 Samuel 9. Culturally speaking, David had every reason to go full Game of Thrones on the remaining family of his rival, Saul. Instead, he asks a mind-blowing question: “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?”

David actively hunts down Mephibosheth—a guy with zero political clout and honestly, a name that is incredibly hard to spell—and gives him a permanent VIP seat at the king’s table. David chose grace over being a petty tyrant. That’s the gig, folks. That is exactly what the Church is called to do.

The Domino Effect

It is incredibly easy to look at the world on fire and think, “I’m just one remarkably average person. What can I do?” You don’t have to save the entire universe. Leave that to the guys in spandex. You just need to tip the first domino.

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” — 1 Corinthians 3:6

Whether you ran a game station, slung food in the kitchen, or just smiled at a parent who looked like they were running on three minutes of sleep, you started a ripple.

The Next Big Ripple: Join the Journey to Bethlehem Crew!

The seeds we are planting don’t hibernate. We are already gearing up for our massive annual community outreach, Journey to Bethlehem. It is immersive, it is beautiful, and it requires a small army of slightly unhinged, deeply loving volunteers. We need a Production Crew, and we need to start planning it NOW.

  • Set Construction & Staging: Help us build ancient Bethlehem. Hammering things is therapeutic.

  • Costumes & Wardrobe: Dress people up in authentic first-century attire.

  • Tech & Atmosphere: Push buttons, control the lighting, and make things look cinematic.

  • Other

You don’t need a degree in theatrical arts. You just need a pulse and a willing heart. Click here to sign up for a production crew role . Go out of your way for someone this week, pray over the seeds we are planting, and let's keep changing the Irish Hills and the Jackson area one ridiculously kind act at a time.