This coming weekend we are going to be turning the light on bright as we invite the entire Community of Cape May County to join us for several events at The Lighthouse Church.
Mitch McVicker, who traveled side-by-side with legendary Christian musician Rich Mullins, will be sharing his songs and amazing story doing three concerts Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. and Oct. 25 at 9 and 10:45 a.m.
Mitch was actually with Rich in the Jeep on the night that Mullins was tragically killed in a car accident as they were traveling to do a ministry benefit concert in Kansas.
Needless to say, that experience alone is a tale that your heart and soul needs to hear. Mitch survived that night and after some pretty rough and tough miles of rehab, healing came and after several years, he is back on the road sharing the grace and mercy and providence of an amazing God.
While other individuals may have become bitter and turned their back on the God who some might wrongly conclude dropped the ball that night Rich died, Mitch still seeks to know and share and be guided by the unconditional love of God.
Being led by love is a lot more scary, ambiguous, and uncontrollable than just sticking to safe and certain status quo steps. But that isn’t the adventure that the Lord beckons us to join him upon. God invites us to, “Follow Me,” dropping the stuff that we ordinarily cling to so we can pick up the new marching orders dispatched to us by the very God who made us.
When Mitch began doing concerts with, writing songs with, and being roommates with the late, great Rich Mullins, Mitch called Rich one of the best singer-songwriters ever. He considered himself divinely fortunate to spend a few years trying to glean as much from him as he could.
Rich believed in him. He shared his knowledge, expertise, and insights with him and pushed him to become who Mitch is today. Mitch recalls: “Yes, I was in the car wreck that killed Rich Mullins. The wreck put me in the hospital for a long time as I was in a coma with a severe closed head injury. I had broken bones and collapsed lungs. I was afflicted with double vision and the loss of my voice. It took years to recover, but I finally did. Though I miss my friend Rich greatly, thankfully, I have been able to continue doing music.”
And it is that continuation that all of you may enjoy this weekend. All the concerts are free of charge, but an offering will be taken to help with the costs of bringing Mitch here.
If you been chewing on the questions of, “Why God,” and wrestling with the circumstances of your pilgrimage, then you want to be here. I hope and pray you come.
Also this coming Sunday night, we are offering our annual “Trunk and Treat Event” from 4-6 p.m. The front of the church will be packed with rows of cars ready to share lots of candy and smiles with your kids and families.
It is like a terrific tailgate of sweets and treats. We will also have a hay ride, bouncy toys, games to play, refreshments to enjoy and lots and lots of candy.
Four out of five dentists recommend our Trunk and Treat as a big boom to their business. All of this is free as a way we can share God’s love with you all with absolutely no strings attached. Bring the whole neighborhood as this has become quite the place to be. The kids can dress up and do so in the safest of environments. And if you decide to attend, please come and say “Hi.”
I love hanging out with the people who live, move and breathe in Cape May County.
Let me close with some words of hope and encouragement.
There are too many things that can happen in life that will try to do us in and lay us flat on our faces. But the Bible teaches us that God’s love will rise and make itself known and felt in the midst of our rough stuff and struggles.
This side of Heaven, I don’t believe that our troubles will ever be taken away, but the Lord promises us that he will use them to construct us into who he would have us become. And this is why we believers cannot hide our lights under a bushel.
God wants to use us as his runway lights to get people to make a safe landing right into his arms. This means the good; the bad, the smooth, the rough, the light, the dark, the easy, and the hard will all be used by the Lord.
Yes, God will twist us and turn us and mold us and shape us but through every situation, love will rise if we allow our hearts access to it. Hope to see you all this weekend. Check out our website at tlccma.org.