Finally Friday

It's finally Friday, I am so ready for the weekend. I have had a great week, but an average weekend trumps the best of weeks any time.
Yesterday we had our big Prevention luncheon at the St. Johns COunty Squad Room, we had Julie Ann Rivers in attendance and she did a presentation on what exactly prevention work through the Betty Griffin House is. I'm so surprised at how many intelligent, well aversed people in attendance had no idea what exactly prevention is. The Betty Griffin House has existed for over 30 years for helping, mending and fixing which is the definition of intervention. But, now since I came on board they have started prevention work. The word prevent means to stop before it happens.
Joyce, my boss at BGH called me while I was working at the Homeless Coalition offering me a job. I was interested, but remotely. THat is until I found out what the job was. My job is as a Community Educator, I go into the schools and talk to all different age groups about a different aspects of violence that eventually lead to domestic violence.
Prevention is what I as a pastor actually strive for. I want to prevent people from going to Hell, from making mistakes and from missing out on life's greatest treasure which is a relationship with JEsus CHrist. Unfortunately, most of my time as a pastor is spent in intervention and that helps me to understand the work at the BGH.
I am excited that I took the position, I hope while I am here to raise awareness of violence and domestic violence helping young men and women to grow up and respect first themselves and secondly others. To help them understand that violence is not a normal part of life. I'm striving to change society as a whole, but it involves changing the community one group at a time. Sounds a lot like my roll as a pastor I know, and that is why it is such a great fit at this point in my life.
So pray for me as a pastor, and as a community educator that I can be the lead change-agent in society as a whole by changing the lives I come in contact with daily.
It all leads me back to my slogan, "Every Touch Leaves and Impression."
Have a great weekend and I'll tell you about mine on Monday!