October 18, 2023 • 19 mins
Having crawled through attics to install sound systems and leading worship, Andrew Carpenter, a minister, deeply understands the gift of helps. This episode is an inspiring testament to the many ways we can serve within the church, highlighting the significance of this often overlooked spiritual gift. We chat with Andrew about his journey from traveling with evangelists to serving churches with their tech and media needs, providing valuable insight into the power of the gift of helps.
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Episode Transcript
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Don Carpenter (00:22):
Another great episode of Equip the Saints.
Glad you joined us today.
We got an exciting guest withus.
I got to give you a heads up onthis one.
It's my grandson.
I am very blessed to have myfamily serving God.
What a joy that is for anyparent or grandparent.
Andrew Carpenter (00:52):
My name is Andrew Carpenter I am doing
music and tech and mediaministry for churches, and it's
definitely kept me busy amcurrently working in Virginia
in the United States.
(01:13):
You're married.
Yes, I'm married.
I have a wife, no kids, and sheis leading worship and helping
another church.
Don Carpenter (01:27):
Andrew, I've watched you grow up.
You were a graduate of ourBible College, and how long have
you since you graduated?
t was 2015, I think.
So eight years now.
Where's the time gone?
(01:47):
I first started traveling as amusician and evangelists would
hire me.
I'd travel with them, and thatgot me like 60 to 80,000 miles a
year Just driving to all thesedifferent churches, and Lord's
really opened up a lot of doorsthere, and that's what led me
down into Virginia.
So one of the gifts that we've seen develop
(02:09):
and you feel is probably quitestrong, is which gift?
Andrew Carpenter (02:14):
Helping churches with the gift of helps.
You are musician and a singerand all of that too.
We want to talk about helps anda lot of times, people look at
helps as not being that big,but actually it's extremely big
(02:38):
when we go into 1 Corinthians,chapter 12, and it says there in
verse 28,.
And God has appointed in thechurch.
L ots of times we're thinking,it might be my idea.
Whatever we are in the church,even the church that God guides
(03:03):
us to, he places us there, andthat's why we always have to
know that we're in the will ofGod and not just our callings
and gifts, but every part orevery aspect of our Christian
life and ministry is Goddirected.
And it says in 1 Corinthians12:28, God has appointed in the
(03:24):
church, first apostles, secondprophets, third teachers, then
miracles, then gifts of healings.
And look at this, helps.
It's up there near the beginning of the list.
Don Carpenter (03:38):
It's right up in there administrations, various
kinds of tongues, so helps isvery much Bible supported, very
much God ordained.
So how did you first startfeeling that you had this gift,
(03:58):
or was there anything?
Andrew Carpenter (04:00):
There were a couple churches that I worked
at, that they didn't really havemany people to step up and to
volunteer doing different things.
For example, fellowship dinner,who's going to pull the tables
out of the closet, throw thetablecloths on them, put the
plates on the table, startserving the food?
Who's going to clean upafterwards?
Mop the floor from all the kidsspilling food everywhere?
(04:21):
Right, a lot of churches mightnot have a lot of people in
order to do those things thelogistics, the set up, the tear
down and I was always taught byyou and my parents that we serve
in multiple areas, multiplecapacities, even though I'm a
musician,If someone needs to turn the
(04:45):
lights off or check the securitysystem or lock the door behind
everybody else or shovel thesnow off of the driveway of the
church.
Don Carpenter (04:53):
If you live in the North country.
If you live in the North, yeah,so obviously, when you first saw
this is interesting because asyou were speaking there just
about cleaning the tables, justthat part alone I saw your
passion start to rise and a lotof young people I'm talking
about, you know, even manypeople, not just young people
(05:18):
they don't want to get involved,they want to go to a conference
, they want to go talk or theywant to go who knows and do what
, and it doesn't matter who's inthe kitchen, who's not, who's
cleaning up after, like a meal,fellowship meal, etc.
When you first started to dothat, did you feel fulfilled?
Andrew Carpenter (05:38):
Absolutely, Felt tired too.
people had a good timefellowshipping with one another,
and now the place is cleanedand ready to go for the next
event.
Don Carpenter (05:58):
When you're talking about helping churches,
not just in the kitchen, butwhat have been some other areas
that God has really used you in.
Andrew Carpenter (06:09):
There was a church that my brother was
serving at in North Carolinaand their sound system got hit
by lightning.
The whole thing is a blew up,lost it all.
So we had ordered all new soundgear but they didn't have
anybody who was willing or, youknow, thin enough to crawl
through a crawlspace in theattic to run cables.
And so my brother and I and oneother guy from the church who
(06:32):
was newly saved at the time hedidn't really have a lot of
biblical knowledge, but he hadthe willingness to help, he
wanted to serve.
He also had the gift of helps,but he didn't know how to use it
.
So as I'm crawling through theattic I almost fell through
twice.
You know just little things likethat, but the whole time we
were talking and yelling frombelow down in the sanctuary to
(06:53):
the attic, talking aboutscripture and talking about our
testimonies and what God hasdone for us or for people that
we knew, just while crawlingthrough the attic, and then, we
would solder cables and hook upthis whole sound system.
We started our work at 6 pm andwe got done at about 4 am.
We worked through the night andit went by so quick because the
(07:15):
whole time we were just talkingabout God and about different
biblical topics, whatever itmight have been, things that he
had questions about, all whileserving with the gift of help.
Don Carpenter (07:26):
So what's happening?
What I see happening just inthis story?
Let's go talk about this story.
It was in a non-threateningenvironment.
He felt totally relaxed.
He was just working with hishands helping to install some
cables in a crawl space in theattic.
And many times, Andrew, I havefound and I'm sure you've
(07:48):
experienced this as well people,when they get relaxed and they
don't feel that they have toperform, they don't have to talk
Christianese.
He would have asked youquestions that he wouldn't had a
(08:11):
chance to ask, maybe theminister or the pastor was very
busy too.
If he just went to a churchmeeting.
Andrew Carpenter (08:18):
Yeah, absolutely.
Don Carpenter (08:19):
So you can see God using you there like
personal one-on-one Right, likeyou do that.
You do that well.
Andrew Carpenter (08:26):
Absolutely, the gift of HELPS opens doors.
The apostle Paul talks about.
not neglecting the gathering ofthe saints, about relationship
with talking with one another,one-on-one or just in a small
group, because iron sharpensiron is the saying.
And so when we're working,doing things with our hands, and
(08:51):
sometimes it might take a while, it could take days, but we're
always going to be talking,we're always going to be
communicating with one another,and I feel like the gift of
helps is a gateway, it's adoorway into discussing certain
topics with each other and justtalking and just fellow shipping
, whereas you might not have thetime to just sit down at a
coffee shop or whatever and talkfor four hours.
Don Carpenter (09:13):
Your 28 years old , and how long you've been doing
this.
Andrew Carpenter (09:19):
So I've been in ministry since I graduated
from Bible college here in NewBrunswick, so it has been eight
years.
I was full time for the firstfour years, and a worship
leader for another four yearsafter that.
Don Carpenter (09:32):
Y ou are still full time, Even though you have
another job.
Do you have any other storiesthat you can share regarding
gift of helps?
Andrew Carpenter (09:50):
Yeah, so lately, a gentleman named Rich
and I .
(he's a sound technician and hedid sound out in California and
then he moved to the East Coast.
He moved to Virginia) and hewanted to serve God with his
gifts, with whatever he could,and helps was one of them.
But he really has a gifting fortechnical sound and audio and
(10:16):
setting up sound systems andstuff.
So he invested and bought anentire sound system himself so
the church that we wereattending could do outdoor
events and all that.
we built teams and put peopletogether who had the gift of
helps and gave opportunity,saying, "hey, we got an outdoor
(10:37):
concert going on on such andsuch date, and then we would set
up for two, three hours andthat's with five or six people,
but during the whole timethere's still a lot of
communication going on, talkingand fellowshiping, giving people
the opportunity to serve andFeel like the church is going
somewhere, is doing somethingfor outreach, not just in the
four walls, but now we'reoutside, now we're setting up
(10:59):
all these other stuff and to seehis growth, rich's grow through
all this process because he hadnever really used his gifts in
that capacity to glorify God,because he was.
He was mixing other bands andstuff at Coliseums and concerts,
doing professional audio, andthen he on the side, he also did
some for Christian bands.
(11:20):
But now he dedicated his giftof helping churches and the
church that he attends withdoing sound and setting it all
up for them so they can justworship, team, come in and play,
and it's dedicated 100% to God.
Don Carpenter (11:35):
Okay, so we've had two or three stories.
Yeah, I've asked you here.
How do you know?
This is like almost like anygift how do you know if you have
the call for the gift of helps?
Andrew Carpenter (11:47):
I feel like inside of you, like, oh, I see
that that they got five lightbulbs burnt down in the church.
I would love to just donatesome bulbs, come in and replace
them for them and they don'thave to worry about it.
Gift of helps is kind of like aRelief for a lot of church
ministries and a lot of pastors,because people have
expectations on church leaderslike they got to do everything
(12:11):
Right.
But it's just like even in thisverse in Corinthians here,
where you know God has appointedin the church, you know,
apostles and prophets andteachers, and then for the gifts
of healing and then for thegift of helps.
Well, these other gifts, youknow, can come alongside our
church staff, our church leaders, like the pastors, children's
(12:31):
minister, etc.
And come in and lighten theload.
Okay, so the gift of helps cancome in and you know, if you
really feel like, oh, I justwant to help them out, I want
them to relieve some of theirstress, don't want our pastor to
burn out, so then you come intothe church and just help out
wherever you can.
That's why it's called gift ofhelps right.
Don Carpenter (12:50):
You know, no matter where you look, whether
it's a family, you know there'sneeds in the family to whatever.
How do you go about determining?
How do you know who you shouldhelp?
Andrew Carpenter (13:05):
Well, I mean, the Bible doesn't really say
that you should help some anddon't help others.
Don Carpenter (13:10):
Right, but you only got so much time, right.
Andrew Carpenter (13:13):
You don't want to burn out yourself, because a
burnt-out Christian is not aneffective Christian.
Right right, how can you spreadthe gospel if you've got no
energy to even do anything?
Your back is pulled sore, soyou kind of got a.
I Don't know.
Figure out the priorities likeoh well, if they're my family,
then they're a priority beforehelping out friends and stuff.
But just do what you can, butdon't.
Don Carpenter (13:36):
So you would prioritize?
Have you ever helped thosestrangers?
Yeah like you know, you'venever met them before.
And God, does God speak to you?
Does he say to you more?
You sense I need to help them,I've got to help them.
Do you ever get that sense?
Andrew Carpenter (13:54):
no, but I do have one story here.
I was working just cleaning upcables and organizing at the
church I was a worship leader atand I heard a knock on the door
.
And this was like 11 o'clock atnight.
I was about to go home.
I heard a knock on the door,which was odd for that time of
night yes and so I go to thefront door of the church and
(14:15):
there's a homeless gentlemanthat came up and he's like I saw
the light on, I saw your truckhere.
He's like I need help.
I don't have a phone, I need tomake a couple phone calls and I
need to get to the closesthomeless shelter, right.
So I was like, let me see whatI could do.
And I walked into the room.
I'm like, okay, lord, guide mehere, because I have no idea
(14:38):
what I'm doing.
Yes, and I don't know if it'slegit, if it's real or if he's
just gonna want to ask for moneyor whatever.
But he only asked where thehomeless shelter was and if I
could drive him there.
Well, long story short, wecalled, they were closed and
they were closed down due to dueto COVID.
That was going on, and so therewas nowhere for him to go.
And I'm like, okay, well, whatcan I do now?
(14:59):
So it wasn't like God wastelling me I do this.
It was just like, okay, do I do?
I have the ability to be ableto help this man, even if it's
just a little bit?
I had 16 dollars cash in mypocket.
I gave it to him, took him toBurger King right down the
street.
They were open you never metthis guy before never met him
before, took him to Burger King,got him a burger five minutes
(15:22):
before they closed, just in time.
Went back to the church.
I went inside the church andfound a moving blanket.
I'm like, look, it's cold, it'sraining, but there's some trees
in the backyard of the church,so I'm gonna set you up, right,
this is a gift of help, right?
And so I went and got him amoving blanket, got like five or
six cardboard boxes, cut themup, built them a shelter out in
(15:45):
the rain.
We carried it out to the woodsand he did.
He slept in that and nextmorning he came up to the church
and he talked with the pastor,gave his, gave his life to the
Lord.
That morning they took him outto McDonald's to get breakfast
and gave him a hot shower andeverything to come to the truck
stop and all that.
And then another homelessshelter in another city, next
(16:07):
door, about 30 minutes away.
The pastor and a couple otherpeople drove them to there and
dropped them off.
Yeah, none of that would havehappened if I didn't take that
step of faith.
Just saying you know I'll helphim with my ability.
I got cardboard boxes andmoving blanket and $16 cash this
.
Don Carpenter (16:25):
This is a case here where you're led by the
spirit absolutely like you knowit's it's it's not everybody has
compassion.
I feel well they should if theydon't, but every believer does.
But like, like we're talkingabout here, you only do so much
right and whatever, whateverability and resources we have,
and so God leads us by this, byhis spirit.
(16:47):
You know, andrew, I got to goback to where the scripture is
that.
We read it here in firstCorinthians 12, 28 God has
appointed in the church right,and when I hear that, it just
seems to me like, do we have anoption?
We don't have an option like.
(17:07):
God's appointed this to happenright, and helps is what he's
placed there, and people who,who are help, do helps, should
never feel that they were anyless than the apostle or the
administration, whoever thosepeople are.
The ministry of helps is vitalfor the welfare of the church
(17:30):
and people like you I mean allmy Christians, I'm sure help in
some way with some things, butthere are those that really feel
that this is their calling,absolutely, and I'm gonna get
you today to just pray, sure,simple.
Whatever you, however, you wantto do it.
(17:50):
For those who may be, does Godthey're asking this question?
Does God want me to do theministry of helps?
Andrew Carpenter (17:59):
let's just pray here, absolutely well, lord
, thank you for your word today,and we thank you that we can
learn more about you and thegifts that you give each and
every one of us.
So I just ask that you revealto your people today, if you
have given them particular giftsand in this case, the gift of
helps.
(18:19):
Lord, reveal it to them, showthem in their spirit, man,
quicken them to action.
And Lord, open up the doorswhere they can help and they can
serve and they can worship youwith their gift of helps.
Don Carpenter (18:33):
So we thank you for who you are today and who
you will always be in your name,amen, amen and now you've
prayed like this, I really feelthat God is speaking to people
right now, so it's going to bevery effective.
Thank you for joining us today.
I really feel that this was atimely subject that we brought
(18:59):
up, and if you'd like to havemore ministry, you can contact
me.
Just go to my website atstonkarpenterca and you will
find some encouragement and helpthere, and also, if you want to
send me an email or whatever,we'd love to hear from you, and
God bless you until the nexttime.
Another great episode of Equip the Saints.
Glad you joined us today.
We got an exciting guest withus.
I got to give you a heads up onthis one.
It's my grandson.
I am very blessed to have myfamily serving God.
What a joy that is for anyparent or grandparent.
Andrew Carpenter (00:52):
My name is Andrew Carpenter I am doing
music and tech and mediaministry for churches, and it's
definitely kept me busy amcurrently working in Virginia
in the United States.
(01:13):
You're married.
Yes, I'm married.
I have a wife, no kids, and sheis leading worship and helping
another church.
Don Carpenter (01:27):
Andrew, I've watched you grow up.
You were a graduate of ourBible College, and how long have
you since you graduated?
t was 2015, I think.
So eight years now.
Where's the time gone?
(01:47):
I first started traveling as amusician and evangelists would
hire me.
I'd travel with them, and thatgot me like 60 to 80,000 miles a
year Just driving to all thesedifferent churches, and Lord's
really opened up a lot of doorsthere, and that's what led me
down into Virginia.
So one of the gifts that we've seen develop
(02:09):
and you feel is probably quitestrong, is which gift?
Andrew Carpenter (02:14):
Helping churches with the gift of helps.
You are musician and a singerand all of that too.
We want to talk about helps anda lot of times, people look at
helps as not being that big,but actually it's extremely big
(02:38):
when we go into 1 Corinthians,chapter 12, and it says there in
verse 28,.
And God has appointed in thechurch.
L ots of times we're thinking,it might be my idea.
Whatever we are in the church,even the church that God guides
(03:03):
us to, he places us there, andthat's why we always have to
know that we're in the will ofGod and not just our callings
and gifts, but every part orevery aspect of our Christian
life and ministry is Goddirected.
And it says in 1 Corinthians12:28, God has appointed in the
(03:24):
church, first apostles, secondprophets, third teachers, then
miracles, then gifts of healings.
And look at this, helps.
It's up there near the beginning of the list.
Don Carpenter (03:38):
It's right up in there administrations, various
kinds of tongues, so helps isvery much Bible supported, very
much God ordained.
So how did you first startfeeling that you had this gift,
(03:58):
or was there anything?
Andrew Carpenter (04:00):
There were a couple churches that I worked
at, that they didn't really havemany people to step up and to
volunteer doing different things.
For example, fellowship dinner,who's going to pull the tables
out of the closet, throw thetablecloths on them, put the
plates on the table, startserving the food?
Who's going to clean upafterwards?
Mop the floor from all the kidsspilling food everywhere?
(04:21):
Right, a lot of churches mightnot have a lot of people in
order to do those things thelogistics, the set up, the tear
down and I was always taught byyou and my parents that we serve
in multiple areas, multiplecapacities, even though I'm a
musician,If someone needs to turn the
(04:45):
lights off or check the securitysystem or lock the door behind
everybody else or shovel thesnow off of the driveway of the
church.
Don Carpenter (04:53):
If you live in the North country.
If you live in the North, yeah,so obviously, when you first saw
this is interesting because asyou were speaking there just
about cleaning the tables, justthat part alone I saw your
passion start to rise and a lotof young people I'm talking
about, you know, even manypeople, not just young people
(05:18):
they don't want to get involved,they want to go to a conference
, they want to go talk or theywant to go who knows and do what
, and it doesn't matter who's inthe kitchen, who's not, who's
cleaning up after, like a meal,fellowship meal, etc.
When you first started to dothat, did you feel fulfilled?
Andrew Carpenter (05:38):
Absolutely, Felt tired too.
people had a good timefellowshipping with one another,
and now the place is cleanedand ready to go for the next
event.
Don Carpenter (05:58):
When you're talking about helping churches,
not just in the kitchen, butwhat have been some other areas
that God has really used you in.
Andrew Carpenter (06:09):
There was a church that my brother was
serving at in North Carolinaand their sound system got hit
by lightning.
The whole thing is a blew up,lost it all.
So we had ordered all new soundgear but they didn't have
anybody who was willing or, youknow, thin enough to crawl
through a crawlspace in theattic to run cables.
And so my brother and I and oneother guy from the church who
(06:32):
was newly saved at the time hedidn't really have a lot of
biblical knowledge, but he hadthe willingness to help, he
wanted to serve.
He also had the gift of helps,but he didn't know how to use it
.
So as I'm crawling through theattic I almost fell through
twice.
You know just little things likethat, but the whole time we
were talking and yelling frombelow down in the sanctuary to
(06:53):
the attic, talking aboutscripture and talking about our
testimonies and what God hasdone for us or for people that
we knew, just while crawlingthrough the attic, and then, we
would solder cables and hook upthis whole sound system.
We started our work at 6 pm andwe got done at about 4 am.
We worked through the night andit went by so quick because the
(07:15):
whole time we were just talkingabout God and about different
biblical topics, whatever itmight have been, things that he
had questions about, all whileserving with the gift of help.
Don Carpenter (07:26):
So what's happening?
What I see happening just inthis story?
Let's go talk about this story.
It was in a non-threateningenvironment.
He felt totally relaxed.
He was just working with hishands helping to install some
cables in a crawl space in theattic.
And many times, Andrew, I havefound and I'm sure you've
(07:48):
experienced this as well people,when they get relaxed and they
don't feel that they have toperform, they don't have to talk
Christianese.
He would have asked youquestions that he wouldn't had a
(08:11):
chance to ask, maybe theminister or the pastor was very
busy too.
If he just went to a churchmeeting.
Andrew Carpenter (08:18):
Yeah, absolutely.
Don Carpenter (08:19):
So you can see God using you there like
personal one-on-one Right, likeyou do that.
You do that well.
Andrew Carpenter (08:26):
Absolutely, the gift of HELPS opens doors.
The apostle Paul talks about.
not neglecting the gathering ofthe saints, about relationship
with talking with one another,one-on-one or just in a small
group, because iron sharpensiron is the saying.
And so when we're working,doing things with our hands, and
(08:51):
sometimes it might take a while, it could take days, but we're
always going to be talking,we're always going to be
communicating with one another,and I feel like the gift of
helps is a gateway, it's adoorway into discussing certain
topics with each other and justtalking and just fellow shipping
, whereas you might not have thetime to just sit down at a
coffee shop or whatever and talkfor four hours.
Don Carpenter (09:13):
Your 28 years old , and how long you've been doing
this.
Andrew Carpenter (09:19):
So I've been in ministry since I graduated
from Bible college here in NewBrunswick, so it has been eight
years.
I was full time for the firstfour years, and a worship
leader for another four yearsafter that.
Don Carpenter (09:32):
Y ou are still full time, Even though you have
another job.
Do you have any other storiesthat you can share regarding
gift of helps?
Andrew Carpenter (09:50):
Yeah, so lately, a gentleman named Rich
and I .
(he's a sound technician and hedid sound out in California and
then he moved to the East Coast.
He moved to Virginia) and hewanted to serve God with his
gifts, with whatever he could,and helps was one of them.
But he really has a gifting fortechnical sound and audio and
(10:16):
setting up sound systems andstuff.
So he invested and bought anentire sound system himself so
the church that we wereattending could do outdoor
events and all that.
we built teams and put peopletogether who had the gift of
helps and gave opportunity,saying, "hey, we got an outdoor
(10:37):
concert going on on such andsuch date, and then we would set
up for two, three hours andthat's with five or six people,
but during the whole timethere's still a lot of
communication going on, talkingand fellowshiping, giving people
the opportunity to serve andFeel like the church is going
somewhere, is doing somethingfor outreach, not just in the
four walls, but now we'reoutside, now we're setting up
(10:59):
all these other stuff and to seehis growth, rich's grow through
all this process because he hadnever really used his gifts in
that capacity to glorify God,because he was.
He was mixing other bands andstuff at Coliseums and concerts,
doing professional audio, andthen he on the side, he also did
some for Christian bands.
(11:20):
But now he dedicated his giftof helping churches and the
church that he attends withdoing sound and setting it all
up for them so they can justworship, team, come in and play,
and it's dedicated 100% to God.
Don Carpenter (11:35):
Okay, so we've had two or three stories.
Yeah, I've asked you here.
How do you know?
This is like almost like anygift how do you know if you have
the call for the gift of helps?
Andrew Carpenter (11:47):
I feel like inside of you, like, oh, I see
that that they got five lightbulbs burnt down in the church.
I would love to just donatesome bulbs, come in and replace
them for them and they don'thave to worry about it.
Gift of helps is kind of like aRelief for a lot of church
ministries and a lot of pastors,because people have
expectations on church leaderslike they got to do everything
(12:11):
Right.
But it's just like even in thisverse in Corinthians here,
where you know God has appointedin the church, you know,
apostles and prophets andteachers, and then for the gifts
of healing and then for thegift of helps.
Well, these other gifts, youknow, can come alongside our
church staff, our church leaders, like the pastors, children's
(12:31):
minister, etc.
And come in and lighten theload.
Okay, so the gift of helps cancome in and you know, if you
really feel like, oh, I justwant to help them out, I want
them to relieve some of theirstress, don't want our pastor to
burn out, so then you come intothe church and just help out
wherever you can.
That's why it's called gift ofhelps right.
Don Carpenter (12:50):
You know, no matter where you look, whether
it's a family, you know there'sneeds in the family to whatever.
How do you go about determining?
How do you know who you shouldhelp?
Andrew Carpenter (13:05):
Well, I mean, the Bible doesn't really say
that you should help some anddon't help others.
Don Carpenter (13:10):
Right, but you only got so much time, right.
Andrew Carpenter (13:13):
You don't want to burn out yourself, because a
burnt-out Christian is not aneffective Christian.
Right right, how can you spreadthe gospel if you've got no
energy to even do anything?
Your back is pulled sore, soyou kind of got a.
I Don't know.
Figure out the priorities likeoh well, if they're my family,
then they're a priority beforehelping out friends and stuff.
But just do what you can, butdon't.
Don Carpenter (13:36):
So you would prioritize?
Have you ever helped thosestrangers?
Yeah like you know, you'venever met them before.
And God, does God speak to you?
Does he say to you more?
You sense I need to help them,I've got to help them.
Do you ever get that sense?
Andrew Carpenter (13:54):
no, but I do have one story here.
I was working just cleaning upcables and organizing at the
church I was a worship leader atand I heard a knock on the door
.
And this was like 11 o'clock atnight.
I was about to go home.
I heard a knock on the door,which was odd for that time of
night yes and so I go to thefront door of the church and
(14:15):
there's a homeless gentlemanthat came up and he's like I saw
the light on, I saw your truckhere.
He's like I need help.
I don't have a phone, I need tomake a couple phone calls and I
need to get to the closesthomeless shelter, right.
So I was like, let me see whatI could do.
And I walked into the room.
I'm like, okay, lord, guide mehere, because I have no idea
(14:38):
what I'm doing.
Yes, and I don't know if it'slegit, if it's real or if he's
just gonna want to ask for moneyor whatever.
But he only asked where thehomeless shelter was and if I
could drive him there.
Well, long story short, wecalled, they were closed and
they were closed down due to dueto COVID.
That was going on, and so therewas nowhere for him to go.
And I'm like, okay, well, whatcan I do now?
(14:59):
So it wasn't like God wastelling me I do this.
It was just like, okay, do I do?
I have the ability to be ableto help this man, even if it's
just a little bit?
I had 16 dollars cash in mypocket.
I gave it to him, took him toBurger King right down the
street.
They were open you never metthis guy before never met him
before, took him to Burger King,got him a burger five minutes
(15:22):
before they closed, just in time.
Went back to the church.
I went inside the church andfound a moving blanket.
I'm like, look, it's cold, it'sraining, but there's some trees
in the backyard of the church,so I'm gonna set you up, right,
this is a gift of help, right?
And so I went and got him amoving blanket, got like five or
six cardboard boxes, cut themup, built them a shelter out in
(15:45):
the rain.
We carried it out to the woodsand he did.
He slept in that and nextmorning he came up to the church
and he talked with the pastor,gave his, gave his life to the
Lord.
That morning they took him outto McDonald's to get breakfast
and gave him a hot shower andeverything to come to the truck
stop and all that.
And then another homelessshelter in another city, next
(16:07):
door, about 30 minutes away.
The pastor and a couple otherpeople drove them to there and
dropped them off.
Yeah, none of that would havehappened if I didn't take that
step of faith.
Just saying you know I'll helphim with my ability.
I got cardboard boxes andmoving blanket and $16 cash this
.
Don Carpenter (16:25):
This is a case here where you're led by the
spirit absolutely like you knowit's it's it's not everybody has
compassion.
I feel well they should if theydon't, but every believer does.
But like, like we're talkingabout here, you only do so much
right and whatever, whateverability and resources we have,
and so God leads us by this, byhis spirit.
(16:47):
You know, andrew, I got to goback to where the scripture is
that.
We read it here in firstCorinthians 12, 28 God has
appointed in the church right,and when I hear that, it just
seems to me like, do we have anoption?
We don't have an option like.
(17:07):
God's appointed this to happenright, and helps is what he's
placed there, and people who,who are help, do helps, should
never feel that they were anyless than the apostle or the
administration, whoever thosepeople are.
The ministry of helps is vitalfor the welfare of the church
(17:30):
and people like you I mean allmy Christians, I'm sure help in
some way with some things, butthere are those that really feel
that this is their calling,absolutely, and I'm gonna get
you today to just pray, sure,simple.
Whatever you, however, you wantto do it.
(17:50):
For those who may be, does Godthey're asking this question?
Does God want me to do theministry of helps?
Andrew Carpenter (17:59):
let's just pray here, absolutely well, lord
, thank you for your word today,and we thank you that we can
learn more about you and thegifts that you give each and
every one of us.
So I just ask that you revealto your people today, if you
have given them particular giftsand in this case, the gift of
helps.
(18:19):
Lord, reveal it to them, showthem in their spirit, man,
quicken them to action.
And Lord, open up the doorswhere they can help and they can
serve and they can worship youwith their gift of helps.
Don Carpenter (18:33):
So we thank you for who you are today and who
you will always be in your name,amen, amen and now you've
prayed like this, I really feelthat God is speaking to people
right now, so it's going to bevery effective.
Thank you for joining us today.
I really feel that this was atimely subject that we brought
(18:59):
up, and if you'd like to havemore ministry, you can contact
me.
Just go to my website atstonkarpenterca and you will
find some encouragement and helpthere, and also, if you want to
send me an email or whatever,we'd love to hear from you, and
God bless you until the nexttime.
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