Today we drove to Mobile, AL to pick up some supplies for the ministry here. Why Mobile? It is because that is where Ed Phillips of Seedline International lives. Mr. Phillips was gracious to provide us with copies of John/Romans and Romans to give to the evacuees here in Lafayette.

As I talked with Mr. Phillips, I was intrigued by the ministry and impressed with his desire to see copies of God’s Word distributed thoughout the world. I was also impressed that he is part of a small church that is doing big things for the kingdom of Christ. As a member of Meadowlake Baptist Church, he and the Sr. Citizens sort, staple and cut portions of God’s Word to be spread all over the world.

As I talked with Mr. Phillips, he showed me the cutter that he rebuilt and operates (a 1948 model). He then showed me a map where they track all the places that they are able to send copies of God’s Word. Seedline International is responsible for printing the gospel into 420 languages and last year alone printing 5.5 million copies of the Scriptures.

Mr. Phillips has been serving in this ministry for the last 10 years - he tells me it is a good way to spend his retirement. I was thankful to have met him because it reminded me of a couple of truths that please God.

1. Size doesn’t always matter. Meadowlake Baptist is only a church of about 120 - 130 people. I know first hand that smaller churches can do a lot for the glory of God. Being small is not an excuse to not be busy doing tangible things for the Lord.

2. Retirement is not a spiritual gift. In his “retirement”, Mr. Phillips is busy organizing the cutting, binding and distributing of God’s Word. Oh, by the way he also has, with his “small” church, helped rebuild 4 homes and 3 churches after the hurricanes caused so much damage. (In one day, he hung 64 sheets of drywall by himself).

I am thankful to have meet this man and hope that when my “retirement” time comes, I can too continue to serve God with the same zeal he does.