Catalyst Blog [happenings and other things at catalyst]

Catalyst is a church that puts a very high value on serving. Here's something cool: we actually put our money where our mouth is. Here's something cooler: we are helping bring other churches and communities together to accomplish a lot more than we could do on our own.

Here's an example. Last weekend we had a service project at the Cullman Civic Center. They needed some work done. So we reached out to our friends over at Greater Vision Church and they sent some guys and gals from their youth group, along with their youth leader Courtney Brooks. We spent the day painting and cleaning. 

So here's a shout out to the youth at Greater Vision. Thanks for showing others some love by serving our city.

posted by Chris Owens

I paint. I don't mean that I'm an artist. I mean...I paint. Now that I think about it I probably shouldn't announce that to the world. I'm gonna get calls. My phone will soon be ringing with a long lost friend on the other end telling me how he's remodeling his house and he could use some help with the painting. He will, no doubt, offer to pay me with grilled steak and a six pack of Newcastle. On second thought, maybe I shouldn't worry about announcing it to the world. I like steak and Newcastle. 

One thing you should know about me (this is in addition to the steak and Newcastle) is that I have worked a lot of odd jobs, including a half year-long stint in the commercial painting business. As you can imagine, it wasn't the most glamourous of jobs. I had to wear those white painter's pants that are made out of the most uncomfortable burlap-like material. I had blisters on the ends of every finger (not from picking my nose, but from filling in nail holes with spackle). And I made very little money. I liked my boss, though. He taught me a lot about painting.

After that summer ended and I moved on to another job I vowed that I would not paint anything for many, many years. I also vowed that I would kick every can of spackle I ever saw as a way of getting revenge for my blistered fingers. Alas, my vows ended quickly. Dawn and I remodeled our house. I once again donned my Purdy brushes and blistered my fingers with spackle. Then we painted again. Then we had a baby and I painted his room. You see where this is going.

I've gotten calls over the years from friends asking me to help them paint. And yes, some have paid me in steak and Newcastle. I've even volunteered for paint duty. I'm good at it. And I guess it's something I can't get away from. Which leads me to the reason for this posting:

A few weeks ago I called the Cullman Civic Center. It's where Catalyst meets. I had noticed that they could use a coat of paint and some sprucing up around the joint. I offered to gather the Catalyst troops and spend a day doing anything they needed done. Karen, who runs the office, was floored. She was blessed that we would want to do some chores around the place. So we have organized a serve event around the Civic Center which will include painting and various other things. We're gathering at 9 a.m. on Saturday, November 21st to get some much needed (and appreciated) work done. 

I'm pretty good at painting (of course, I think most people would say they are too). And I know it's good to offer to do things for people. This is just one small way I can serve the city and its people. Even if you can't paint, you're welcome to join us. We can put you in charge of putting those pink disinfectant thingys in the men's urinals.

Oh, and the Civic Center isn't paying us in steak and Newcastle. It won't cost them a dime. We're just happy to serve.

posted by Chris Owens