22 December, 2024

Good Smells, Great Lives

by | 22 November, 2016 | 0 comments

By Mark A. Taylor

I got to the Lexington Center at 1:15 Saturday afternoon, a little before I”d promised to be there. We were planning a special 2:00 event in our International Conference on Missions booth, and the attendant had promised to be there at 1:30 to help us get ready. But as soon as I entered the exhibit hall, I knew she was already on the job. I could smell the popcorn popping.

Soon the aroma was filling the whole, huge facility. And even before our announced start time, we relented and allowed the people lining up to grab their portion of our afternoon treat. We popped and scooped and served popcorn for about two hours and served hundreds of happy, hungry convention-goers.

The popcorn tasted great””at least the few kernels I snagged that had spilled on the table. But it was the aroma that was most delightful.

As I reflected on the weekend (Thursday through Sunday last week, November 17-20), I remembered much more than popcorn. I thought of the people at the convention and words from Scripture: “We are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:15). At ICOM, as with other events like it, I was pleased and refreshed by long talks and quick hellos with Christian leaders and many others who visited our booth. Their example, their service, their faith””the sum of each life””prompts me to make sure both the saved and the perishing smell something good when they encounter me.

Our promotion at ICOM was called “I”m In,” and we encouraged anyone whose name or ministry had ever appeared in The Lookout or CHRISTIAN STANDARD to wear one of our “I”m In” buttons. I snapped pictures of a few of them, each one exuding “the pleasing aroma of Christ.”

Kelly Carr, The Lookout editor, and I were pleased to meet many readers who visited our ICOM booth.

Kelly Carr, The Lookout editor, and I were pleased to meet many readers who visited our ICOM booth.

 

Bill Weber, New Missions Systems International; and Andrew Wood, Nebraska Christian College

Bill Weber, New Missions Systems International; and Andrew Wood, Nebraska Christian College

 

Greg Swinney, Crossroads International

Greg Swinney, Crossroads International

 

Carla Williams, Team Expansion

Carla Williams, Team Expansion

 

Kent Fillinger, Christian Missionary Fellowship International

Kent Fillinger, Christian Missionary Fellowship International

 

Stephen Burris, Urban Loft Publishers

Stephen Burris, Urban Loft Publishers

 

Matt Proctor, Ozark Christian College

Matt Proctor, Ozark Christian College

 

Popcorn containers, waiting for the crowd at our reception

Popcorn containers, waiting for the crowd at our reception

 

Chris DeWelt, Ozark Christian College

Chris DeWelt, Ozark Christian College

 

Marsha Miles, Pioneer Bible Translators

Marsha Miles, Pioneer Bible Translators

 

 

Keith Wood, ICOM

Keith Wood, ICOM

 

Miguel Lara, Cincinnati Christian University, and Kelly Carr, editor of The Lookout

Miguel Lara, Cincinnati Christian University, and Kelly Carr, editor of The Lookout

 

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