I hope and pray we are all more aware than ever of the depth of God's love seen in the Cross and the power of the resurrection!
It is possible though, to move through this season spiritually asleep. Sometimes it is a fight to stay awake to the reality of God with us. It is the challenge of being a disciple when we have so little discipline. Our culture keeps contesting Christ being first in all things and how quickly we yield. Busyness, prayerlessness, distractions, 'the deceitfulness of wealth and the cares of this world' will all pull us away from the One thing needed.
"And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy." Colossians 1:18
I am concerned for the Church, for my family and for myself. There is a great gulf between what the New Testament calls for and the lives we are living. I don't say this to condemn anyone, but rather to call all of us (myself included) back to the one true standard - Christ.
I am also deeply concerned for those without Christ. There is a strong push in our culture towards pluralism - the idea that all belief claims are equal. I challenge people who hold this by asking, "Who else has risen from the dead?" And, I try to help people see the reality of Jesus and what he has done in a different light ...
"If someone has 'Risen from the Dead' on their resume and they are offering their services for free, you should probably hire them! Don't you think?"
I have had numerous privileges of sharing Christ in the last couple months and look forward to the ongoing dialogue as people draw near to and trust in Christ for salvation.
I was grateful for the opportunity to teach at two United Methodist District Training Days - Elizabeth River and York River Districts. I've been corresponding with some of the people who took my class on "The Method of Jesus and the Method of the Methodists." We need to take notice that our Lord did not start a mega-church while he walked among us, but rather a mini-church! This is not a slam on mega-churches, just an endorsement of Jesus' strategy in making disciples! We need small groups where we can share the deeper joys and struggles.
Connecting Small Groups and Missions to Nicaragua
Thanks to some of the guys at the Wednesday morning Churchland Group, there was a great connection made between the small group ministry and the missions trips to Nicaragua. Les and Dube took up a collection and bought a guitar to send down with the team. We used it during our group worship, prayer and sharing times. Then on our last day we had the joy of giving it away! Pastor Omar and his church in Tipitapa will get to enjoy the guitar. I'm confident many will learn to play on this guitar!
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| Pastor Omar with the guitar from the Churchland Wednesday Morning Group |
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| Dube & Les jamming outdoors! |
On Spring Break Trip, we had 9 VWC students and Professor Allison Marganski who teaches Sociology and Criminology as well as 1 Old Dominion student.
We spent three days working with House of Hope, a ministry to women and children seeking freedom from prostitution and human trafficking. We dug ditches, filled holes and painted - hard work which was rewarding knowing it helped such a needed ministry. We listened to testimonies from women who have found freedom in Christ and met girls who had been rescued from brothels. It's difficult to see and hear, but necessary. I watched the group process and wrestle with the brokenness of the world while we talked about the One who redeems and makes all things new.
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| The VWC Team at House of Hope - Managua, Nicaragua |
We have a facebook page from the Mission Trip up with pics, comments and videos if you'd like to see more: http://www.facebook.com/vwcnicaragua
You may be surprised to know that we have seven VWC graduates heading to seminary this Fall! It's exciting to see a hunger within the next generation for the LORD and to be equipped for the work of the ministry.
Preaching & Teaching
Among many other recent speaking engagements, I preached revivals at Woodstock UMC, in Woodstock, VA and Emmanuel UMC just outside of Winchester, VA. The pastors, David Rash and Jim Smith are both great friends, for whom I have deep respect. Their love for their congregations is evident. Both churches are in the Shenandoah Valley. I was amazed at the beauty of the mountains and all of creation.
I will be in northern Virginia from the 20th through the 22nd at Pender UMC in Fairfax preaching at their Missions Conference.
Crucifixion & Resurrection
Sam Brengle was a gifted communicator who served with the Salvation Army. While in Boston a drunk man hit him with a brick, putting him in the hospital for 18 months. While laid up, he wrote the book, Helps to Holiness. The book was very popular and many throughout the years of Brengle's ministry would thank him for the book. When they did, Brengle would say, "If it wasn't for the brick, there wouldn't have been a book." And so it is with the resurrection . . . if it hadn't been for the crucifixion, there wouldn't be a resurrection. They are forever linked and our faith in the crucified and risen One brings us near . . .
"He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God." Romans 4:25 (NLT)
Sam Brengle
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