“We remain committed to fulfilling our mission to bring the salvation and healing message of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to those most unreached people’s and communities at-risk of eternal destruction and to help them find solutions in God’s Word, the Holy Bible.”
Each day brings with it another set of issues and problems to deal with and solve. Some days I am left wondering if I have the insight, discernment, and wisdom to find my way. In this context, I have been returning again and again to the foundations of the faith. I have been returning to the one who offers the enduring words of life to all.
In the context of our twin pandemics of COVID-19 and structural racism, Matthew 25 sets a compelling vision for LMC Global. This Matthew 25 vision is particularly important in the midst of uncertainty and chaos. This vision guides us to the places Jesus says we will find him. This vision guides us into relationships with people that Jesus says we will meet. When the competing voices call out in the chaos for us to find our way in another ideology or social group, we know where we will meet Jesus. Therefore, we go.
At the end of Matthew 28, we are given a clear call for ministry. I paraphrase Scripture with these words: “Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life.” In other words, become so immersed in this way of God’s saving love that Jesus’ life becomes our life together and the words of Jesus become our words. When the words of Jesus and our words become one, we experience and know our salvation. We experience the wholeness of life for which we were created. We experience our lives being healed and the life of the world being set right again. The ancient wrongs are being rectified. We know wholeness when we encounter life as it is meant to be lived. Those moments are always embodied moments in which the words spoken are deeply connected to an authentic life being healed and made whole. These moments often produce the tears of encountering the meaning of life, which can be so elusive.
Let’s think for a moment about these moments that brought tears. These are the moments we have experienced in our retreat centers and churches. In our gatherings for training and equipping, The moments when we are bearing witness to the hope of the gospel—that everybody lives matters and all of God’s children deserve to be part of a system that causes them to flourish. Yes, these moments come from caring for loved ones and even walking your geriatric dog, who loves to walk no matter how slowly she takes that stroll. This is our ministry. Yet, I know I need help living fully into this ministry in the context of this pandemic. How do we best help one another?
LMC Global has been having conversations with church leaders and others about how best to serve the church in this uncertain, devastating time. We have embarked on a new ministry of support called “The Scattered Church.” This will be a webpage with resources about how to best engage the virtual space for our worship, training, formation, and equipping. We will post resources on ways in which ministry is meaningful during this time of physical distancing. Some resources are here!
We will explore with you how best to continue our online presence when we are able to meet again in person. What a wonderful day that will be!
He will share with us what he is learning and how he is leading in this most unusual time. How can we wholeheartedly be the body of Christ and connect with one another and with our mission? That’s the question we will continually address through “The Scattered Church.” The live Zoom session will run and has begun. Let’s connect and minister to the scattered church. Jesus is the Lord and Savior of all.
Thanks for being on this journey of going to meet Jesus in the lives of people God loves so much. God loves the world so much that God’s Son comes into it to save sinners like me and you.
His Grace be unto you,
“We remain committed to fulfilling our mission to bring the salvation and healing message of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to those most unreached people’s and communities at-risk of eternal destruction and to help them find solutions in God’s Word, the Holy Bible.”