This People Who Care
One the biggest blessings of my 6 months in the USA was attending my home church Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minnesota. I started attending Bethlehem as a college student and God has used these people to grow and encourage me is so many ways. Being back in MN was not always easy but it was good.
I was grateful for my "pew buddies" and to develop our relationships more. They prayed with me. They listened to me. They encouraged me. They included in their lives outside of church. With most of them, I shared more than attending the same church together and being part of the body of Christ but also being globally minded. Some are current missionaries serving from the USA or on home assignment for a variety of reasons and many are former missionaries. I was so grateful for these connections.
In addition to my "pew buddies", there was my Sunday school class. It's a multi-generation class that is probably close to 100 people. (I'm not great with estimating large numbers.) They welcomed me and it was a joy to sit under the teaching of God's word and to have fellowship with others for another hour. This people prayed for me.
I also felt a deep care from the pastors and elders of my church. This is not always the case in a large, multi-campus church and especially when you've been gone for so long. They knew my name and a bit about where I had been. They offered to meet with me and prayed for me. As I continued to work through the church's global partner preparation program, I got to know several of these people more. While they asked hard questions and dug deep into my life, I knew it was out of love and care for me and my relationship with God.
There's more I could go one about my church and the people there (my small group, my Barnabas support team, my women's Bible study.) but I don't want to drag this one forever. I just want to give thanks to God for this local body and how God used them in my life to deepen my walk with Jesus and to restore my soul.
I am humbled and grateful to have been approved and commissioned by Bethlehem as a global partner. It is an honor to have these people standing behind me and the work that God has called me to in Budapest at the International School of Budapest.
The commissioning was part of the Sunday morning service on my last Sunday, the day before I flew back to Budapest. It was extra special to have so many of my family present. My parents, my brother, wife and niece, my grandparents, my aunts and uncles, and many cousins. I am truly grateful for these people too.
So close this note of thanksgiving to God for these people- my local church, my family- I want to quote a line from Bethlehem's child dedication ceremony as this line came to mind often. It says..."this people who care about the outcome of your faith..." Yes, I was not dedicated as a child at Bethlehem with this proclamation but I definitely felt these words were true of this member who was on an extended home assignment and needing care for my soul in more ways than I knew.
May God be glorified and honored as he continues to use Bethlehem to care about the faith of their people - both who are near and far.
P.S.
After church on December 30, we celebrated God's goodness by eating lunch at my favorite restaurant with just a few of my family. I love this crazy big family I'm part of! I miss them and it was so good to be with them.
I was grateful for my "pew buddies" and to develop our relationships more. They prayed with me. They listened to me. They encouraged me. They included in their lives outside of church. With most of them, I shared more than attending the same church together and being part of the body of Christ but also being globally minded. Some are current missionaries serving from the USA or on home assignment for a variety of reasons and many are former missionaries. I was so grateful for these connections.
In addition to my "pew buddies", there was my Sunday school class. It's a multi-generation class that is probably close to 100 people. (I'm not great with estimating large numbers.) They welcomed me and it was a joy to sit under the teaching of God's word and to have fellowship with others for another hour. This people prayed for me.
I also felt a deep care from the pastors and elders of my church. This is not always the case in a large, multi-campus church and especially when you've been gone for so long. They knew my name and a bit about where I had been. They offered to meet with me and prayed for me. As I continued to work through the church's global partner preparation program, I got to know several of these people more. While they asked hard questions and dug deep into my life, I knew it was out of love and care for me and my relationship with God.
There's more I could go one about my church and the people there (my small group, my Barnabas support team, my women's Bible study.) but I don't want to drag this one forever. I just want to give thanks to God for this local body and how God used them in my life to deepen my walk with Jesus and to restore my soul.
I am humbled and grateful to have been approved and commissioned by Bethlehem as a global partner. It is an honor to have these people standing behind me and the work that God has called me to in Budapest at the International School of Budapest.
The commissioning was part of the Sunday morning service on my last Sunday, the day before I flew back to Budapest. It was extra special to have so many of my family present. My parents, my brother, wife and niece, my grandparents, my aunts and uncles, and many cousins. I am truly grateful for these people too.
So close this note of thanksgiving to God for these people- my local church, my family- I want to quote a line from Bethlehem's child dedication ceremony as this line came to mind often. It says..."this people who care about the outcome of your faith..." Yes, I was not dedicated as a child at Bethlehem with this proclamation but I definitely felt these words were true of this member who was on an extended home assignment and needing care for my soul in more ways than I knew.
May God be glorified and honored as he continues to use Bethlehem to care about the faith of their people - both who are near and far.
P.S.
After church on December 30, we celebrated God's goodness by eating lunch at my favorite restaurant with just a few of my family. I love this crazy big family I'm part of! I miss them and it was so good to be with them.
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