We are now two-thirds of our way through our 2015 Missions Emphasis "After Darkness...Light." The inspiration for our theme this year comes from the Latin phrase adopted by the early reformers in the 16th century, who used the phrase "Post Tenebras...Lux!" to describe the awakening the church of Christ experienced after almost a thousand years of largely orthodox, yet strangely cold and stagnant, religious experience. The great doctrine of salvation by grace through faith was "rediscovered," and many believers experienced a new hope in Christ and a new fire in their bones to know him and make him known. My hope during this short emphasis is that all of us might experience this "fire in our bones" as well, and express it not only in a renewed desire to follow Christ whole-heartedly, but also in a desire to see others across our country and across the globe experience the new life we've found in Christ.
It was wonderful to welcome Andrew and Anne Sims back to LifePoint to celebrate thirty years of missions with us and to have Pastor Tom and Linda return to help us celebrate thirty years of ministry here in south Indy. I was very encouraged to hear more of Andrew and Anne's story and the story of the Ketengban and Lik peoples, and to see the videos of their excitement at receiving for the first time, the Bible in their own heart language. As I’m sure it was for you, it was for me a great reminder of how blessed I am to have had the Scriptures in my own heart language for my entire life. God has, in many ways, blessed the English speaking peoples of our world in inordinate ways. I don’t know why that is, but it is a blessing that we all too often take for granted. Andrew and Anne reminded me that I should rejoice in that blessing and do all that I can to bless others by supporting good translation work wherever it is being done.
It’s always a joy to have Tom and Linda back with us. Many of you who are newer to LifePoint don’t know them well, nor did you experience the transition that took place here at LifePoint six years ago. There are far too many stories in the broader church today of messy pastoral transitions filled with anger, bitterness, harsh words, and eventual church splits. I thank God for Tom and Linda and the way they loved this church family, and continue to love this church family. When Tom sensed his time for ministry here had been completed, he graciously handed the leadership over to me and the elders of LifePoint without so much as a hint of ownership or an attitude of “continue to carry on my legacy.” His humility and gentleness made all the difference as the church went through the transition after twenty-four years of his excellent leadership and teaching, and Linda stood by his side the entire time. I could not have asked for a more godly example in that transition, and it allowed the church to continue on in a healthy manner. When I meet with Tom, I am being mentored, and those of you who do not know him should at least know that LifePoint is what it is today largely because of his ministry and influence. I trust you were blessed by his preaching and teaching while he was here.
This Sunday we take up the Faith Promise cards designated for missions at LifePoint in 2016. Please consider the blessings you have received and give in a proportionate manner. I realize that we are in a season of many “asks” here in the church, with the expansion project and the continued need to meet monthly expenses. My prayer is that as we give generously, God will meet that generosity with a great gift of wisdom and an outpouring of his Spirit, so that we may move wisely into 2016 and beyond.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Jym