Dear St. Lukers,
Do you often wonder what “the Kingdom of God” should look and feel like? Is it sometimes a tad abstract? Or are there moments where you see and feel it so clearly? All of the above perhaps.
Last Sunday, Pastor Melissa asked, “What does it mean to make real God’s Kingdom through us?” What we are learning and witnessing in Missions is that revealing (through our stories and actions) and seeing (through others’ stories and actions) God’s Kingdom hinges on HOPE. Not the type of hope where we sit back dreamily and make wishful lists in our heads. Rather, the type of hope inspired by the Holy Spirit that calls on us to show up in places where there are injustices and inequities. The type that sustains us to keep showing up for individuals, families, and communities, and to be a source of hope, encouragement, and empowerment. The type that humbles us, and reminds us that we are not called to fix people, but to be mutually transformed. “If you see me as a project, you can cause harm to both of us. If you know me and my story, you will learn I have values you can learn from," shares Circles Leader Tim Rogers.
For me, reconnecting people to their God-given gifts and passions has been transformative. It has allowed me to see what the “I can do this!” unleashes for the individuals and their communities. Pastor Jenn was spot on when she...
