Covenant Church

Pondering the significance of koinonia has absorbed many hours of my life. This Greek word is used in the New Testament in relation to fellowship of believers, i.e., the coming together in sweet fellowship.

This past Sunday morning, the worship at Covenant Church was an inspirational journey as we addressed multiple mission issues. Worship in giving of tithes and offering is always a key moment of consecration of ourselves and our gifts. However, the crowning moment was at the end of the service.

A missionary, most knowledgeable about what God is doing in North Korea, shared about Hebrews chapter 11 type heroes who are, in these times, walking in faith.

We sat spellbound listening to story after story of remarkable faith. For example, an 18 year-old woman, most beautiful, had crossed from North Korea into China. When the gospel story was shared with her, she accepted Jesus as her Savior. After much prayer she felt the Lord was telling her to return to North Korea and prepare for other missionaries to follow. She chose to cross in a section where she would most likely be caught.

If caught where she crossed, she would likely be raped and serve two or three months in prison. The other route of entry and risk of capture would most likely end in years of imprisonment and death. In mid September she crossed into North Korea with the gospel burning in her heart. No message has been received to date about her.

She is an 18 year-old in the Lord’s hands – a missionary willing to lay down her life to make sure that others have an opportunity to be saved.

(The clock moved past normal time of completion in both services. No one moved. Bible teachers understood the move of God’s Spirit.) Other stories were shared. Many, who cross the border from North Korea into China and come to know the Lord, choose to return as missionaries to North Korea. They return to a land of hunger, cruelty, and risk of imprisonment and death. They return to a land where worship must be in small groups, meeting in secret places, and protected by whispers and quiet acts of worship. Yet, they return to carry the light, to build networks of believers, and to pray with their own people that revival and freedom will come.

The probability of folks from Covenant going to North Korea is very minimal. However, it is certain that this past Sunday our hearts were wedded in unity of prayer and faith with heroes of faith in North Korea. It is also certain that our giving will make a difference in future efforts to help increase the number of fellowships of believers in North Korea.

Morning services were also blessed to hear a personal phone call from David Lorency, director of Operation Compassion. Our giving for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, totaling about $10,000 thus far, has been directed through Operation Compassion because of the network and warehouses that are able to skillfully and expeditiously deliver the specific items needed to critical areas.

As I write this letter to you my two older brothers are driving a 60 passenger school bus through west Arkansas. The destination is Window Rock, AZ, the capital of the Navajo Nation.

Yesterday morning we had prayer for Jim and Brad, the bus, and all the goods. The bus departed in time to make Knoxville TN by evening. If all goes well, the 2,000 mile trip will be made in about 5 days. Items sent meet specific needs, and storage and persons are available to handle the materials, including hundreds of winter coats for Indian children. The pulpit was moved back making a place for offering. The congregation came one by one, in a steady stream, until almost every person had invested in missions. Contributions included help for dear ones suffering from Hurricane Katrina, gifts for ministry among American Indians, and giving for mission outreach in North Korea and among North Koreans on the Chinese/North Korea border. More than $8,400 was given in the mission offering. It was a moment to remember, to cherish, as the Body came together, in unity, in harmony, and in common purpose of worship and generosity. What special joy is in our hearts as we share in the work of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ! How thrilling to sense the koinonia that comes to us as we worship and serve together.

Thank you. You touched my heart.

Much love

Pastor Bare
Isaiah 58:10