The Wonder of His Grace
Coming from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, part of the character of my heritage is to be hospitable. Folks practiced an open door, food on the table, and friendly welcome type of lifestyle.
We practiced it well with all the white folks who lived in our community. Maybe it was the gift of godly parents, but our family was taught to love people. Missionaries who traveled to far and distant lands were revered. Their stories of people of different countries and cultures fascinated adults and children. If they brought items from native tribes we looked at them with wonder and thoughts of adventure.
Until about age 34 I did not have the privilege of attending a church with people of different cultures and colors. Laila and I were in graduate school in Blacksburg, VA, when we attended a trans-cultural church.
When divine providence arranged my transfer to graduate school at UVA, I had no idea that about two years later I would become pastor of Covenant Church. The Lord graciously chose a kind and thoughtful people to accept my family. It was several years later that the Lord added a precious young African American to our congregation. Then Ray Barbour came -- the Mary. Then God added and added. Then Hispanics representing different countries came. In time the Lord added people from Korea, China, Nigeria, England, Canada, Mexico, Uganda, Kenya, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Sudan, Sweden, et al.
While God was adding people to us from all around the world and across the United States, our hearts were open to send missionaries from our congregation and to send other missionaries when and where we cannot go. Walk through the hallway on your way into worship and you will see the faces of many of God’s modern day heroes that serve in distant lands. The pictures are also reminders that each of these missionaries has stood in Covenant’s pulpit.
Today was a special day of celebration. Eighteen persons became new members of Covenant Church. A young man accepted Jesus as His Savior. Five missionaries were with us from Bombay, India. After the service we realized that a missionary dentist and her family from Puerto Rico were also guests. The dentist has worked with teams of doctors and assistants in the Amazon ministering to hundreds of children.
If our hearts were full with the joyful music, blessed time of prayer, Bible study, and time of fellowship, we had yet more about which to rejoice. Today we had a young woman from South Africa and a family from the Congo. Two more countries added to our hearts.
Please, I am not writing about a sociological phenomenon. I am writing about the joy of seeing people come together, feeling welcome, speaking different languages, eating different foods, wearing different clothes, yet having a common faith, lifting holy hands in worship, and rejoicing in the joy of salvation. The Ark that the Lord is helping us to build has an open door for those who are hurting, lonely, bruised, broken, and captive. Those who have been down, but want to get up find hope. Those who have been rejected find acceptance. Those who thought life was over discover the God of another chance.
It is Sunday almost 10 p.m. I must help get four of my grandchildren bunked down. Two of them have school tomorrow. And tomorrow, if I can make things happen, I would love to drive the missionaries to a DC airport. Just to be with them and to encourage them is such joy, such inspiration to me.
In reading this letter I hope you will understand the power of passing along happiness. Sharing the joy of Jesus with others is the central message. Maybe you will even pass this Pastor’s Heart newsletter to a friend who needs encouragement. The nuns who receive this newsletter will rejoice in Jesus Our Savior, even as this letter makes its way to homes, offices, churches and hearts around the world.
I pray that this newsletter will encourage you to seek out a soul and share your joy in Jesus. You might just be blessed to add someone to your family.
Love,
Pastor Bare