When a Door is Closed... Reflections on Egypt Part 2

The old expression goes "When a door is closed, God opens a window." This has never been more evident to me that on this trip to Egypt. I think about all of the frustrations I have had in life, particularly ones in ministry. It's so easy to quit and give up. I must confess that I do succumb to this temptation from time to time. But that is not what is expected of us in the Bible.

God wants us to persevere. I can't help but think of these words in the letter to the Hebrews: "There fore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God" (12:1-2, NRSV).

Egyptian Christians know something about perseverance. I see the task they have and it appears insurmountable. They are not worried. Their trust is in the Lord. They know that God is in control. Their faith and attitude was an encouragement to me and to all the members of our team. We heard time and time again, "Where there is an obstacle, there is an opportunity!" What a demonstration of Christian maturity!

What are the obstacles in your life? In what have you put your trust? Is it in the economic system? Is it in the things of this world? Or have you put your trust in the One who loves you so much, He was willing to lay down His life so that you might have abundant, eternal life?

As we are in this season of Lent, I hope you are taking this time to reflect upon the sacrifice of our Savior. We each have different obstacles to our faith lives. The obstacle for each of us, however, is our own sin, or as it is stated in Hebrews, the "sin that clings so close." The opportunity that is given to each of us is to welcome Jesus into our life again. My hope and prayer, as we approach our Easter celebration, is that you might see the window He has opened especially for you and that you might lay aside every weight and run with perseverance to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of your faith!

Mutually Encouraged! Reflections on Egypt Part 1

A group of seven from FPC Yakima just returned from a two week experience in Egypt. Inevitably, the question is asked, "Why do we need to travel all the way to a foreign country when there is so much to do right here in our own backyard?"  I have heard the question asked numerous times.  My response has almost become reflex:  To build up the Body of Christ!

In his letter to the Romans, Paul expresses his intention to be with them.  Keeping in mind that Paul has never set foot in Rome, he expresses this desire:

"For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you- or rather so that we might be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine." (Rom. 1:11-12, NRSV)

Our perception of mission is often one of concrete, cinder blocks, and marl.  That is not to say construction is not a very important part of our mission trips.  It is not the only component of mission work.  Did the Apostle Paul travel around with hammers and blueprints for construction?  No, he sought to build up the church through relational ministry.  He longed to see the believers in Rome because he wanted to share with them a "spiritual gift" for the purpose of strengthening the church, with the hope that they might be "mutually encouraged" by each other's faith.

Our group visited with many believers from Cairo to Upper Egypt.  They expressed deep appreciation for us taking time out of our lives to come and hear their stories and worship and pray with them.  They have many obstacles in front of them, but they treat them as opportunities.  Through these opportunities, they are open to God and put their trust in Him.

Many of the urban Christian communities do not have pastors.  So over the last few years, the Synod of the Nile has provided training for lay pastors.  We met with 37 of the 39 lay pastors who serve these urban communities.  They talked of the challenges they faces in doing ministry. Challenges that, quite frankly, you and I do not have to face.  In a place where they are clearly the minority, it's easy to feel as though you are isolated.  But they persevere and labor in the work of the Lord.  They do not get discouraged.  As one of the lay pastors shared, when a door is closed, God opens a window.  

Our group, along with folks from Tennessee, California, and Pennsylvania, spent much time talking about our experiences on the trip.  The common reaction was that we received so much from this trip.  There is no doubt that we were an encouragement to those we visited, but we were equally, if not more, encouraged by the people with whom we visited.  The Apostle Paul  knew what he was talking about in his letter to the Romans.  

I was encouraged to live more "missionally."  Not everyone is called to go to a foreign country, but we all live in a mission field right here in the Yakima valley.  The Egyptian Christians taught us that living missionally entails what you do, as much as what you say.  A question for us is are we living in such a way that people will have no doubt our love is for God and our neighbor, whoever that might be?

My hope and prayer is that as you talk to the folks who went, you might be encouraged and inspired to live missionally.  That was definitely the case for our team in Egypt.