Write the Note, Make the Visit, Say the Words

Have you noticed that we tend to take each other for granted?

Once, I was back at the congregation where I served as an interim pastor for a summer. Visiting with an older member of the church, he talked about the recent loss of his beloved wife.

“Every night, when she was alive, we’d sit on the couch and read the newspaper—my wife on the left, me on the right—commenting on different things,” he said. “The other evening, however, the strangest thing happened. I sat on that same couch and read the newspaper, commenting on different things, and then, without thinking, I instinctively turned to the left, fully expecting my wife to respond and be there. But of course, she wasn’t. Then it hit me: I still live with the assumption that she’ll always be there.”

Many of us still assume that our loved ones will always be there, that our employment will never change, that our children will always be young, and that our friends will always be available. And then they’re not, and we’re left impacted and reeling. Varied lessons flow from such wake-up calls, including the sober conclusion: we tend to take our lives and the lives of others for granted.

Interestingly, the Apostle Paul rarely took anybody or anything for granted. No wonder he is constantly giving thanks in his epistles. In nine of his thirteen letters, Paul goes out of his way to itemize his gratitude for those involved in his ministry. According to pastor and scholar Kevin DeYoung, Paul was “…thankful for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ… He was thankful for their love for all the saints… He was thankful for their steadfastness, especially in trial… He was thankful for their spiritual gifts… He was thankful for their partnership in the gospel… He was thankful for their history and mutual affection.”

Philippians 1:3–4 summarizes Paul’s intentional gratitude—his passion for expressing thanks:

“I thank my God every time I mention you in my prayers. I’m thankful for all of you every time I pray, and it’s always a prayer full of joy.” (Philippians 1:3–4, CEB)

I think Paul was fervent about gratitude because he knew loss. In 2 Corinthians 11:22–27, Paul describes shipwrecks, sleepless nights, brutal attacks, hunger, and difficult circumstances. Paul knew that life could “turn on a dime,” that life is a mist, to quote James 4:14 (NIV). So now is the time to give thanks. Now is the time to write the note, make the visit, and say the words expressing gratitude.

Author and pastor William Stidger tells of finally coming to this conviction. He decided to write a note of thanks to a beloved schoolteacher to whom he had never fully expressed his appreciation. In due time, he received a reply from this former mentor:

“My dear Willie, I cannot tell you how much your note meant to me. I am in my eighties, living alone in a small room, cooking my own meals, lonely, and, like the last leaf of autumn, lingering behind. You will be interested to know that I taught school for fifty years, and yours is the first note of appreciation I ever received. It came on a blue, cold morning, and it cheered me as nothing has in many years.”

Stidger was deeply surprised and moved, and as a result, he began writing many additional thank-you notes.

So, to whom do you owe a thank-you note—or perhaps a thank-you phone call or visit? After all, we're called not only to Thanksgiving as a holiday, but thanks-living as an ongoing pattern of being. But not just generally or generically. We are called to give and live thanks specifically and personally, expressing gratitude intentionally and taking nothing and no one for granted.

I shared earlier that about an interim pastorate I served in during the course of a summer. On my last Sunday, congregation members were invited to write notes of appreciation, gratitude, and thanks to me, and I received a whole slew of them. When I got home, I read every one and was deeply touched; I had no idea I had impacted people so deeply.

When I finished reviewing the notes, I started to put them in a file folder and tuck them away. But then I paused and thought twice, remembering the difficulty of some seasons. Instead, I placed them on a shelf near my desk so I could easily access them on difficult days. Can you guess how often I’ve pulled those notes off the shelf and reread them since my interim pastorate? Several times every week! I need gratitude, thanks, and appreciation more than I realize.

I don’t think I’m the only one. Everyone reading this blog needs to know they are cherished, treasured, and valued. So, like the Apostle Paul, remember the people in your relational world and express gratitude. 

Tell them, in the spirit of the Apostle Paul:

“I thank my God every time I mention you in my prayers. I’m thankful for you every time I pray, and it’s always a prayer full of joy.” (Philippians 1:3–4, CEB)

Reach out deliberately to express your gratitude to others. After all, we're called not only to celebrate thanksgiving as holiday but also as a way of life (thanks-living).

So write the note, make the visit, and say the words. Express your thanks, gratitude, and appreciation. Take nothing and no one for granted!

We're All Family Here

One of the oddities of the English language is the number of words that mean “group.” For example, we refer to a crowd of people, a box of crayons, and a pad of paper. But the most striking group names are related to animals. Why do we refer to an army of ants, a kindle of kittens, a charm of hummingbirds, a congress of baboons, a knot of toads, a movement of moles, and—my favorite—a murder of crows?

As we turn to Scripture, we see a similar pattern in how the church is described. Multiple names are used for the people of God: “the assembly of the upright” (Psalm 111:1), “the branch of God’s planting” (Isaiah 60:21), “the flock of God” (Ezekiel 34:15), “the fold of Christ” (John 10:16), “the congregation of the Lord’s poor” (Psalm 74:19), “the pillar and ground of truth” (1 Timothy 3:15), and “the lot of God’s inheritance” (Deuteronomy 32:9).

But my favorite comes from Ephesians 2:19, where we are called “God’s household”—or more literally, God’s family. Fundamentally, we are family as church. Yes, we are an organization, a gathering, a congregation. But at our core, we are kinfolk, related through the blood of Jesus. Once, we were not family—we were estranged—but now, as Paul explains in Ephesians 2, “you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13).

Such nearness and community are vital because we live in an alienated, lonely world. In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General recently declared that we are experiencing an epidemic of loneliness. In 2021, 49% of adults reported having three or fewer close friends, compared to 27% in 1990. Loneliness is even more severe among young people: for those ages 15–24, time spent in person with friends dropped from 150 minutes per day in 2003 to just 40 minutes in 2020—a decline of nearly 70%.

Facebook and other communication tools are valuable—but face time is vital. In this fractured, lonely society, we must draw closer together, discovering a deeper sense of family and community in Jesus. As we continue in Ephesians 2, we find clues for how that happens.

Affirm That Family "In Christ" Is Not Dependent On Status Or Labels

 In the larger society, you have community because of who you are—your title, position, or status. But in the church, you have community because of Jesus. Paul makes this clear in Ephesians 2:14–15: Christ “has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility… His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace.”

In biblical times, Jews were often seen as the best, while Gentiles were considered the least—outsiders and strangers. But now, because of Jesus, those distinctions are erased. In Christ, there are no “little people.” Even those once considered outsiders are fully included.

Who have you labeled as “little people”? Who do you consider the least rather than the best?

Growing up in Hagerstown, Maryland, I considered the “North-enders” the least. They were the wealthy folks who lived in the north end of town, belonged to the country club, drove big Buicks, and ate at expensive restaurants. But everything changed when my family joined the Hagerstown Church of the Brethren. That church included both poor South-enders like wealthy North-enders and me. And we sat together, worshiped together, ate together, and worked together.

At one point, we even danced together—because the first love of my life, in God’s sense of humor, turned out to be a North-ender. A very rich North-ender, I might add—someone I eventually took to my senior prom. That’s just like God: bringing together people who would never expect to be together. As Paul reminds us, Christ “has destroyed the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14).

Work For Reconciliation And Peacebuilding

Despite Christ’s vision of unity, much still divides us. We must be intentional about tearing down walls and building a new community in Jesus. As Paul continues, Christ reconciles us “to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near” (Ephesians 2:16–17).

2023 marked the 100th anniversary of one of the Church of the Brethren’s most remarkable mission efforts: the birth of EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria. If ever there were a community that embodies the family of God, it is this fellowship of nearly one million believers. Yet their story has unfolded under immense hardship.

For years, EYN has faced persecution from Boko Haram, one of the world’s deadliest terrorist groups. Over 1,600 churches have been burned or abandoned, about 70% of their material assets. Yet the church continues to thrive, marked by deep community and peace.

Whenever attacks came, members fled—but wherever they went, they planted new congregations. As one EYN leader said, “EYN is a wounded healer… Boko Haram has succeeded in destroying church buildings, thinking they will stop Christianity. But as we ran, we ran with our faith, and Christ was with us.” The result has been a movement of relocation, reconstruction, and even reconciliation—including peacebuilding with Muslim neighbors.

That’s what happens when you truly live as God’s family: you pursue peace even with your fiercest enemies. This doesn’t mean abandoning convictions, but it does mean seeing others not as threats, but as people made in the image of God. Show hospitality—even to those you struggle to like. Whether Muslim or Christian, Black or white, lifelong Brethren or new believers, progressive or evangelical, contemporary or traditional—we must treat one another with love and civility, not hostility and hate.

But we must go further. We must not only love people—we must invite them into the family. 

Reach Out And Enlarge Christ's Community

Paul notes in Ephesians 2:17 that Jesus preached peace both to those who were near and those who were far away. “For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit” (Ephesians 2:18). The gospel is not just for those already inside the family—it is for those still waiting to be welcomed.

Paul described himself in many ways: a servant of God (Titus 1:1), the worst of sinners (1 Timothy 1:13–15), the least of the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:9), and the least of all God’s people (Ephesians 3:8). But more specifically, he called himself “an apostle to the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13). This is striking, because Paul was not a Gentile—he was a devout Jew, a “Hebrew of Hebrews” (Acts 23:6). Yet his mission was to reach those outside the family.

So who is not yet part of your church family?

Your congregation is beautiful. The ways you are already breaking down labels and building peace matter deeply. But there are still people outside your circle who long to belong. Invite them in.

Yes, outsiders may seem different—even strange. Like the Gentiles of Paul’s time, they may not fit your expectations. They may think, vote, and worship differently, or come from different backgrounds. But they are made in the image of God.

That’s why Paul boldly declares, “You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household” (Ephesians 2:19).

And so we say to those still outside: You are loved. You are needed. You are wanted. You, too, are family here.

Becky Pippert tells the story of a church in Oregon struggling to welcome outsiders. One Sunday, a disheveled young man—messy hair, stained T-shirt, ripped jeans—walked in during the opening hymn. Finding no seats, he walked to the front and sat on the floor.

The congregation grew tense as the head deacon—a well-dressed, polished man—walked down the aisle toward him. People braced for confrontation. But instead, something unexpected happened. The deacon sat down beside the young man on the floor—and stayed there for the rest of the service.

That is the picture of the family of God.

We are called to sit with one another—not just in worship, but in life. Regardless of appearance, status, or background, we embrace one another in Christ.

So let us live this out, declaring both inside and outside the church: You are loved. You are needed. You are wanted. You, too, are family here.

For in Christ Jesus, “you who once were far away have been brought near” (Ephesians 2:13). We have been drawn into a love that will not let us go—a love meant not only for us, but for all: for outsiders, for strangers, for everyone who longs for home.

Will the Future Have A Church?

Once, a friend was traveling on a subway in New York City. As she did, she noticed a fellow passenger staring at her, specifically at the cross hanging around her neck. 

       

 “Can I help you?” She asked after a moment.

        “Why yes,” the passenger replied. “I was just admiring your

         necklace. But for the life of me, I can’t figure out what it is!

        “Why, it’s a cross!” my friend said, surprised.

        “Pardon me for asking,” the woman replied, “But what’s a cross?”

Now, on first glance, we find that story far-fetched. But it’s not, for we no longer live in a Christian world, but a post-Christian one—one that no longer identifies with Christian images, words, or culture.

One obvious example is the absence of Blue Laws. Does anyone remember Blue Laws—regulations that prohibited certain activities on Sundays so as not to compete with worship and Sabbath rest? Why, in Hagerstown, MD, when I grew up, nothing was open on Sundays, and no sporting activities ever occurred. But today, everything is open, and sporting practices and games abound!

Now, such change is not necessarily “bad,” but it is a wake-up call reminding us that the church no longer receives preferential treatment in culture. In fact, the church is sidelined. Thus, as we envision ministry, we must remember: people will no longer come to us; we must go to the people.

In other words, we must become missional, viewing our own backyard as a mission field filled with disinterested, irreligious people. In sum, we must revive what the Brethren once called “home mission,” reaching not only the “…ends of the earth…” but also “…Jerusalem, and…Judea and Samaria…” (Acts 1:8). 

Turn Inside Out, Radiating The Passion Of Jesus

For starters, turn inside out, radiating the passion of Jesus. The best textbook for envisioning ministry is the book of Acts. In Acts, the early church models an outreach alive and vibrant, turning inside out for Jesus. 

My favorite Acts story is Paul and Silas in Thessalonica (Acts 17). Paul and Silas hold a revival meeting, challenging all “…that Jesus is the Anointed One, the Messiah!” (Acts 17:3). And some Jews believed, “…along with quite a few prominent women and a large number of Greeks” (Acts 17:4), Luke tells us. "But the Jews became jealous, and with the help of some ruffians in the marketplaces they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar...[dragging Paul and Silas' friend Jason, and members of his house church]...before the city authorities, shouting, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also...They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:5-7)

Wow! Talk about vibrant, faithful ministry! Paul and Silas model holy boldness, going beyond conventional outreach to the Jews, toward community outreach to the Greeks. Paul and Silas are clear:  Jesus’ mission is not tame, but a risky, ‘turning the world upside down.’ 

And so a question: are we ‘turning the world upside down’? Mission is not launched, tamely. Mission is launched, boldly, as we ‘raise our sights,’ passionately, announcing, there is no other king than Jesus!

Jesus’ Kingship is crucial. For we’ll never do faithful mission, unless we’re convicted that Jesus is Lord, the source of all conviction, the Anointed One, the Messiah, who in turn, anoints us. Frankly, it’s that conviction that fuels and energizes our outreach.

If ever there was one on a mission, it was Martin Luther King. But King’s mission almost died early when a deranged woman plunged a letter opener into his chest, early in his career. Rushed to a Harlem hospital, doctors carefully removed the object, but needed to make an incision that cut across the wound. The result? A permanent scar on King’s chest, in the shape of a cross. Reflecting later, Andy Young, a King confidant, revealed that King looked at that scar every morning, as it reminded him of the passion behind the passion: Jesus. Martin Luther King’s dream wasn’t his dream at all, but the dream of Jesus.  And so, is Christ etched into our life? Faithful mission never comes alive unless our passion is the passion of Jesus!

Be Open To New Methods  

But as you turn outward, have you noticed that we live in an Amazon-driven world, delivering messages and products in innovative ways, even by drone? Yet many churches still deliver the gospel using the “same old, same old.”

Now, please don’t misunderstand, there's nothing inherently wrong with the ‘same old, same old.’  But sometimes, we keep familiar traditions not because they’re effective, but because they’re familiar, and the familiar requires less energy than a new venture. But we can do better! We can take new risks, at any age, expending new energy, empowered by Jesus. Peter is spot-on in Acts 2:17: “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17). New dreams for new methods are especially needed.

Tod Bolinger tells of Lewis and Clark’s quest to reach the far West. On first blush, their conventional methods appeared adequate. Hit the Continental Divide, find a river, and then paddle to the Pacific. But the ‘same old, same old’ was not enough, for instead of encountering a river, Lewis and Clark encountered the Rocky Mountains! And so, they had a choice. To adapt to unexpected terrain or paddle harder! Thank goodness, Lewis and Clark flexed their method; the U.S. would be vastly different if they had not adapted. 

But often, we don’t adapt; rather than flexing our methods, we just paddle harder! And so, yes, turn inside out with boldness, in Christ, but be open to new methods. A resource I often commend is the ‘Growing Young’ materials from Fuller Seminary. But whatever you utilize, turn outward, be in mission, in some unconventional way. 

Move Prayerfully, But Urgently

But as you do -- move prayerfully, but urgently, for a battle rages for humanity’s soul, as mega forces other than God, strive to capture human life. Just look at the rise of violence, and how violence dupes us into believing it can solve human dilemmas. But violence is never a solution. Only reconciliation through Christ is the solution. But we get complacent, thinking we have all the time in the world to convey that message. 

In C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters, there’s a classic scene where Satan and three of his demons discuss how to win the hearts of humanity. A first demon pipes up: "I've got it! Let's tell people there is no God!"  ‘That won’t work, Satan replied.  Then a second demon volunteers:  I know, we’ll tell people there is no heaven, no hell."  ‘That won’t work,’ Satan replied.  And with that, a third demon leaped to his feet:  "I have it!" he shouted. "We won’t say there’s no God -- we won’t say there’s no heaven, no hell. We'll just say, there’s no hurry." And with that, Satan’s beamed:  ah, the perfect lie to capture the hearts of humanity.

The first missional church, the early church, didn’t believe that lie. They exhibited a phenomenal urgency in outreach, fueled by a Jesus who reminded them that the stakes were high. Jesus’ admonition in Acts 26, first spoken to Paul on the Road to Damascus, is especially striking: “Up on your feet…” Christ remarks. “I’m sending you off to open the eyes of [the world], so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light…I’m sending you off to present my offer of…a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who [really live] by believing in me.” (Acts 26:17-18, The Message). 

Notice that being a missionary for Jesus is not just a matter of proclamation, but also invitation. Specifically, an invitation to know Christ and the Body of Christ. Irreligious people are best convinced of Christ when they're in the company of others seeking to know Christ and His other way of living. 

And so, I offer a challenge: adopt a new resolve to reach people for the Savior and his other way of life. For there is a battle raging for the soul of humanity. And so, this is not a time for complacency, excuses, or rationalization. This is a time for urgency! This is a time to get up on our feet and point people to Jesus! 

One of my favorite stories concerns the time the kids and I got lost in Puerto Rico – way out in the countryside. We literally didn’t know where to go. And so, I did what any responsible Dad would do. I sent my 12-year-old son, Peter, into an unknown restaurant to get directions! After all, he knew 7th-grade Spanish! In short order, Peter got flustered, and for good reason. The folks in the restaurant were fluent in ‘mile a minute’ Spanish, and the restaurant really wasn’t a restaurant- it was a bar.  Racing back to the car, Peter was frantic. 

“Did you get directions?” I asked 

“Not really,” he said. “But some guy did try to help.  I mean I didn’t get everything he said, but boy

         was he animated! “Señor,” he motioned: “Señor: go this way -- not -- that way!”

We might not be the most fluent folk, but we can motion: go this way -- not -- that way. In this disoriented, irreligious world, we can redirect people to Jesus and His other way of living. For a battle is waging for the soul of humanity. 

Thus, in this violent age, missionaries of reconciliation are urgently needed, dreaming new dreams and seeing new visions that point people to Jesus. Don’t believe the lie that there is no hurry. Rather, claim the truth, there’s a new urgency to reach people for the Savior and His other way of life! Up on your feet, church! 

Turn the world upside down, church! Not only in Nigeria, Spain, and the Dominican Republic, but in every corner of your home mission field, as well. For Jesus is the Anointed One, the Messiah.  Our deepest conviction, our deepest passion. 

For there is no other Savior, no other Lord, no other King -- but Him!

What Are You Thinking?

I want you to remember a number. Are you ready? Here it is:

6,200. 

That’s the number of thoughts the average person has every day! This number comes from research conducted at Queen’s University, where social scientists isolated “thought worms”—consecutive periods of time when an individual is focused on the same idea. So, a lot is going on in your head right now, as your mind whirls through all kinds of mental activity.

God is especially concerned about the content of your thinking—your mental activity. For God knows, in the words of Proverbs 23:7 (KJV), that as a person thinks, so he or she becomes. In the same way, as a congregation thinks, so it shall become. Saturate your 6,200 daily thoughts with the weaknesses of your congregation, and weak you will become. However, saturate your 6,200 daily thoughts with the strengths of your church, and strong you will become.

Now, I’m not saying we should ignore weaknesses, either in ourselves or in our church. But I am saying that what we dwell on—either individually or corporately—has a distinct outcome, either for good or for ill.

Is it any wonder the Apostle Paul encourages us to center and discipline our thinking? Specifically, “focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8, CEB).

There are obvious personal implications related to Paul's words.  But also corporate outcomes, specifically for the church.  And so, in line with Paul's teaching, what is true about your church? What is holy about your church? What is just? What is pure? What is lovely? What is worthy of praise?

A few years ago, a friend had a bad case of warts. She tried everything: salicylic acid, liquid nitrogen, even duct tape. Nothing worked. Finally, the health professional she consulted suggested a strange remedy: think different thoughts about the warts.

Rather than dwelling on the fact that they were a pain (and they were), my friend was encouraged to dwell on the prospect of the warts going away. And they did!

We can’t say conclusively that thinking hopeful thoughts made the difference—maybe the duct tape worked after all! But in some way, my friend’s change in thinking contributed to a promising, healing outcome.

Have you noticed? There are warts all over the church these days: declining attendance and revenue, conflict over biblical and political issues, and tension between younger and older generations. In most cases, people dwell on the pain of it all. But Scripture encourages us to think about the promise of it all—believing that the troubling aspects of church life can be addressed, and that decline, conflict, and tension can be healed.

Now, let me clarify: I’m not talking about some kind of New Age self-talk. I’m not promoting the power of positive thinking. Instead, I’m commending the power of thinking positively about God and His priorities. For God is alive and working in your congregation with a determined intent for good and not for ill. God wants our churches to be effective. God wants them to thrive. God wants his church to flourish.

But here’s the question: have we noticed? Have we thought about God’s positive work? Are we dwelling on it?

Church, let’s dwell on the positive work of God! Let’s “give praise to the Lord; proclaim his name,” in the words of Isaiah 12:4–5. Let us “sing to the Lord, for He has done glorious things!” (Isaiah 12:4–5, NIV).

Such an affirmation was very much needed in Isaiah’s time, for the Israelites were caught up in the negative—and for good reason. They were severely troubled as problems flared up from within and foreign enemies threatened from without.

But here’s the deeper issue: much of that adversity was of their own making. Israel had focused largely on its own agenda and mission rather than God’s. The result was idolatry, as they became preoccupied with their own consumption, convenience, and comfort rather than with the Lord's sacrifice, salvation, and sanctification.

Israel’s experience reminds us that our worship today only truly comes alive when we, too, face our idols. And let me tell you—they’re everywhere.

Author Tim Keller defines an idol as “anything more important to you than God. Anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God. Anything you seek to give you what only God can give. Anything that is so central and essential to your life that, should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living.”

Idols are often revealed, in the words of pastor Jeffery Curtis Poor, through four questions:

• Where do I spend my time?
• Where do I spend my money?
• Where do I get my joy?
• What is always on my mind?

Examples might include money, career, technology, family, sex, success, entertainment, or material possessions.

Now, please don’t misunderstand—there’s nothing intrinsically wrong with any of these things. In moderation, they are good and meaningful parts of life. But when we become more preoccupied with them than with Jesus and His mission, we step into idolatry—worshiping something other than God in Christ as supreme.

Listen: each of us has surrendered much to the Lord. But each of us—individually and corporately—still has areas not fully given over to God.

Thus, we must not only lift our hands in celebration, but also bend our knees in confession—bowing before the Master of the Universe, admitting that we have not always prioritized His sacrifice, salvation, and sanctification, but instead our own consumption, convenience, and comfort.

The result of such contrition is far-reaching. As we confess, we make more room for God. And when God has more room, God has more space to do even greater things.

So, if you think God has done great things in your church, you haven’t seen anything yet! But it all hinges on our willingness to relinquish more idols—prioritizing not our own benefit, but the cause of Christ—for the glory of God and the good of our neighbor.

2023 marked the 100th anniversary of one of the Church of the Brethren’s most remarkable mission outreaches: the birth of EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria.

If ever there was a community of believers who model what it means to celebrate God’s faithfulness, it is this vibrant body of nearly one million brothers and sisters in Christ. Yet this explosion of the Gospel has not happened without warts—it has happened amid intense challenge and opposition.

For years, EYN has been harassed and persecuted by Boko Haram, one of the deadliest terrorist groups in the world. Over 1,600 EYN churches or church branches have been burned or abandoned, representing 70% of its material assets.

Yet EYN continues to thrive—overflowing with celebration.

Whenever Boko Haram invaded, EYN members fled their homes and church buildings. But it didn’t stop the church. Wherever they relocated, they established new outposts—new congregations.

Recently, an EYN leader reflected on this growth despite persecution:

“EYN is a wounded healer... Boko Haram has succeeded in destroying church buildings, thinking that they will stop Christianity. However, as we ran away, we ran with our faith—and Christ ran with us.”

My fellow believers, keep running with your faith—for Christ runs with you!

Yes, these are tough and menacing times. Warts are everywhere. But we celebrate a God who is greater than our warts—who is able, even in our most perplexing moments, to give us the power to flourish.

So, what are you thinking?

Are you dwelling on all that threatens you and chases you, or on the God who embraces you?

Every day, you will think 6,200 thoughts. Think thoughts of weakness, and you—and your church—will be weak. Think thoughts of strength—the strength and faithfulness of God—and you and God's church will be strong!

Awesome Disciples

Picture in your mind the most awesome person you’ve ever met or heard of. It could be a family member, like your grandmother or great aunt. It could be a historical figure, like Benjamin Franklin or Rosa Parks. 

Now, if you were to isolate the reasons why this person is so awesome, I’m guessing all kinds of things would come to mind: their stamina and courage, their character and compassion, their patience and charisma.

But there’s one characteristic that marks almost every awesome person: they are willing to leave their comfort zone for a larger cause.

Take Rosa Parks, for example. She could have easily stayed put at the back of the bus in her seat. But because she knew it was crucial to advance the cause of justice and equality, she stepped out of her comfort zone and refused to move. The rest is history, changing the lives of millions.

Myron Augsburger, the Mennonite evangelist and theologian, is one of the most awesome people I know. Once I asked Myron why he kept risking for Jesus, constantly leaving his comfort zone to expand mission points.

“It’s like this, Paul,” Myron shared. “As a Christ-follower, I’m called to live in more than one world. For example, my home is in Harrisonburg, Virginia, but I’ve learned to be equally at home in Washington, D.C., on the West Coast, or in India—all for the cause of Jesus. Paul, as a Christ-follower, you’ve got to learn to live in more than one world.”

Have you noticed that Jesus lived in more than one world?

Jesus was very much at home in Nazareth, but to accomplish His mission, He constantly ventured out. During His earthly ministry, Jesus traveled to Capernaum, Cana, Tyre, Sidon, Bethany, Emmaus, the wilderness, and Mount Hermon.

Based on the Gospel accounts alone, it is estimated that Jesus “chalked up” a whopping 3,000 miles of mission travel.

Think about it: Jesus could have easily stayed put in His comfort zone, the familiarity of His home in Nazareth. But He knew that to accomplish His calling—to be about His Father’s business, to truly be on mission—He needed to live in more than one world.

It’s tempting to stay put in our comfort zone. But like Jesus, to accomplish our calling—to be about our Father’s business, to truly be on mission—we need to live in more than one world.

That means not just being committed disciples, but growing into awesome disciples who repeatedly leave their comfort zones and risk for the Savior.

But some of us push back.

“Paul, in all honesty, I think I’m already doing my part. Given all I have on my plate—and at my age and station in life—I don’t need more awesome. I need more Advil! I need to check out for a while and get some rest and diversion.”

In that regard, I’m reminded of two senior golfers who were also slowing down a bit. Day after day, they kept knocking golf balls into a water trap, but they kept playing on, retrieving them.

One day at the water trap, one of the golfers encountered a talking frog.

“Listen,” the frog said. “If you kiss me, I’ll turn into an awesome, gorgeous princess.”

The golfer thought and thought and thought. Finally, he grabbed the frog and put it in his pocket.

“Are you crazy?” his buddy exclaimed. “Why didn’t you kiss it?”

“Well, it’s like this,” the golfer replied. “At my age, I’d rather have a talking frog!”

I get it. At any age, young or old, we get tired and reach our limits. We don’t need more awesome—we just need the kids to sleep through the night or our medical challenges to settle down.

But at any age or condition, God still calls us to go beyond our fatigue toward even greater expressions of His mission in Jesus.

For Peter reminds us in Acts 2:17:

“I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.”

So, what is your next mission dream?

What is your next prophecy—your next vision for the outreach of your local congregation?

In Israel, there are two principal bodies of water: the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea.

The Sea of Galilee is an incredible lake—13 miles long and 7 miles wide. It is filled with fish and surrounded by lush foliage. It is also home to countless birds, including cranes, pelicans, and more than 25 species of raptors, such as imperial eagles and spotted eagles.

On the other hand, the Dead Sea is a desolate body of water, 50 miles long and 11 miles wide. It contains no fish, seaweed, plants, or living creatures. In fact, fish that accidentally swim into it quickly die because of the extremely high salt content.

Yet both the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee are fed by the same source of water: the fresh, living Jordan River.

The difference is simple.

The Sea of Galilee releases the living water it receives back into the Jordan and beyond.

The Dead Sea releases nothing. It retains everything it receives.

The result is striking.

The Sea of Galilee is full of life and vitality.

The Dead Sea is a place of death and stagnation.

The same is true for people and churches.

When we release and share the living water we receive from Jesus, we thrive and live.

When we hoard and retain it, we stagnate and die.

Awesome people and awesome churches—those who live in more than one world and risk beyond their comfort zones—share the living water they receive.

They do this not primarily for their own vitality, as important as that may be, but for the vitality of others.

They know that sharing Jesus in word and deed is a life-or-death mission, impacting not just us but all people—beginning in our neighborhoods, then extending to our towns, our regions, our nation, and eventually our world.

This widening mission echoes Jesus’ call in Acts 1:8:

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  (emphasis added)

So keep witnessing in your Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth— wherever that may lead!

Keep getting out of your comfort zone and living in more than one world, acting out your identity as awesome disciples.

Get out of your familiar seat. Move to the front of the bus. Risk.

And help change the world for Jesus.