From the Home Front: View from the EMC Chair

The following is a post from the EMC Chair at CCUMC.

"He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said. That's why it is said, 'Abraham was declared fit before God by trusting God to set him right.' But it's not just Abraham; it's also us!" [The Message, Romans 4:20-24]

Rudy ended this week’s Bible Study on Romans 4 with the thought that although God did many miraculous things through Abraham, the real exciting part is that the opportunity is also offered to us. Us? What do you mean “us”? Worship, teaching Sunday School, leading Bible Study, community service, missions trips. Aren’t those things done by those other people in the pews? Not me?!

We are blessed to receive regular updates from our Kumi Missions team in Uganda on a near daily basis (at least when the power is on over there). We have been reading some wonderful stories, and I am sure being over there in person is even more amazing. Sometimes it is easy for us to fall into the trap of thinking that this is their project and it has nothing to do with us. But one difference about this project was that we intentionally created a Home Team, led by Jane, Hoang-Anh, Peggy, and others. It has been important that the project be a church project and not a project just for the eight who are on the other side of the world. Indeed, the church as a whole through its operating budget helped financially; many people were involved in making crafts, scrapbooks, and journals that the team brought with them; some attended the diversity and planning workshops; and many have been praying for the team. As Jeff reminded us last week, “CCUMC is a small church that is doing big things.”

The Uganda mission project is a neat one because it culminates in one event, and we can claim success after it is done. However, there are many other ministries and functions that are done by our folks here at home. I am thankful for Irene’s leadership in handling the Nursery School deactivation; I am thankful to Matthew for helping with the request for our new associate pastor; I am thankful for Hoang-Anh, Jessica, Rudy, Tuan-Anh, and Joanna for helping out with worship while our Worship Team is away. And it is not that they are just “filling in;” rather they are answering a call and doing a great job! It is exciting to see them in action, and I hope it is inpiring us all to recognize that ministry is not someone else’s job - it is something that all of us can do. Just like with Abraham, we see some pretty miraculous things happen when we let God work in us. Praise the Lord!