Service to the Saints
John 13:34 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
This Sunday will mark the close of our church for the summer season. While the church will remain dormant our lives will not. Each of us will continue to exercise the love of Christ in our daily lives and in our daily circumstances.
Some of you will miss the Sunday services and some of you will find that missing them is a welcome break. I discovered that the summer break that we take at this church is actually a tradition for many churches in England and Scotland. It seems our distant cousins know the value of a summer respite.
The one thing that we will all continue to do while absent from this sanctuary is to love one another as Jesus commanded. In fact you as a church and as individuals have so equipped me and my group with your love that we are able to carry it over half a world away to Zambia, Africa.
For me this will be a chance to renew friendships and discover new ones. It will be an opportunity to represent all of you and to introduce you to my friends in Zambia. They say you only get one chance to make a first impression and that it has a lasting effect.
You as a church have made an endearing first impression on my friends in Zambia. They know you as dearly loved Saints. What a wonderful title you bare. By definition the word -Saint - means someone who exhibits the traits of holiness or virtue. This you all accomplish by your love for Jesus when you share that love with each other and with other believers that you haven’t even met.
It was by God’s grace that we hosted John and Christine Chitumbo of Zambia last October. Like you they are Saints called to Gods service where they live. They happen to live in Zambia. Your visit with them though short was memorable and they are most grateful for your support and gift to them.
You continue to give to the mission work in Zambia by supporting me in that work. I will do my best to honor your love and support by extending it to the needy children of Zambia.
I can not help but think of St. Paul and his missionary work and how the church equipped him for the task he was called to. You have been every bit as faithful in equipping me as the church of Antioch was at equipping St. Paul.
Without you and your love I am nothing. It is your love that compels me to continue to preach the gospel and to reach the poor and destitute of Zambia. God has seen fit to put together a diverse team of individuals for this mission trip.
Janet Sterling (Roman Catholic from the Holy Redeemer Parish Cluster which includes Wallaceburg and Port Lambton) is a retired RN with a wealth of practical experience and knowledge. She has been on several missions’ trips in the past but never to Africa. She along with Marion Browning (A member of Charlemont Free Methodist Church on Brigden Road) who currently works at Sydenham District Hospital will work with the staff at Mongu hospital and with the Kids Alive babies’ home in Mongu. Janet will be our health professional; hopefully we will not have to turn to her for our own health needs.
Marion and her daughter Steff are on their first missionary trip. Steff Browning and my daughter Audrey both worked for Community Living where they worked with people with special needs. My daughter Audrey (A member of Faith Baptist Church Wallaceburg) is a trained counselor who studied child psychology. Audrey and Steff will minister to the minds and bodies of these children.
Also traveling with us are Michelle Miller and her daughter Justine from Emmanuel Baptist Church in Chatham. Michelle will offer her skills as a mother and care giver and is also trained to assist people with special needs. She is employed with Community Living and has acquired special skills through her employment. Michelle’s daughter Justine will help with child care and infant care. This is their first missionary trip.
Nathan Bushey (Faith Baptist Church Wallaceburg) will assist my son Josh with the physical labor that we are asked to perform. Nathan is a new Christian having been recently baptized and he is anxious to put his faith to work in the mission field.
I go as a Pastor and teacher to bring the word of God, my wife Fran goes as a mother and caregiver. So all together we have one Catholic, two Free Methodist six Baptist and a Presbyterian Pastor to round out the team. I think that should be enough diversity for anyone.
Even though we come from different churches and faith backgrounds we share the same love that you have for these dear ones so far away.
Jesus said in Matthew Chapter 25.
25:31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.
Mat 25:32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
Mat 25:33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Mat 25:34 Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
Mat 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
Mat 25:36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
Mat 25:37 Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
Mat 25:38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
Mat 25:39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?
Mat 25:40 The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.
You are the righteous saints that Jesus is talking about in this scripture. For you there will be a crown in heaven that was forged through your Christian love here on earth.
Continue to keep our team in prayer during our absence from you as we will pray God is blessing you with ever increasing spiritual gifts while we are away.
Thank you for giving me these few weeks off this summer to travel with my family and this team to Zambia. Without you it would not have happened. Now while I am away be sure to continue to love one another until the love of Jesus brings us together again.
