August 2010

“Therefore, 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.”
-- Hebrews 12:1

Dear Ones of St. Paul’s,

Who first told The Story for you? Where were you when you heard about Jesus’ love for you? On whose shoulders does your faith stand?

I love that verse – because it makes me think of those in the small Phoenix church in which I grew up. I remember those who taught, gave, and served so that I could know how much I’m loved by Jesus. When I think back to that congregation, the sanctuary had a cool cement floor, and I sat by my grandmother who crackled with peppermints during the sermon. But everyone in the church really acted as family -- as “a great cloud of witnesses” to Jesus’ love.

One particularly vivid memory for me comes from a weekend at our pine-filled camp in Payson. Mrs. Harmon, our girls’ group leader, was in charge. In the middle of the blackest night I got sick. Really sick and really scared. But Mrs. Harmon knew what to do. She had a flashlight. She knew how to clean up ‘really sick.’ And she never complained. Into her old age, she never made me feel like I’d been a major pain. She was a hands-on witness of Jesus’ love. And I can tell you - I listened when she told the Bible stories -- she lived what she meant!

Unless someone stands in the place of witness we cannot know the truth. Others gave us the gift of being offered Jesus’ story. Now we stand in their place and are invited by God to speak – to be the witness. We are privileged to speak the story of love, grace, forgiveness, and hope.

That’s what evangelism is all about -- telling not only God’s story, but telling how our lives have touched that story. As the story is told, others are invited into the story, too. As we lean more and more into living Jesus’ love we are that “great cloud of witnesses.” This is one of God’s good gifts to us and to the world. Will you join me in exploring this pattern of life? May God bless us as we witness.