Cyndi and I just got back yesterday from our 15th anniversary celebration in Europe. It was an incredible time, but we’re very happy to be back with our kids and our church family again.
It was our first visit to Europe, and we experienced many great things, but there was something that made me depressed. In city after city and village after village, we toured through an endless string of old, dead churches, both Catholic and Protestant. These buildings and institutions had been established to proclaim God’s glory to the world, but over the years became more interested in serving themselves. They slowly declined in their influence and attendance, and now have zero impact on the culture around them. Tourists poke their heads into these churches for half a minute to snap a few pictures of the stained glass windows, then move on to the next stop in their guidebooks.
Reflecting on these beautiful but dead churches, I became more convinced than ever that we need to be constantly proactive in our work to influence the world with the grace-filled message of the cross. Left to ourselves, we’ll just serve ourselves. But empowered by the Spirit, we’ll be “the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing” (2 Cor 2).
As individuals, we must proactively form relationships with people who don’t know Jesus. As a church body, we must proactively “let our light shine before others, so that they may see our good works and give glory to our Father who is in heaven” (Matt 5).
And right now, we have a unique opportunity to do exactly that. We have been invited by the principal of Liholiho School to mentor at-risk kids in our own neighborhood through the Common Grace ministry. The commitment is small: you’ll hang out with one kid for one hour a week, based on your own schedule. But the eternal impact and cultural influence will be huge.
If you’re a Harborite, I want to personally encourage you to attend the Common Grace training lunch, this Sunday immediately after the service. If you can make it, email Stephanie Morris ( sjensen143@juno.com ) so there’s enough food.
Whether or not you can be a mentor, please be praying for our light to shine brightly.