“Be Strong and Courageous:” : A Call to Faithfulness in Doing God’s Mission“
– By Rev. Dr. Carla A. Romarate-Knipel
Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
– Deuteronomy 31:7- 8
“Take on challenges so big that if they succeed, only God can take credit…The challenges should always be bigger than you…otherwise where do faith and trust come in?” – Carey Nieuwhof
Like Joshua, I need to hear the words of Moses often, “Be strong and courageous …” Unlike Joshua, I don’t have the same clarity of what exactly the Promised Land looks like for us, Church Family. For sure, I am praying for the Holy Spirit’s guidance to discern how God may be leading us to a place where God wants us to be in this season of what feels like pruning, with the hope that God is allowing our present difficulties and trials, to ensure that we grow and become fruitful. I try to listen to the words of Moses and find strength and courage to take on challenges that are “so big, that if they succeed, only God can take credit,” as Carey Nieuwhof, church growth consultant puts it. And if they fail, God can help us learn from our mistakes that will make us grow and mature as Jesus’ disciples. In fact, I am convinced more than ever that I would rather fail while trying than never try at all. Succeed or fail, a pastor is expected to have a vision. But I have come to believe that it is God’s vision not the pastor’s that we need to see, and God’s direction, that we need to hear, together.
I am very thankful for our church leaders and future ministry task force for working together so that our congregation can come together in the name of Jesus to respond not just to the report that the future ministry task force has presented for us to read, reflect on and pray about, but to God who calls us to follow Jesus as disciples and be faithful stewards of God’s Good News, resources and gifts to carry out God’s mission through Central Baptist Church.
We don’t have all the time in the world. We have a choice to make: Do we want to wait for things to happen or do we make things happen, with God’s power of love at work in each one of us? I hope and pray that we choose to unite in Christ and do something. Through prayer, discernment, planning, we can make things happen in the power and spirit of God’s love here at Central Baptist Church for God’s glory and to share with our community the Good News of God’s love through Jesus.
This October as the leaves begin to change and the colors of fall bring joy to the beholder, may we trust God to lead us in a season of change – to be strong and courageous in the Lord, and trust God to lead us into the future bright with hope.
Have a Blessed, Healthy and Safe Autumn!
Yours in Christ’s Love and Peace,
Pastor Carla
