The church is part of a specific community in order that the people of that church can participate in God’s work of changing that community. We sing, “this world is not my home, I’m just a passing through,” but truly this world is our home, at least for now. It’s time we take a redemptive look at our community, listen to their story, and engage them with the gospel.

Here are some suggestions on listening to the story of your community.

• Go to the people. Just like Jesus, we should meet the people of your community where they are. Do not set forth and wait upon them to come to you. Bring the Gospel to them.
• Move beyond acquaintances, and dive into friendships. We give lip service to the idea of forming relationships with people in our community, but how difficult it is to actually do it! Sure, we may make smalltalk with the coffee barista, hail the mail carrier with a friendly “howdy,” and smile at familiar faces during our morning jog. We have acquaintances, but do we have friendships? Acquaintances are easy, uncomplicated, clean, and maintenance-free. Friendships, by contrary, can be sometimes messy, complex, time-consuming, and unpleasant. That’s where we need to go — to the point of friendships, where the real work of relationship begins.
• Become an active member of your community. Are you involved in your community? Not everyone is an extrovert, and not everyone needs to be a member of the HOA board or a little league coach. But surely we can become better involved. A neighborhood is not merely a place to stay. It is a place to live — to put down roots, and become part of the fabric of the community.

Once you listen to the story of your community, you are better able to articulate the story of the Bible, the most important story of all time. We’re missionaries, and missionaries must understand their context to make the necessary adaptations. Our message remains the same, but our methods adjust to the nuances of our community. Let’s get involved in the community story, and help to transform it together.

(Referenced from Crossleadership "Listen to the Story of Your Community")

The fear of end results has been one of the prime factors of procrastination. Some simple questions we often ask ourselves are; what am I going to do if there are not enough volunteers for this project? Or where will the funds come from to support this project? Or isn’t this different from what we’ve gotten used to doing?

Too often we tend forget that the kingdom of God, in which we labor, belongs to God and not us. As laborers in his vineyard, our first duty is to obey as he speaks. So, instead of all of the above questions, the real question we ought to be asking is; “Lord, what will you have us to do?” I think obedience is knowing what the master’s vision is and obeying them.

The process of obeying the vision has to do with knowing the vision, writing the vision, praying for the vision and laborers. And the rest is God’s to perform. The harvest is not ours to worry about, it is the Lord’s. Paul writes in; I Corinthians 3:6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.

Since it is God’s responsibility to make things grow, let us only worry about what we are responsible to do and leave it to God who created and understands the very process of seed growing to bring in the increase.

Here at Holy Nativity Lutheran Church, we have endeavored to expand our vision. Breaking down the walls that held us captive, we no longer walk in the fear of end results but, rather, in the victory that God will provide laborers as we continue in prayer, and that God will also make our seeds grow.

We encourage everyone to join in and use their God-given talents in service for his kingdom. For it is with you and me serving collectively that vision expansion can become possible.

For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7.

Always in business with Jesus,
Your Pastor and friend,
Andrew T. Okai

During the past year, Mission and Outreach ministry has distributed over 44,000 pounds of food (over 22 tons) to our needy brothers and sisters in the local communities via mobile food drops from the Maryland Food Bank. The specific dates and amounts of food distributed at these events were as follows: 9/22/2010 -4,721 pounds; 11/06/2010 – 9,244 pounds; 2/12/2011 – 9,249 pounds; 4/16/2011 – 9,249 pounds; and 6/18/2011 – 11,485 pounds. This food fed over 1,000 families in need for over a total of 5,000 family members. As those in need come to Holy Nativity Lutheran Church for emergency food assistance, we remember the words Jesus spoke to His apostles that afternoon. “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 

August 2011
Stewardship Message for August 2011

Have you seen a miracle lately? Have you looked in a mirror today? In his Popular Commentary of the Bible, Paul Kretzmann wrote, “ . . . every Christian is a miracle in his own eyes: the creation of the new man is finished, and he is gaining every day in strength and power.”
 
Kretzmann’s statement amplifies what the Apostle Paul wrote in his second letter to the Corinthians, “ . . . if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (2 Cor. 5:17). Jesus vanquished the old sinful Adam through His death and resurrection. The old Adam has been drowned in the water of Baptism. We are God’s new creation! We are God’s miracle, “ . . . God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:10).
 
Through God’s gracious work, our hearts and minds are set on Jesus Christ. Our attitudes toward the “things” of this world have radically changed. We “ . . . seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33). In Christ, we are no longer of the darkness of the world, but “ . . . are the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14). That’s why Jesus said, “ . . . let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).
 
We let our light shine through the good works we do in Christ. We show mercy and give, in contrast to those who borrow and do not repay (Psa. 37:21). We hold possessions with an open hand and “refresh” others with our bounty (Prov. 11:24-25). We are honest and demonstrate our faith by our work and integrity (1 Thes. 4:12-12). We give to those in need (1 John 3:17). We are generous in all things (2 Cor. 9:11) and demonstrate to a watching world the love of God.
 
We are truly a miracle, saved from darkness and brought into the Marvelous Light. Through the Lord Jesus, who is the Light of the World, we are a light to the world.

August 2011
Written by: Eileen May

Just as public and private schools begin another year of education, we too, begin new Bible studies to develop and promote Spiritual Growth.  Without education, we fail to develop to our full potential.  And without Christian Education, Bible Study, we fail to develop to our full Christian potential.  According to a workshop I attended several years ago, there are 4 stages to Christian Growth:

We all know someone in each of these stages.  What stage are we in?  Christian Education should provide opportunities for continued spiritual growth for everyone in any stage.  We hope, this fall, to provide you with many and varied opportunities to grow in Christ.  No matter what stage you are in, in matter your age, Christ calls us into a closer relationship with him through His Word.

August 2011
Message by Rev. Andrew T. Okia

Every year, springtime makes a powerful statement around the world. God created the world with a built-in need to grow and reproduce. It doesn’t matter whether you are in Long Beach, U.S.A. or Lilongwe, Africa; spring is a time when nature accelerates with new life.

Your faithful servant always in business with Jesus
Rev. Andrew T. Okai