The Power of The Resurrection...The Power of 'With'
At our Easter service at Open Door Fellowship our pastor, Johnny Acevedo, expounded on the transforming power of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The new life and new creation unleashed through our risen Lord includes the marvelous transformation of His people being conformed to His image. It also includes the transformation of all creation for His glory for He is Lord of all things. At His coming there will be a new earth as well as a new heaven. In this new community there will be perfect justice for all; “the poor will eat and be satisfied.” Until then, “the creation waits in eager expectation” for its redemption. However, the Kingdom has come in Christ and until then God is graciously restoring all things, giving us signs and tastes of things to come.
The recent “Power of With” Conference sponsored by agencies of the Christian Reformed Church in North America focused on one of the signs and tastes of God’s Kingdom: Communities working together to bring His shalom, His intended purpose for their well being. Several NECT partners were in attendance including Ted Bessey, Holistic Ministries Coordinator from Pathway Community Church in Newport, Maine. Ted comments on what he learned:
The Christian Reformed Church and many of its member organizations sponsored this conference to promote working "WITH" the community you are in. What exactly does this mean? Most people especially churches and other civic organizations still look at the poor as "them" and the well off as "us". This view promotes the idea that we have to help the poor and we know exactly how we are going to do it. By having this attitude not only do we do a disservice to those we are trying to help as it promotes both the attitude of dependency and a sense of entitlement. It does nothing to solve the core reasons behind the poverty.
The Power of "WITH" promotes going out into the community and learning each other’s skills and gifts. We walk amongst those we are "helping" and become their friends and true neighbors. This empowers all of us to become better people and to make the changes needed to improve our own lot in life.
Al Santino, NECT Director