As I write this, I am sitting in a room of 23 people from Serbia, Macedonia and other places, some Bible students, some church leaders in the community. Steve Bundy, director of the Christian Institute on Disability is talking about the notion of healing to the students. He is great.
I spoke a bit earlier about a Biblical perspective on suffering. These folks are like sponges just drinking in all of the information. They have some experience with disability in their personal lives, but I guarantee they have never heard the kind of information we are sharing before. I can't tell you how exciting this is. These folks could be the ones God has in mind to bring change in the church and inclusion of people with various disabilities.
Comments have been made about how the people have just been overlooked by the church and by the attendees themselves. It is almost a spirit of repentance as they attend the lectures and listen to the material.
Joni and Friends has done an amazing job assembling the materials that are totally Biblically based and explain so many answers to the questions people have about disability. Should you have the opportunity to attend such a seminar, they are increasingly available around the world, and in America as well. JAF is also trying to get the material into Christian colleges and seminaries. It is amazing to me to think that this information, so basic, so foundational is only now finding its way into the minds of Christians. So exciting.
We are here for several more days, actually till Friday, so if you think about us, would you please pray? What a privilege, what an honor, it is to be here, in this place, at this time, sharing this information, that has the potential to revolutionize the Serbian church and bring integration to persons with various disabilities through the church.
I shared with the students yesterday that this is probably the most radical meeting occurring in all of Serbia today.
McNair
Church Part 3
ReplyDeleteWow what an opportunity to go to Serbia and carry out Christ’s work there. I think our God is so amazing that he opens up such wonderful opportunities such as this one. Sometimes I think we get so caught up in our own little worlds and boxes that we forget that the outside world is so big. I have to admit that before I read this I had never really thought about the fact that disabled people and their need for salvation and support was needed outside of the U.S. I am ashamed to say that I truly thought this way. I am now in such awe of how awesome our God is that he would provide this opportunity to you and use you as such an instrument to reach others who really need your help. Thank you so much for all that you do and still will do, when it comes to this front that has such a need for people who are compassionate and willing to carry out God’s love unto the ends of the earth. I will continue to pray for you as you continue on your journey through Serbia and other places God chooses to lead you. I pray that he will continue to provide you with peace and strength as you carry out the message of a peoples need for support and educate the world through the wonderful ministry of Joni Erickson Tada. Again thank you for all you do and my prayers go with you.
Sincerely,
Sarah E. Pearce
When I read this report it is amazing to know that Christians are taking an interest in this subject and not just those people who may have family members with disabilities. Its encouraging to those of us who have grown up with knowing about Christ's love for those with disabilities, because we can become excited for those who are hearing it for the first time. I think its amazing that God can work anywhere and what a wonderful opportunity you have to witness to these people. Our God is a God of love and its just encouraging to read what is going on in the lives of the people living in Serbia. Thank you so much for allowingthose of us to share in your excitment and giving us the ability to pray for specifics in thelives of these people. I will continue to pray for your trip and that God uses you in a might way to touch these peoples hearts. You have done an amazing job as a professor and as a leading profession in this field.
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