|
February/March
What is a ‘Soul Awakening’ Event?
Rick Richardson in “Evangelism Outside the Box” describes a soul awakening event as a “context for the Holy Spirit to awaken people to their spiritual longings and begin to see Jesus as a possible satisfier of those longings”. People in our culture today are often ignorant of the fact that they even have a soul and if they recognize they have a soul, they misunderstand what it is. Many evangelical Christians have written off Americans because they feel they are ignorant, unreachable or simply uninterested in spiritual things. Geoff Gordon in ‘Soul Awakening: Helping people know they have a soul’ explains it this way, “They aren’t asking the questions that go with the answers we’d like to give them.” (Reaching Out, published December 1, 2006).
Richardson uses Acts 17 which includes Paul’s sermon at the Aeropagus as a model for soul awakening. Richardson points out that Paul affirms the Athenians for the things in their culture worth affirming. Paul also uses their language and quotes their poets in presenting his message. He connects their spiritual interest with a need he understands and can help with. Richardson concludes that we can awaken souls when we, “turn to shared universal truth experiences, events in our culture, movies that have become part of our story as a culture.” There are cultural elements that we can use to awaken spiritual interest and then connect that interest to God.
We can connect with those who are lost or “pre-christian” by first appreciating the culture we live in. Christians are much more likely to be heard disparaging our culture and sitting in judgment of it. We have to move beyond those thoughts to a genuine appreciation of our culture. We can do that by participating in activities of the culture so that we can identify the good in it. There are many community and cultural events regularly offered in the Bloomington/Normal area, join in the fun. Engage people wherever they are in their spiritual journey.
We also need to understand the core issues and felt needs of people we want to reach. Pay attention to those ‘hot topics’ that come up around the office and those things that ‘everyone’s talking about’. Listen for an opportunity to join in the conversation, not to preach, but to participate with genuine interest. Listening is especially important in these conversations. Good listening helps us understand the views of the people we want to reach. Enter into dialogues with people on the issues they really care about.
Finally, we need to identify with the people we want to reach. Quoting Gordon once more, “The reality is that people whose souls are asleep are a lot closer to us than they are far from God.” We do share many of the core issues, for example issues of identity, belonging and personal fulfillment. We share the same felt needs of loneliness, stress and conflict. We can share in the experience of what it is to be human in this world and talk about it on equal footing. Could we also connect with people in areas of their goodness?
So the question becomes, what do soul awakening events look like? We often confuse them with seeker events which are for those further along in their spiritual journey. Is it possible to have a soul awakening event that isn’t a bait-and-switch event? One possibility is to bring soul awakening into events that are already happening. Geoff Gordon offers the example of instead of hosting a “Soul Awakening Coffee House” we could participate in an existing coffee house or open mic night by sharing soul awakening poems or songs. How can we use visual arts, drama, storytelling or music for a soul awakening event? Do you have soul awakening event ideas? Share them with your small group or contact the church office and we’ll pass them along.
Visit Women's Ministries >>
|
Family Ministries
|
 |
Why we chose to Adopt....
By Marianne Gros
Our adoption story begins with a difficult time in our life where our hearts’ desire was to seek God. Near the beginning of 2004, we found ourselves suddenly in turmoil in the midst of our ministry at a previous church. Experiencing disillusionment and pain within the family of God caused us to cry out to Him, “Where are you God?”.
After a year of seeking the Lord earnestly in prayer, He spoke. In the end of February 2005, I had decided to go on a mission trip to Jamaica to work in a couple of orphanages, something I had always been compassionate towards. Almost immediately upon arrival my heart was broken for these helpless and rejected children. The “baby” orphanage stirred me the most. Perhaps because my boys were only 1 and 3 at the time. Each day we would go to this children’s home, we would spend hours holding the children and trying to bring them a smile. I spent 30 minutes with a 2 yr.old girl on my lap, desperately attempting to make her laugh.....but there was nothing, only a blank stare. My chest felt tight and I was having trouble breathing. I left the room to go outside as the emotional thought came across my mind, “THIS would be my Caleb and Zachary if God had not given them a family.” I truly was broken by the face of the fatherless.
That night as I journaled my day’s experiences and reflected on the turmoil I had left at home, my heart still was wrestling with, “Where are you, God?” Several hours later, in the middle of the night, I sat straight up in bed to the sound of music blasting all around me. But there was no music playing in the room. Yet, the sounds and lyrics were deafening in my ears. It was a song I had recently become fond of by Steven C. Chapman called “What now?” The chorus goes... “what now ? What will you do now that you've found Me? What now? What will you do with this treasure you've found? I know I may not look like what you expected, but if you'll remember, This is right where I said I would be...You found me, what now?”
Oh, how sweet it is to have your prayers answered. I had found HIM in these rejected, lost castaways that God promises throughout scripture He will care for and protect. Just as any revelation from the Lord does to anyone’s life, mine was now changed and impacted forever by the fatherless. That wonderful place where your whole heart, mind and soul are vulnerable and willing to the Potter’s hands as He molds you and shapes you into His design.
Not surprisingly, God had revealed Himself to David to return to Illinois to get his Masters while I was on my mission trip. Which of course, led us to our beloved Grace Church.
The next year and a half was filled with my overwhelming desire to do SOMETHING with this new passion God had given me and with David’s desire to be patient for God’s next step. I was sure that adoption was our next step but David did not feel it was the right time.
Then God revealed Himself again telling me to start an Orphan Care Ministry at Grace but I argued due to the weaknesses I saw in myself. It wasn’t very long and I realized if I didn’t start something, no one would. We kicked off the ministry with an Adoption Sunday/Adoption Conference. Two days before the big event, David said.... “It’s time”. My passion to help the orphan finally felt satisfied.
Our adoption process began January 1, 2007 and on September 24, 2007, the daughter that was planned from before time to be in our family was born! The Lord orchestrated both mine and David’s hearts and our responses for His timing and His perfect will to be sovereign.
There is SO much more to our story but I was most compelled to share how God responds to our genuine search for Him and how that aspect of His character has never changed throughout time. He repeatedly appealed to Israel to seek Him and He would let them find Him (2Chron.15:2), just as God repeatedly appeals to all believers today to seek Him by loving the Lord with all your heart, soul, & mind (Matt. 22:36). Would you consider today if you are seeking the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your soul? You might be surprised where you find Him!!
THE FAMILY LIFE CYCLE SERIES
2006/2007
Each of our marriages and families go through a number of different phases and seasons. Each transition brings new challenges, opportunities and lessons to be learned. The purpose of ‘THE FAMILY LIFE CYCLE SERIES’ is to provide marriages and families at all stages of life the opportunity for instruction from God’s Word, encouragement and discussion designed to enrich their family and marriage experience. Join us for these times of learning, laughter and enrichment!
PARENT-TEEN ELECTIVE – Offered mid-October through November 2007.
This 6 week class is designed for students grades 7-12 and their parents. Together they will look at ‘Communication’; ‘Resolving Conflict’; ‘Setting the Limits’ and ‘Seeing Life from Both Sides’.
LOOKING BEYOND THE NEST – Offered December 2007 – February 2008
This class will look at parenting our adult children. ‘Preparing Your Children for Launch’; ‘Reaching Your Prodigal’; ‘Life as a Grandparent’ and ‘Spiritual Encouragement’ will be some of the topics covered in this 13 week class.
ENRICHING YOUR MARRIAGE – Offered during various times during the year.
We will be offering 2-3 different classes and DVD curriculums designed to enrich the marriages of couples of all ages and life experience. These will be offered by the different ABFs.
Visit the KIDZONE >>
Youth Intern at Grace
Ryan Litwiller is serving as a youth intern here at Grace. He grew up in Bloomington-Normal and attended youth group at Grace for several years. He will be marrying Ashley Schaffer on June 14. They are excited about starting this new phase of life together. Ryan is studying religion with a specialization in youth ministry at Liberty University. It will be exciting to see how God will use him.
Visit Missions Page >>
PRINTABLE VERSION >>
Subscribe Now | Modify Subscription | Unsubscribe |
