When Frodo set off on his journey to destroy the ring of power he did no set off on his journey alone.
He had the fellowship of the ring to labor with him and to help him on his quest.
As a church we are the body of Christ. We are one of many local outposts of hope in a world that is broken by sin.
Last week as we celebrated communion, we gave thanks for the reality that Christ loves us and has defeated the power of sin.
As a church we gather to celebrate and then we are sent to live out and proclaim the message of love and hope.
Like Frodo had partners with him on the journey, we have missional partners who walk alongside us and we walk alongside them to bring the message of hope to specific segments of our world.
Frodo had long time friends, like Sam and Merry and Pip.
We have long time friends like Youth Horizons and the Heart of Kansas So. Baptists.
We also have newer friends like FCA and Hope’s Gate.
Just like Frodo’s friends each brought a unique gifting, each of our missional partners bring a unique focus.
While each partner is unique, all of our missional partners are striving for the same mission to share the love and hope of Christ to a world in need.
Love and hope sound like flowery words… right? Those words will decorate Christmas cards and homes this year, but these words do have real meaning.
Love – God has affection for all that he has made, and he demonstrated that on the cross.
Hope – One day Christ will return and those who have trusted in him will be with him forever.
Love and Hope are more than flowery words. They are statements of reality.
We believe love and hope are real and our partners share our beliefs.
In the fellowship of the ring a deep brotherhood formed among Frodo and his companions.
With our partners we share belief, and we also share friendship and personal connection.
We partner with organizations where have formed relational bonds over time.
Today I will be talking about our local partners. I’m going to introduce to their mission briefly and then bring you a charge from Titus chapter 2:11-15.
Brad Painter the president of OneLink will talk to us next week about God’s heart for the nations.
FYI – I’m including work with refugees in our partnerships with international missions.
You can find a list of all our ministry partners on the church website. Rivercc.org/about and click on the our partners button.
Brad and I in a sense will both be preaching the same message – Obedience.
Will you be faithful to obey God as he calls you to serve in whatever ministry capacity he calls you to?
Local missions or International Missions.
There is no A Team (International Missions)
and B Team (local missions).
One team, one story – God’s story. He invites you and I to participate in what HE is doing.
Obedience to Jesus is the call on every believer’s life, but the living out of that obedience is unique to each person.
There is one way to salvation, but there are many paths on the journey of obedience.
Pick a path. Walk faithfully. Trust God with the results.
Let me introduce our local ministry partners.
Youth Horizons
Founded in 1989 by Earnest Alexander. Youth Horizons is currently led by Robert Garner.
We have partnered with Youth Horizons since the organization was founded.
Youth Horizons has two primary programs, a mentoring program and a residential program.
Youth Horizons serves kids at-risk. Some are in the foster care system, some are living in single parent homes, all are in need of some help and hope.
Risa Rhemert, Robert Garner, and Tony Hager all members of River, work at Youth Horizons.
Currently there are 19 people from River active in mentoring.
Kim Scott is one of our River mentors. I asked her to share some joys about her relationship with Jazmine.
Watching her grow from a pre-teen to a first-generation high school graduate.
Getting to know someone I would have otherwise never come into contact with.
It has been a joy to be her confidant, prayer warrior, advocate, and cheerleader through these formative teenage years. And a joy to watch so many others in the church come alongside our relationship both in person and through prayer.
Lesson God has taught me:
Dying to self !
Sacrificing the time to meet has become more difficult through the years with young kids but every time she gets in the car, I’m reminded how much I love spending time with her and the reward of being faithful.
The biggest challenge is facing the fear of inadequacy or like I’m not doing enough. It’s then I’m reminded to keep showing up when and how I can.
FCA
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is an international organization. They have chapters in HS and colleges across KS and around the world. They reach out to athletes and coaches to share the love of Christ and encourage believers to walk faithfully with Jesus.
Terry shared with me how God used FCA to teach him leadership, evangelism, discipleship. The director of FCA at the time, a guy like Keith Townsend, helped Terry a lot.
Keith Townsend is a member of our church and currently leads FCA at Wichita State and Friends.
FCA, by impacting our pastor’s life 40 years ago is now impacting all of our lives as Terry lives out his calling as our pastor.
Think about this… we don’t know how God might impact a life through FCA, maybe he will impact another Terry Williams through FCA.
Our call as a church is to walk alongside and support and encourage and help Keith. The results belong to God.
Embrace
Robin Sites and Patty Lewis currently work at Embrace.
Kristen Doerksen and her small group are faithful volunteers at Embrace. The small Christmas tree near the nursery check in desk is from Embrace and Kristen and her group normally take care of setting up that Tree.
You can take one of the ornaments off the tree and buy supplies for a mom who needs help.
Embrace is doing vital front-line ministry for women considering abortion.
They offer pregnancy tests, STD testing, sonograms, and counseling to mothers and fathers as well as teaching parenting classes and offering supplies for new moms.
In January, Embrace plans to open a new clinic in Derby and they do need some help moving in so if you’d like to volunteer there is an opportunity for you.
Here is a recent request for prayer that I received from Tim Quiggle the Executive Director from Embrace.
A young girl in high school is here for a pregnancy test and sonogram (accompanied by her mother). The mother asked multiple times where they could obtain abortion pills. The girl has health issues that could potentially complicate the pregnancy. A local OB/GYN was contacted and agreed to see her.
Pray that this girl shows for her appointment with the OB/GYN. Pray that through all of this she finds time to wonder and be amazed at the potential life growing inside of her. Pray that she would experience the goodness and hope that only Jesus can provide. Pray for a decision to choose life.
Hope’s Gate
Hope’s Gate was started by women from River. Jamie Proffer along with some other ladies started the ministry. I text Jamie this week and asked… What is the mission of Hope’s Gate?
Her response – to share a Christ-like love with no strings attached to women in the sex industry.
How do they do that? By bringing small gifts monthly and by seeking to build genuine relationships.
Again… why do they do this work – So that women would know the love of Christ.
The heartbeat of Hope’s Gate is they want these women to know that they are truly loved.
Hope’s Gate, Embrace, Youth Horizons all of these ministries reach out to people who might think that church is not a place for them.
By partnering with these ministries we are touching people we may not have otherwise touched with the hope of the gospel.
CAYM
Donovan Karber, a longtime member of our church works for CAYM (Christian Association of Youth Mentoring)
CAYM establishes and supports mentoring programs like Youth Horizons. CAYM has local impact at Youth Horizons, national impact, and international impact as they help start ministries in African countries.
Here’s a note from a recent CAYM newsletter.
CAYM’s team travelled to Cadillac, Michigan, in early November to help Sarah and Steve Brennan design and start a mentoring program for their small town. God put it on their hearts to reach youth in their community who were falling well short of the potential God put in their lives. One thing stood out: everyone we met, from the school superintendent to the Sheriff’s office, saw an immense need for mentoring. Whether they were people of faith or secular, they all agreed that church involvement was critical in this effort.
Our investment in Donnovan and the ministry of CAYM is having a ripple effect.
Think about this…. Donnovan is taking his knowledge and commitment to Christ and investing himself into leaders of mentoring organizations who are in turn investing in mentors who are then sharing the light of the gospel with children and families in need.
Your giving to our church helps Donnovan and all these ministries I have mentioned.
SBC
River is a cooperating member of the So. Baptist Convention. Locally we partner with the Heart of KS So. Baptist Association.
Our partnership locally allows us to help start new churches and to encourage pastors and staff of existing churches.
One of the strengths of our denomination is the disaster relief efforts that So. Baptist coordinate through the organization called Send Relief.
Recently, Kevin and Donna Loss went to Georgia to serve with a Send Relief Group to help clean up after the hurricane. Kevin served on the chainsaw crew and Donna served in the office and in the Kitchen.
Kevin told me how he was able to share Christ with people when he was out cleaning up their yards. Kevin and Donna have since been to other training for Send Relief. We are grateful that they served.
Grateful that we are part of the So. Baptist Convention so that we can partner together to start new church and to help people meet some of their tangible physical needs.
These are our local ministry partners. I obviously didn’t touch on all the ministry that happens through youth group, and small groups and through discipling the kids upstairs.
You are involved in ministry to at-risk youth, mothers and fathers considering abortion, starting new churches, encouraging other churches, helping with disaster relief, calling athletes to obedience to Jesus, and communicating Christ’s love to women in the sex industry.
You are also parenting kids, discipling college students, loving one another, working jobs, finishing degrees, and stewarding your resources.
Still there is probably much more that we could do. How do we prioritize it all?
Let’s look to God’s word to see how he wants us to live.
Titus 2:11-15
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.
15 Proclaim these things; encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
The grace of God has appeared – this refers to Christ’s first coming.
The first appearing of Jesus brought salvation for ALL people.
The Jews were God’s chosen people initially when the church was born at Pentecost, Jews were the first to believe.
In a vision, the Holy Spirit spoke to Peter and sent him to deliver the message of the gospel to a non-Jewish house. The gospel spread from one group to all people.
Salvation is for teens considering abortion, People from every social class, Your neighbor. A Student Athlete and a women working in the sex industry.
None are deserving.
ALL are in need.
BUT, not all will receive salvation.
This salvation for is ALL (universal) but it instructs US (particular)… It is given to all but only some will receive it and be taught by it.
Who will receive it and who won’t? That question is not for us to answer.
Who has God given you to love and serve? Start there.
What has he given you to do? Start there.
Salvation has been brought to all and it instructs us. How does it instruct us to live?
“to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way”
Let’s focus in on the word – Sensible.
Sensible is the last word you would focus on when someone is talking about missions and being involved in God’s work in the world.
“Let’s take the hope of the gospel to people in need and be sensible about it!”
Inspiring right?
Only sensible gifts this Christmas! Socks and underwear for everyone!
What might it look like to live a sensible life?
Deny godlessness – God is present in the world. He is not an afterthought. He is the author and sustainer of life. Obey him, pray to him, relate with him.
Deny worldly lust – pleasure, wealth, and power are fine but these things will cease. We must deny the belief that more and more and more will satisfy
Live righteous – do the right thing because you know it is the right thing to do regardless of the cost regardless of the results
Again Live godly – let every inch of your life be saturated with God.
If someone sings beautifully, their singing is what? It is full of beauty.
If someone lives godly, then their life is full of God.
If God is actually God the only sensible thing to do arrange your life to be full of him.
Let him enter into your conversations, your relationships, your hopes, your dreams, your habit.
What if sensible living looked like this….
Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
When I read this verse, I imagine myself up on a mountain, taking in the view of God’s mercy He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.
When we take in the view of God’s mercy, what is the only sensible thing for us to do?
To give all of ourselves to the one who gave himself for us.
What will that look like? It will be unique for each of us.
Serving… Sacrificing… praying…giving…waiting…listening
Do you know what else is sensible?
Trusting God with the results.
I love results. I planted grass in my backyard this fall and I derive way too much pleasure by just looking at that lush green fescue!
I labored for that grass and I got the results I desired.
But what if we labor in the lives of people and we do not get the results we desire?
The results do not belong to us. The future doesn’t belong to us. We are limited beings. We can only do so much. We labor faithfully trusting him with results
I told you how CAYM is having a global impact and how Donnovan’s ministry is having a ripple affect but let me tell you about the first pebble that dropped.
Jim Presnell, a man who used to be part of our church, approached Donnovan one day 28 years ago and said… “You should mentor at Youth Horizons. You’d be a good mentor.” Donnovan said Ok.
Fast forward to today, the ripple effect of that pebble dropped years ago by one man in Donnovan’s life has been making waves ever since.
Jim Presnell did not know the future; he was faithful with a moment in time in Donnovan’s life.
Be faithful, trust God with the results.
Do you remember the prayer request from Embrace earlier about the teen considering abortion? Friday I received an email describing the answer to the prayer.
The daughter chose life for her child. She chose life.
Let me encourage you with one last reality.
Recently, I was at the Youth Horizon’s boys ranch helping Terry and Donnovan with some training.
I used to work at Youth Horizons and covered many shifts at the ranch over the years so I know the problems at the boys ranch well.
Sitting in my truck, I was praying and thinking. I was a getting a little discouraged as I thought about the challenges of ministry at Youth Horizons.
Different kids… same problems….different staff… same struggles.
I remember thinking does any of this matter… is this as good as it gets?
God brought my mind to this verse in Titus “live sensible, righteous, and godly in this present age while you wait for the blessed hope the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Is this as good as it gets? NO!
I have a blessed hope. If you have trusted Christ you have a blessed hope.
One day Jesus will step through the clouds, and we will be at home with him forever.
One day God is going to turn the lights out at Youth Horizons. No more fatherless children, no more abortion, no more sex industry.
We will enjoy an existence that has been completely untouched by sin.
In that moment as I sat in my truck… I pushed aside thoughts of despair… and clung to the reality of a blessed hope and I went in to participate in the training.
Can we let the blessed hope be fuel for our days, today while we labor in this present age?
Is this as good as it gets? No – We have a blessed hope.
You might say… I don’t need any fuel for my days… I’m not like you Rodney… life is good!
You are right it is good… but it is not as good as it gets! You have a blessed hope.
One day you are guaranteed to have your best life.
Married, Single, Happy Family, Dream job?
NO!
A life with Jesus a life with not even a drop of evil.
Can you let the reality of the blessed hope guide your longings in this present age?
Enjoy all of the legitimate goodness that God gives – Soak it up.
But let his goodness be a foretaste of the life to come. Don’t go chasing more and more of his gifts. Be in awe of the giver.
If you are too busy chasing his gifts you might be too busy to obey and enjoy him.
This is not as good as it gets.
In this present age, we labor together longing for that day.
We labor together sometimes with sadness sometimes with joy but always with the blessed hope awaiting us.
We labor together on this day because Jesus is worthy.
The only sensible way for us to live in this present age is to give ourselves fully to the one who gave himself for us.