February 2021 Connections

Connections Proclaiming the GOSPEL

LOCAL & GLOBAL STORIES, NEWS AND EVENTS of COLLEGE CHURCH

“On October 18, feeling fine, I went to the drive-through testing site and a few hours later got the stunning result: positive for SARS-CoV-2.”

Gifts that COVID Gave Me: How I left Ukraine to avoid getting COVID, got it anyway, and what I gained by Cheryl Warner on page 10

FEBRUARY 2021

Life Lessons

Side by Side

I Believe!

An Experimental Approach to Religious Proof

Church Planting Heads South

My Journey to True Belief

INTERVIEW: ZACH FALLON | 14

BUDI TJAHJADI | 20

PASTOR JOSH MOODY | 12

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

February Highlights

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Prayer Gatherings

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Try a Different Kind of Light Therapy This Winter | JOHN MAUST

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From the Desk of the Board of Missions

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Gifts that COVID Gave Me: How I left Ukraine to avoid getting COVID, got it anyway, and what I gained | CHERYL WARNER

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An Experimental Approach to Religious Proof | SENIOR PASTOR JOSH MOODY

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Church Planting Heads South | AN INTERVIEW WITH ZACH FALLON

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The Day the Storm Began | WALLACE ALCORN

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In the Hands of the Father | JOHN MELBY

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Caring Network Cares for People

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Local Pro Life Prayer Every Month

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My Journey to Truly Believe| BUDI TJAHJADI

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New and Old at the Same Time

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Most Popular Sites by College Church Users| RIGHTNOW MEDIA

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New Members

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Milestones

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Looking Ahead

FEBRUARY HIGHLIGHTS Three Thursday Nights in February 3 Common Objections to Christianity Answered • Feb 11: Science has disproved God • Feb 18: The Bible is not historically accurate • Feb 25: Christian ethics are out of date Join us for answers to these questions at 7:00 p.m. in person in Commons Hall or online through our livestream, Facebook or YouTube channels.

Sunday Morning Services Visitors are welcome in any and all services; no registration required. Feel free to invite people to worship with us.

Join us at 8:00, 9:30 and 11:15 a.m.

Required registration for members and regular attenders at the 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. services opens at noon on Tuesdays on our website or in our church family email. No registration required for the 8 a.m. service. You may also access the sign-up form here: college-church.formstack.com/forms/worship_signup Livestream broadcast is at 9:30 with a rebroadcast at 11:15.

You can watch it at college-church.org/livestream Living in Exile Preaching Series • Feb. 7: Esther 3-4 | For Such a Time as This • Feb. 14: Esther 5-7 | Courageous Wisdom • Feb. 21: Esther 9:20-10:3 | Keep On Going The Coming of the Lord Preaching Series • Feb. 28: 1 Thess. 1:1-10 | An Exemplary Church

Adult Communities—in-person and Zoom options • Veritas meets Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. with Dr. Dan Block teaching Ezekiel. Available live or via Zoom.

• Forum 15 meets Sundays at 9:30 with David Fetzer teaching 1 & 2 Peter.

• Logos meets Sundays at 9:30 with Dr. Victor Kuligin teaching on the doctrine of salvation. Available live or via Zoom.

• All Nations meets Sundays at 9:30 with Steve Krogh leading their discussion of the sermon.

• Joint Heirs meets Sundays at 9:30 with a rotation of teachers from the Book of Psalms. Available live or via Zoom.

For connection via Zoom, email sarndt@college-church.org for your link of choice.

• Greek Class meets Sundays at 9:30 with Dr. Jon Laansma teaching 1 John. Available live or via Zoom.

Children’s Ministries • Sunday morning nursery, preschool and Bible school (grades 1-5), weekly reservations required.

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• Wednesday Evening Clubs (Boys Brigade and Pioneer Girls) resume February 3.

Registration required: college-church.org/children/weekly-programs

Middle School • Middle schoolers are meeting in Commons Hall on Tuesday nights beginning at 6:45 p.m. On Sunday mornings, plan to attend worship services with your family.

High School • Feb. 7: Pickleball Tournament, 2-4 p.m.

• Sunday Night Live for HYACKS meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in Commons Gym. We will begin the month continuing a worldview and apologetics study called Gospel Glasses—Seeing All Things Through Christ. On Sunday, February 14, we will begin a study of the parables of Jesus.

• Coming March 7: One Day Retreat from 1 to 8 p.m.

STARS • Sunday mornings | Live Zoom classes at 9:00 a.m.

• Wednesday music | Live Zoom classes at 7:00 p.m.

• Friday Night Fun | Live Zoom event at 7:00 p.m., Feb. 19, Theme of Friendship

College Group Student Service: With COVID limitations, we are creating space for students to easily worship at 10:15 am in the Commons each Sunday starting February 14. Join us!

Men’s Ministries—Men's Bible Study Men’s Bible Study: Wednesdays, 6:45–8:00 p.m.

• In person C002, request Zoom link here: my.college-church.org/?page=3640 Are you planning to read your Bible in 2021? MBS will begin a study on hermeneutics, which is all about studying and interpreting the Bible. Dr. Victor Kuligin and Pastor Josh Stringer will lead and teach our way through questions of translation, interpretation, context and several different genres. Pastor Ben Panner will also be joining us for a few sessions to help us look at application and how the gospel runs through the entire Bible. We’ll discover how each of these areas will lead to more fruitful personal times in the Word as well as teaching and preaching. Our guiding book for this year will be How to Read the Bible for All its Worth by Gordan Fee and Douglas Stuart. You can find the fourth edition paperback here. Each week stands on its own so please join us when you can.

Women’s Ministries Women's Bible Study: Wednesdays, February 3-April 21 | 9:15-11 a.m. or 6:45–8:15 p.m.

Join us Wednesday, February 3, as we begin our study which examines the timeless story of Genesis. Due to COVID restrictions, we have limited slots available, contact Sherri Arndt (sarndt@college-church.org) for availability. If Wednesdays don’t work for you, consider studying on your own by following along with our weekly online teaching. To do so visit the Women’s Ministry page on the College Church website at college-church.org/women.

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Mom2Mom: Monday, February 1 | 7-8 p.m. | Narthex Join Mom2Mom for a Mom’s Night Out book discussion on Glory in the Ordinary by Courtney Reissig (books provided). In February we’ll discuss chapter five on the topic of living in community. Even if you haven’t read the book, this is a conversation you can easily jump into. We’d love to have you join us!

Monthly Gathering: Saturday, February 13 | 9-10 a.m.

• What disciplines or practices promote growth in your relationship with Christ? We’re using Donald Whitney’s book, Spiritual Practices for the Christian Life, as a resource for our discussions this year and would highly recommend it if you’re looking to better understand spiritual disciplines. On February 13, we’ll be discussing the spiritual practices that shape the follower of Christ by looking at the spiritual discipline of prayer. We hope to meet in person but will shift to a virtual format if necessary.

Membership Ready to participate fully in the life and ministries of College Church? Come find out about College Church's history, core beliefs, ministries and what it means for you to be a member. The winter membership class will be on Saturday, February 6, from 8:00 a.m. until noon; there will be an inperson or Zoom option. Registration is requested. For more info, contact Christy at membership@ college-church.org, or call (630) 668-0878, ext. 175.

Seniors Invited to Defer Property Taxes Qualified senior citizens, aged 65 years and older, are invited to apply for the Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Deferral Program. The program allows participants to defer property tax payment until the property is sold. The deferral is treated as a loan and accrues six percent simple interest until paid. To qualify, the applicant’s household income cannot exceed $55,000. Additionally, the property much be used exclusively for residential purposes.

The application period closes March 1, 2021. For more information, contact the DuPage County Treasurer’s Office at 630-407-5900 or www.dupageco.org/treasurer; Gwen Henry, Treasurer.

Prayer Gatherings Online & In Person Call the church office or email info@college-church.org for details on these prayer meetings.

Sunday Morning Prayer (Online) 8-8:40 a.m.

Led by Pastor Eric Channing Monday Morning Prayer (In person) 6:15-7:15 a.m. in C104A. Led

by Elder Rob Wolgemuth Wednesday Night Prayer (Online) 7-8 p.m.

Led by the Missions Office • Feb 3: Joe & Holly Greeson; Alaska • Feb 10: Emmanuel Tahear; Immigrant & Refugees • Feb 17: Kristi Zboncak; Re:New Project • Feb 24: Jake & Honah Finn; Thailand Friday Lunch Prayer for the Persecuted Church (In person) 12-1 p.m. in C103.

Lord willing, Lydia Prayer Fellowship will meet at Joyce Patterson’s home on Tuesday morning, February 9, at 9:15 to hear Mandy Pehrson share how a wife/mother contributes to Bible translation. Visitors welcome.

Hannah Prayer Fellowship

will meet on Wednesday, February 10, at 1:30 p.m. in the Commons C103.

Cheryl Warner will be sharing with us.

Cheryl and her husband, Charlie, serve with Barnabas International, providing pastoral care for missionaries. They also help equip new East European missionaries. We'd love to have you join us.

Aaron-Hur Prayer Fellowship will meet on Thursday,

February 25, at 7 p.m. at the home of Eric and Marilyn Enstrom, 1460 Stoddard Avenue in Wheaton (630) 682-8341. Our guests will be Charley and Cheryl Warner, serving in Ukraine.

Abigail Prayer Fellowship Watch the weekly emails for updates on prayer fellowships.

Our Prayer Pulse email goes out every Monday. You can get prayer updates via that email. Sign up by clicking "Enews signup" on our website. If you already receive other emails from College Church, click "manage my preferences" at the bottom of any email and select Prayer Pulse to add yourself.

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LIFE LESSONS

Try a Different Kind of Light Therapy This Winter John Maust “Lift your mood with light therapy” said the title of a Mayo Clinic article earlier this month.

Reading this on a gray day in January, I had to admit that a little extra light sounded good and kept reading.

The writer explained how the long, dark days of winter can sometimes send one’s spirits into a nosedive, leading to “seasonal affective disorder,” a kind of depression linked to changes in seasons.

“Light therapy is one of our effective treatments,” Mayo psychologist Craig Sawchuk said.

“You want to make sure that the light is sitting about an arm's length or so in front of you,” he said. “You don't have to stare directly at the light, but you want to keep your eyes open. So you could be doing things like having breakfast or a cup of coffee, watching TV, or working online," says Dr. Sawchuk.

Just keep on using light therapy into the spring, he said, or whenever your mood starts to improve.

Probably you know someone who has used light therapy. Maybe you’ve benefitted from it yourself.

But during this wintry pandemic I wonder if perhaps we need a stronger form of light therapy. Let’s call it “light of the world therapy.”

“I am the light of the world,” Jesus declared (John 8:12). Indeed, “God is light; in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).

This is no light bulb we are talking about! Looking to Jesus, the light of the world, does way more than elevate our mood. This Light points the way to eternal life and offers daily guidance and spiritual protection, among other things.

Eternal life. Jesus said, “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Also, “if we walk in the light, as he is in the light…the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

Jesus is the light who leads us from the darkness of sin and death to the light of righteousness and a right relationship with God through Him. Daily guidance. In the darkness of confusion and uncertainty, when we cannot see the way ahead, let us seek God’s light on the situation through spending time with Him in prayer and daily Bible study.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path,” the Psalmist says. “You are my lamp, O Lord,” David sings. “The Lord turns my darkness into light” (2 Samuel 22:29).

Scripture says that “in his light we see light” (Ps. 36:9).

Spiritual protection. Lately I’ve been reflecting on Romans 13:12 where we are asked to “put on the armor of light.” What a powerful image. It reminds me of the incident in Lord of the Rings when Frodo defends himself from the evil spider Shelob by holding aloft the bottle filled with blinding light from Eärendil’s star.

But our armor of light is not found in a bottle. Our armor, as detailed in Ephesians 6, consists of the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, our feet fitted with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the spirit which is the word of God. This armor of light will protect us from Satan’s attacks and help us stand strong in Christ even when temptation, discouragement and doubt besiege us.

We can affirm with the Psalmist, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? (Ps. 27:1).”

Winter will be here for awhile. It’s fine to turn on an extra light or two until blue skies return. But what better time to spend extra minutes sitting in the light of our Lord’s presence and His Word— getting some good old-fashioned light therapy of the soul. The effects will be noticeable.

“Those who look to him are radiant,” Scripture says. “Their faces are never covered with shame.”

About the Author |John Maust College Church missionary and president of Media Associates International, John wrote this for OneWord Journal, our online journal of fresh thoughts and musings along a different one-word theme every month.

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GLOBAL VOICES

From the Desk of the Board of Missions

Here is a small taste of what we have supported this past year!

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MEET THE BOARD OF MISSIONS

Brad Bailey, chair

Bruce Aulie

Howard Kern

Marsha Becker

Paul Mathews

Yousaf Sadiq

Joleen Billingham, Missions Prayer Fellowship

Marr Miller

Becky Sandberg

Mark Bodett

Jeff Peltz

Penny Thrasher

Jon DeLew

Nate Peterson,

missions treasurer

Wendy Robinson

Spring 2021 Perspectives Class Perspectives is a 15-week class that will change the way you view the world around you by opening your eyes and heart to the purpose of God and how you can take part in his work all over the world.

The in-person class in Naperville has been postponed until the fall, but we hope you’ll join an all-virtual Perspectives Chicago class, meeting weekly on Thursdays from 6:30-9 p.m. Learn more and register at Perspective’s website. https:// class.perspectives.org/Visitor/Public.aspx?ClassId=434966

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SIDE BY SIDE

Gifts that COVID Gave Me: How I left Ukraine to avoid getting COVID, got it anyway, and what I gained Cheryl Warner Why is it sometimes hard to admit to having COVID? Charley and I first encountered this reticence among our Ukrainian friends where we serve as missionaries in suburban Kyiv. One Sunday in September a man in our small group sent out a prayer request saying, “I have been sick. Please pray for my wife, who is still sick.” She was hospitalized on Thursday and died on Saturday. The word “coronavirus” was never mentioned but understood, and we were all stunned by this news. Nina was suddenly gone, with no chance to say good-bye. Her family wasn't even allowed to see her body. Another friend in our small group developed COVID symptoms but was reluctant for me to ask others to pray for her. She recovered, thankfully.

I was leading a study of the Gospel of Mark in our home on Wednesdays. We met cautiously, masked up and sometimes under blankets near the open windows. We had great gospel conversations, and a woman who had never studied the Bible before was beginning to understand who Jesus is. One evening we talked about Jesus’ power to heal and wrestled with the times when he doesn’t. Nina’s daughter was there that night, exhibiting an acceptance of her mother’s death that showed a profound trust in God and hope in the resurrection.

Rising Numbers and Tough Questions The virus was still raging and some in my Bible study became ill.

After four weeks we began meeting on Zoom. By early October, the Ukrainian ministry of health was projecting that case numbers would double and even triple in the coming weeks, and the health care system was being overwhelmed. (Cases actually increased fivefold by December.) Many people disregarded health protocols, and we felt increasingly uncomfortable being near anyone and awkward about declining invitations. Charley has some underlying health conditions that put him at greater risk.

We would probably have to put ourselves in quarantine.

The prospect of a long winter in isolation was dreadful. What would happen if one of us got COVID and needed to be hospitalized? Who would look after us if we were both ill at home?

How much of a burden would this place on our friends? Worst case scenario, in case of death abroad, what would be the impact on our family and our mission agency? We checked our travel insurance regarding, to be blunt, repatriation of remains. That was a nightmare to be avoided, if possible.

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We began to wonder if we should leave. We had stayed in Ukraine for the first seven months of the pandemic and were glad we had, but things were changing now. If we could never see anybody and were working entirely online, what was the point in being there? We could continue our ministry online from the U.S. and at least see our family. There were practical considerations related to housing and financial costs. We consulted with our mission leadership and prayed. When friends offered to sublet our house in Ukraine, that made it possible for us to leave.

The College Church board of missions sprang into action and quickly found a place for us to live in Glen Ellyn, available at the right price and at the right time. Things that usually take months to arrange fell into place in a few days.

We left Ukraine on October 15, breathing a sigh of relief. We went straight to Texas so we could see my mom in the nursing home, which was finally allowing limited visits. It had been a hard year for her as a new widow with no in-person contact with

family for seven months. She had COVID in July and recovered alone. I longed to see her. When we arrived at DFW, my brother handed us car keys and sent us to settle into an empty condo that had miraculously opened up a few days before, directly above my sister’s place. We could quarantine there, get tested after a few days, and then be allowed to see Mom. On October 18, feeling fine, I went to the drive-through testing site and a few hours later got the stunning result: positive for SARS-CoV-2. Charley tested positive the next day. Within a few days I felt awful, with crashing headaches, muscle aches, debilitating fatigue. I could focus for an hour or two but then brain fog would set in. Charley had some trouble breathing and used his nebulizer, which he travels with because of asthma.

Temperature checks and readings of our oxygen levels became part of our morning routine. We had vastly different symptoms, but the one thing we had in common was that neither of us ever had a fever.

I slept a lot, listened to audiobooks and Scripture and music, and read encouraging notes from concerned friends. We managed a few Zoom meetings. My wonderful sister brought food to our door, and we chatted with her from the outdoor balcony.

A niggling fear was that one of us would suddenly take a dive and need emergency medical attention. Another fear was that I might have passed the virus on to someone in my family during the brief contact we had. When they all tested negative, I was greatly relieved. Just when I thought I was rounding the corner, a cough appeared but never got very bad. Charley meanwhile tested negative. I still tested positive after a couple weeks, waited some more, and finally got a negative test result. At last, I was able to see my mom through a window at the nursing home, welling up with tears as we talked on the phone. I had one visit with her in person before she was under quarantine again. Then Charley and I drove to Illinois and moved into our temporary home on November 10.

Gifts that COVID Gave Me What do I do with the fact that we left Ukraine to escape COVID, only to unknowingly carry it with us? We got on a plane in good conscience but did not in fact avoid becoming ill.

God had different plans for us. Many gifts have come as a result of this experience. Some are clear now, and I think others will unfold as time goes on. I’ll mention a few.

Receiving grace and having my faith bolstered. God gave us everything we needed before we knew we needed it, evidence of his tender care and grace. He whisked us out of the country, provided a place for us to stay in Texas where we were well cared for and not a risk to others and restored our health. This story is for me a stone of remembrance.

Spending Christmas with our daughters without worrying about the virus. Two of our adult daughters live in the Wheaton area, and the other two came from out of state to spend the Christmas holidays with us. Being together without the fear of contracting or transmitting the virus was liberating. Long hugs and long conversations were possible. Debriefing life in person during a tough year has been an immense gift. They’re thankful we came back, and so are we.

Caring for Charley’s father. We both recently tested sky high for SARS CoV-2 antibodies so are not a risk to others at this time. We flew to Florida in January to spend time with Charley’s dad who lives alone, giving his part-time caregiver a break.

We could take care of him, work online and even enjoy walks on the beach.

Not freaking out all the time. I remember that unwelcome tension of wondering if someone was six feet away and the dread of possibly passing on the virus to the vulnerable people in my life. That’s gone.

Learning to trust God, no matter what. “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life?

For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that’” ( James 4:13-15). We are frail, we are finite, and we cannot control what will happen tomorrow. But we can wholly rely on God—whether we fall ill or not—and he will fulfill his purposes for us. Charley and I look forward to returning to Ukraine in the spring, Lord willing.

About the Author | Cheryl Warner Writing from Wheaton these days, Cheryl also is a small group leader in Women's Bible Study as she and husband, Charley, look forward to returning to Ukraine.

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LIFE LESSONS

An Experimental Approach to Religious Proof Senior Pastor Josh Moody In this article I will introduce a new proof for the existence of God. The problem of proving the existence of God goes back to biblical times. In the Old Testament, we are told in Psalm 14 that the fool says in his heart there is no God. And in the New Testament, we are told in Romans 1 that they became futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts were darkened.

In the history of the church, proofs for the existence of God have been several. Anselm encouraged us to have an attitude of faith seeking understanding. His ontological proof emerges from that framework. Aquinas brought forth his famous five proofs for God’s existence. Edwards utilized evidence and reason to argue for God’s reality. More recently, within this same broad reformed tradition, presuppositional arguments have claimed greater adherence to original biblical assumptions.

Now, I want you to imagine a different approach, one that I think is closer to biblical assumptions. Imagine someone born blind and deaf. How would you seek to prove to this person that sounds and sights exist? You could seek to communicate through touch and by that means gradually teach braille. And then, in that context, eventually begin to use words to describe sights and sounds. However, would the person born blind and deaf be genuinely persuaded of the existence of sight and sound?

Perhaps, more likely, if they are surrounded by lots of other people who can also communicate with them through braille and equally describe sights and sounds.

Now imagine further that this person born blind and deaf is not the odd one out but is a part of a large community of people born blind and deaf. Maybe in some futuristic dystopian reality, a chemical weapon has been released that has caused countless thousands to be born blind and deaf. Would such a large group of individuals—assuming they learned braille and could be communicated to in that way—be able to be persuaded of the reality of sight and sound by those who could still see and hear? Perhaps if those persuading, or even the sole individual persuading, is particularly inspired and influential.

Now take one further imaginative leap and imagine a community of people who are all born blind and deaf, and none of them can see or hear. Perhaps those who could see and hear have gradually died out, and the children who were born to subsequent generations were all blind and deaf. Would these people, this community of entirely blind and deaf, ever likely be persuaded in the long run that sights and sounds were real? And even if they were persuaded at some intellectual level that they were real, what meaning would it have to them?

Similarly, in this experimental approach to religious proof, my postulate is that the likelihood of someone—born spiritually blind and deaf—being persuaded that there is spiritual sight and sound (that God really exists and that the spiritual realm is real) is in direct proportion to the quality and quantity of countervailing experimental communication regarding the sights and sounds of the spiritual world.

Let’s put it in an equation. Say we let f stand for faith in God. And we let bd stand for those (us all) who are born spiritually blind and deaf because of the fall. And further, we allow s to stand for the work of the Spirit through the witnessing community of real Christians as they communicate the gospel

Visit the God Centered Life worldwide ministry of Pastor Josh Moody at godcenteredlife.org. Find daily sermons from Pastor Josh there plus daily devotionals. Sign up to receive them in your inbox. Listen to Pastor Josh daily on WMBI at 10 p.m. M-F and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Your prayers and partnership with this ministry are greatly appreciated.

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and God’s Word to the world around. With those terms in mind, we could formulate this experimental approach to religious proof as follows: f=s-bd Or, to put it in words: the likelihood of someone coming to faith (f) is in direct proportion (=) to the quality and quantity of their exposure to God’s Spirit through the witness of Christians (s) minus their exposure to the countervailing experience of their

own spiritual blindness and deafness and that of others around them (bd).

The implications for policy in church planting, evangelism and mission are obvious: a significant impact of (s) needs to be present for a significant proportion of (bd) to be persuaded. It would be a valuable task for someone to confirm this thought experiment by data analysis of the effectiveness of outreach in missiological as well as evangelistic circumstances.

Senior Pastor Josh Moody at the College Church Bookstall online Pck up these titles at https://www.10ofthose.com/us/partners/collegechurch

John 1-12 For You

John 13- 21 For You

7 Days to Change Your Life

Boasting

How the Bible Can Change Your Life

God-Centered Life 13

SIDE BY SIDE

Church Planting Heads South Pastor Zach Fallon talks about his journey to the next church plant pastor.

Share with us your story of faith.

I saw my need for Christ and trusted in him alone the summer after my freshman year of college. I had heard the message of the gospel many times before that, but in the end the Spirit brought life to my heart through the conviction of the word, and God gave me the gift of repentance and faith. What followed was a major shift in lifestyle and in my relational circles. I really, truly never looked back and Philippians 3:7-8 became my reality, that the worth of knowing Christ far exceeded any other gain I had at that point in my life.

One of the first things the Lord convicted me of when I finally knew Christ personally was to tell others who were in my circle about him. I had a lot of one-on-one conversations with people about the gospel and even had some conversations to try and reconcile with some people I had wronged. The reality of who Christ is had become so apparent to me that I wanted others to taste and see him as well.

Tell us about your ministry in Montana. In what ways did the Lord teach you about being a minister of the gospel and his Word? With your growing desire for church planting, did you begin to pursue opportunities in Montana?

Christine and I lived on campus at Montana Wilderness School of the Bible, a one-year Bible school. And we had a very relational ministry that was focused on discipleship. Over the course of five years, we had the chance to get to know about 300 college-aged students. We had students in our home almost every day, which really taught us how to have a ministry of hospitality in discipleship relationships.

We quickly realized that we needed more training in how to minister the Word faithfully, so I enrolled in seminary and took seminary classes our entire time out there. I also had the chance to teach Bible classes for the first time and that's when I began to sense God was calling me to teach and preach his Word.

When we were transitioning from Montana, we were looking at a few different options, and one of those was a church planting training program. Looking back, we can see it was not God's timing for us to pursue that, but instead he led us to College Church!

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So, how did you end up at College Church? We know it was because of the pastoral residency but remind us of how that happened.

I met Todd Augustine (a former College Church pastor) and we really hit it off, plus I was excited about the pastoral residency program at College Church. The idea of coming back to Wheaton was compelling for us (Zach graduated from Wheaton College). Chad and Mindy Rynbrandt were involved in some of our premarital counseling when we were undergraduate students, and that was another special connection for us. A few months into the residency, Todd transitioned into a role at another church and that's when we had the "great pastoral shift" of 2016 where six pastors moved into new roles all at the same time.

Why a church plant now and not earlier in your ministry?

It has been a privilege to serve as high school pastor here for almost five years, and we clearly see the Lord's hand as we waited on his good and perfect timing to call us to this new kind of ministry. Just as we hope we have served our high school students and their families well with the gospel these last few years, so, too, God has been growing us and transforming us by the power of the gospel. This has been a much-needed time for us to grow in our knowledge of the Scriptures, in our heart and desire for God's people to know him more deeply, and in our pastoral skills in knowing how to be fruitful and effective in ministry.

God's providence in the way that he uses the timing of things in our lives is often difficult to discern and understand, which is why we continue to pray without ceasing in order to seek his will. I see God's hand in the timing of this opportunity in several ways.

First, I see the Lord at work in the people of College Church hungering to see the advancement of the gospel and to play a part in that. Second, I see a need in the coming generation for a clarity on the message of the gospel. As culture shifts towards a post-Christian one, people will use religious lingo of previous generations, but with a lack of clear definition of who Jesus is according to his Word, what it means to believe in him, what the power of God's grace is, what it means for the Scriptures to be sufficient, and what it looks like to live in all things to the glory of God. Finally, I feel uniquely prepared and called to have a

ministry that seeks to bring clarity to those things at this time.

The Lord saved me by his grace about 15 years ago and he has sent many people and experiences into my life during that time that have formed me, and I believe, prepared me to have a role like this.

How did all your previous experience prepare you for this next step as College Church’s next church planting pastor?

After I became a Christian and began to grow in grace and my understanding of who the Lord is, I was bothered by the cultural Christianity I saw around me. And when I was younger, I admittedly did not have much compassion for those who claimed to be believers in Christ but had no sense of the joyful journey of biblical discipleship displayed in their lives. Cultural Christianity lingers in the Bible Belt in the south of our country in many ways, but my perspective and heart towards it has been undergoing some radical and grace influenced shifts.

I can see now how I needed to grow in my understanding of the gospel of grace more in order to be prepared to look at the world around me with the eyes of compassion, rather than dismissive and self-righteous judgmentalism. Now more than ever, I believe we are making this transition with hearts that are broken for those who have not experienced the sheer, transformative powerful grace of God in Christ. And quite honestly, I can't wait to magnify this grace in the lives of the people God is preparing for us to know and love.

You have had a lot of conversations in the last six months or so, as you recollect, what are three or four things that stand out to you?

Again, God's providence has stood out to me in a significant way. The connections that have emerged between some of us here in Wheaton and other believers in the south metro Atlanta area have been wonderful to see. God has made it clear to me that this is his work and the strategy for pursuing this well is the strategy of prayer, waiting on him and trusting in his leading and goodness.

My moments where I am most anxious and full of doubt are moments when I am trying to rely on my own wisdom and strategy to figure things out to set us up well. On the flip side, my moments of greatest excitement and peace and joy are when I am in prayer, looking unto Christ, and surrendering all things into his hands for his glory.

It is also stood out to me the desire the leaders of College Church have to see the gospel advance and that has been a great encouragement to me. Josh Moody has been supportive of this opportunity, and that has been a confirmation and an encouragement for us. Several elders have been supportive and helpful such as Randy Jahns, Dan Lindquist and Tad Williams.

In 2008, former College Church pastor, Chris Castaldo outlined four biblical basis for church planting to show Scriptures priority of church planting.

1. The Apostolic Priority of Church Planting. It is clear from the New Testament that the early church was committed to seeing local churches established by the power of the gospel.

2. Believing in the Gospel and Joining in the Community. As the church multiplied in number it also expanded geographically. The commission that Jesus gave to his disciples in Acts 1:8 becomes fulfilled as the gospel advances through seeing new churches sprout up.

3. Preaching the Gospel and Establishing Churches.

Paul's ministry was dominated by his desire to take the gospel out and to see churches and leaders established for a faithful and fruitful witness in communities.

4. Church Planting and the Gospel Frontier. Paul was committed to constantly pushing the *frontier* of the kingdom of Christ through gospel proclamation and the establishment of healthy local churches that would then become sending centers themselves.

Executive Pastor John Seward is as kingdom-minded of a person that you will ever find and his heart to see the gospel advance has been very clear. The other pastors have been prayerful and supportive, especially Ben Panner, college pastor, who has been a gift of God's grace in bringing encouragement to me through this whole thing.

What do you see the Lord doing in College Church and how do you think your church plant in Atlanta is a part of that work?

I believe the Lord has uniquely positioned College Church to train and send gospel ministers into the world to see healthy Word-centered ministries started and led. I am hopeful and full of prayer at the idea that this new church plant in south metro Atlanta will be the tip of the iceberg for a new wave of evangelistic excitement spilling out from College Church.

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Has anyone from College Church committed to joining this church plant with you?

The best text message I received in 2020 was from Steve and Lois Krogh, College Church members, when by the grace of God, they committed to relocate with Christine and I to see this new work started. Our relationship with them goes back about 15 years when we were undergraduate students with their oldest daughter Kate and her husband. Steve and I have had a wonderful relationship these last few years, and Lois has served as a ministry associate with me. Christine and Lois have a good relationship of spiritual encouragement as well. We have thanked God almost every day ever since we first heard that they wanted to relocate with us. We are thrilled and amazed at God's kindness. Steve will continue his missionary service with Training Leaders International, just from a warmer climate.

What is your vision or hopes for your new church?

The vision and hope are simple, yet profound. It is what God has given me a heart for and has developed in me over these last 15 years of following Jesus. And it's a vision I want to invite many others into as well.Our hope is to see the people of south metro Atlanta and beyond live all of life in light of the gospel. To experience God's kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven, we joyfully submit every area of our life, all of our relationships and hopes and dreams and possessions and emotions, under the reality that Jesus Christ is exactly who the

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Scriptures say he is and he has accomplished for us through his death and resurrection exactly what the Scriptures say he has accomplished. Praise God and let's go!

What do you think will be some of the biggest challenges as you begin to plant a church?

I think one of the unique challenges to planting a church in the Bible Belt in the South will be gospel clarity. As I've mentioned, there is a lot of familiarity with biblical lingo, but the burden of my heart is to bring biblical and clear definition to what we mean when we say Jesus Christ or faith or living for his glory or the sufficiency of Scripture. I'm also excited to bring a philosophy of ministry that is centered and driven by God's Word. The danger and temptation always have been and always will be to pursue God's work with the means of men.

As you read this, pray that we would not trust in ourselves and our strategies and our methods, but that we would let the Lord lead his church by his word through the power of his spirit.

Pray that it would be our desire to know nothing among the people of south metro Atlanta except Christ and him crucified, that we would consider them more important than ourselves and that we would joyfully surrender all earthly gain for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ and making him known.

We love you College Church and are so grateful for our partnership in the gospel!

LIFE LESSONS

The Day the Storm Began Wallace Alcorn This is the thirtieth anniversary of the start of the first Gulf war, Operation Desert Storm. There follows my weekly commentary on 16 January 1991 from KTIS, Minneapolis-St. Paul, over the Northwestern College Radio Network: When I went to bed Tuesday evening, January 15th, the UN Resolution 678 deadline had passed without Iraq's compliance.

When I arose the next day, I learned the allies had not yet taken action.

I went about the routine of getting ready my professional affairs and household—and my uniforms—so I can depart quickly. I had that Monday evening received a phone call from the Army Personnel Center advising me how the outbreak of hostilities would affect me as a recently retired army chaplain.

Wednesday evening, we sat down for supper. The first item of prayer was not blessing the food, but Stephen. Our younger son is a second lieutenant who leads a tank platoon in an armored division. We were without him this Christmas for the first time, and he spent New Year’s Eve over the Mediterranean as his unit flew in a C-141 from Germany to Saudi Arabia. He landed in the area of operations on his twenty-fourth birthday.

My wife Ann and her mother, Lilian Carmichael, prayed with me.

They had faced the prospect of air attacks in their native England and were familiar with war from the civilian perspective. I had spent forty-three years in the Navy and Army, and this timeframe spanned three wars. And, so, we prayed for Stephen.

We haven't been having television on while we eat, but these are days to watch the news. When the reporter from Baghdad described air defense activity, I judged it was an Iraqi reaction to a false alarm. Then the White House confirmed combat operations were underway. Operation Desert Shield had become Desert Storm, and an emotional storm had begun for us.

I held a crying mother and a crying grandmother in my arms.

We prayed again. The only words we managed to articulate were "Lord" and "Stephen."

I phoned our older son in Albany, Minnesota, and our daughter in Dallas. The family got together and reassured each other, as we always do at times of stress.

I phoned other families with children in the desert. Christian brothers and sisters called us to reaffirm their prayers for our son and for us. I was on the phone around the country and even Jerusalem. Our pastor and his wife came by to pray with us at the end of their round of Desert Storm families in the congregation.

We went to bed and slept. The Lord is good. The Lord is always good—no matter what happens. No matter what happens to Stephen, the Lord is good. He is good to us. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

We still pray. I pray that our air strikes will have maximum effectiveness so that land engagement is light. Tanks take the lead in this. But the Lord is good.

I despise what Saddam Hussein has done, but my heart goes out to the Iraqi people. God wants to be good to them, as well. And I want our armed forces to be agents of his goodness by liberating them and bringing them genuine and lasting peace.

I'm sitting in Stephen's room as I write. Here is the bed I used to tuck him into and then gently kiss him goodnight. He would respond, “Goodnight, Daddy.” I feel closer to him here.

I don't know what will happen to my boy. I don't know if I will yet be required to leave here again. But I know this: The Lord is good. He always is—whatever lies ahead.

Stephen was in the first wave to engage the Iraqi Republican Guard and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroism in combat. Eventually, he left the army and went to law school. He was appointed a judge in Oklahoma and is now a city attorney in Colorado. And the Lord is still good.

About the Author | Wallace Alcorn Wallace Alcorn has been a pastor, teacher and army chaplain.

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FACE TO FACE

In the Hands of the Father John Melby

In my office, I have a treasured art piece titled "In the Hands of the Father" by artist Roger Loveless. (See the picture on this page). The painting is of the manger scene with Joseph pictured holding Baby Jesus and Mary resting in the background. For me, as a father of four, this painting is a heartwarming and ‘a bit different’ perspective of the Christmas story.

The 2020 Christmas "story" was significantly different for most people due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The story of Jesus’ birth, however, remains constant at each Christmas including this one. From Luke 2: 9-14: “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Relating personal stories of faith is influential and effective for inspiring others to embrace the gospel message. Story telling builds connections and trust between people. Stories are easy to remember and remembered for a longer time. Psychologist Jerome Bruner’s research led him to conclude that key messages are 20 times more likely to be remembered if told within a story.

Stories cross boundaries. As an example, there basically are three types of learners: visual, auditory and kinesthetic.

Storytelling works for all three. Visual learners connect with images created by stories. Auditory learners focus on spoken words and the storyteller’s voice. Kinesthetic learners remember feelings from a well-done story.

Luke’s words are powerful, and peaceful. He writes eloquently in these verses about the ‘greatest story ever told’ for Christians throughout the world. Written or spoken stories are captivating.

They inspire, connect and give learning.

Storytelling can also lift the spirits of the storyteller. A good story can be exciting and interesting to write and speak out. By the way, long, disconnected stories can cause people to disengage.

Best to be brief and brilliant in telling a story. If not brilliant, be at least brief!

Jesus’ parables do just that and more. Various Bible scholars agree that about one-third of Jesus’ teachings were in parables.

One of the most effective tools of evangelism is personal testimony stories.

A parable is a narrative that seems simple yet illuminates a deeper lesson. Jesus had the wisdom to clarify profound spiritual truths with stories that his followers could connect to and better understand what he was teaching.

As an aside, in my work career, stories were part of my job. I directed employee communication for 10,000 plus engineers at Motorola. This work included performance improvement talks given to employees and delivered by senior vice presidents.

I encouraged the SVPs to add inspirational stories to their messages. The stories helped the work project teams perform better in a way that numbers could not accomplish.

There is a key message for all Christians regarding stories. If the greatest story is about Jesus’ birth and life, and Jesus was the greatest teacher who used parables, shouldn’t Christians fervently use stories for fulfilling the mission of spreading the gospel message? Matthew 28:16-20 says:

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• It is about God and not you.

• Ask your listeners to place their faith in Jesus, not in you.

• The gospel, not your testimony, is the power unto salvation.

• Use Scripture. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. • Keep it simple.

There are two main types of faith stories: Salvation and situational. A salvation story is how one came to trust that Jesus is his/her personal Savior. The salvation story usually has four main parts: 1. Your life before you were a Christian. Were there struggles?

Did you experience pain from sin?

2. How you become a Christian. What happened that changed you? How did God reveal your need for him?

3. The steps taken to become a Christian. Be clear and

succinct, both in your experience and a description of the gospel message.

4. How your faith has made your life better. What has changed? Focus on the blessings of salvation.

The situational faith story is how Jesus helped make life better.

The power of this type of storytelling is in relating how Jesus can help especially during a challenging season of life. It typically has three points: 1. Describing the situation. The goal is to help the story listener to understand that Jesus is alive, and the gospel is real and will help.

2. Explaining how Jesus helped you survive and thrive. Where did your relationship with Jesus lead you? Was there renewed hope?

3. Clarifying how the gospel gave you hope. The relationship with Jesus affects an entire life. The gospel is powerful and dynamic.

My personal faith story? Like many College Church members, I grew up in a Christian family. My mom and dad are my greatest

earthly blessings. Church was at the core of my family life. As a child and into college, for me at the time, church life may have been more a duty versus Jesus being my personal Savior.

That changed in my first year of college, however, when I attended Campus Crusade (now Cru) meetings. In one of those meetings, the adult leader, a local music shop owner, asked me to be born again in Jesus. I still clearly and vividly remember that moment. He related his message using a story. It deeply touched my soul and life at the time.

What I also remembered was the dedication of the husbandand-wife team that led the group. Recalling now, they had adopted a little girl who had been abused and didn’t speak much to them for about a year. Through the love of Jesus, and the patience and love of her parents, the girl slowly healed.

Stories will help and guide you when sharing your gospel story. In this divisive time, I believe there is an urgency in our evangelism.

What is your faith journey story? Are you willing, able and inspired to share your story?

About the Author | John Melby College Church member John Melby is equally comfortable sitting at his computer writing or staying busy with his home remodeling and repair business.

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LOCALLY SOURCED

Caring Network Cares for People PEOPLE LIKE JULIE Julie found out she was pregnant a few months before scheduling a phone consultation with Caring Network. During the discussion, she told her pregnancy counselor that she had an appointment at Planned Parenthood, but needed her ID for the abortion, which she had lost. She inquired at other abortion clinics and even went back to Planned Parenthood, only to be informed that that she was too far along for an abortion. Julia explained to her pregnancy counselor that she'd like to have kids one day, but that the timing was not right. She said if it's too late for an abortion, she and her fiancĂŠ would then place their child for adoption.

After that meeting, Julie went to a Caring Network center for an ultrasound where she learned she was well into her second trimester. After the scan, she said they had decided to choose life and form an adoption plan. Julia's counselor connected her with information and resources to assist her with next steps. Later, Julia reached out to her counselor with an update. Julie had shared her plans with her aunt and mother, who were supportive of her decision and encouraged Julie had "taken the right steps."

Caring Network is grateful for God's intervention in Julia's life at just the right time. We continue to pray for a smooth adoption experience and are so thankful for the new life Julie is carrying!

PEOPLE LIKE JENNA Jenna called Caring Network’s hotline worried about positive results from a home pregnancy test. The pregnancy consultant talked with Jenna and learned she had recently had a baby and was concerned about health issues. She was very fearful to continue the pregnancy and said she wanted to take the abortion pill. Jenna and her pregnancy consultant talked through her fears and concerns. They processed through her pregnancy decision options, choices and risks. Jenna was given information to read on her own so she could take time to think through the implications of having an abortion. A few days later Jenna reached out to her pregnancy consultant saying she changed her mind and decided to keep the baby! She said she knew she could handle it and felt empowered to choose life. Praise God for giving her strength and wisdom!

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PEOPLE LIKE ALEX Alex had just moved to the area to be with her boyfriend. She was nervous and scared about being pregnant, feeling like it was “terrible timing.” She found Caring Network on the internet and came into its new Darien center. She told her pregnancy counselor that she and her boyfriend wanted to keep the baby, but she had no other support in the area. During the session, she talked about her faith, saying that despite having been an atheist in the past, she was now praying a lot and visiting a local church. Her pregnancy consultant shared about the Connections program and how it could provide the emotional and spiritual support Alex needed. In tears, Alex said that she was very interested in connecting with others this way. Alex moved back home to be closer to her family, but Alex’s Connections group and pregnancy consultant kept in touch throughout her pregnancy. Recently, Alex welcomed her daughter, Everly, into the world and shared “I’m still nervous all the time… (about) if she’s always okay, but even with constant anxiety, she is very worth it. All in all, I’m just over the moon in love with my tiny girl.”

Pregnant? Need help?

Call (630) 493-1340 or email pat@caringnetwork.com Local Pro-Life Prayer Every Month The Sanctity of Human Life Task Force invites you to pray and sing outside Planned Parenthood Aurora one Saturday a month from 1 to 2 p.m. in cooperation with 40 Days for Life.

What is 40 Days for Life? Peaceful prayer outside abortion facilities for the babies, clients, workers, our community and nation to end abortion locally through prayer, fasting and all-day peaceful prayer vigils outside of abortion businesses. 40 Days for Life's first coordinated campaign was in 2007 and has now expanded to 63 countries. Founders of 40 Days for Life are depicted in the movie, “Unplanned.” 40daysforlife.com/ Why pray in person? There is up to a 75 percent appointment cancellation rate when women see peaceful prayer outside an abortion facility.

Where? In Aurora. Waterleaf, an inviting Christian pregnancy resource center, was completed across the street from the abortion facility in fall 2019.

What can I expect? According to Sarah Lindquist, "We pray on Waterleaf's property across from Planned Parenthood. There is plenty of room to socially distance. I like to have a folding chair and blanket with me. I also bring a peacefully oriented pro-life sign with me each time. Sometimes, people will drive by and yell a curse or give a rude gesture, but they have never been very close to me. Other times, they honk in approval. In the past few years, I've been going, nothing creepy or intense has happened. I do bring my children with me regularly. Parking is behind Auto Zone or by Mariano's."

When? Sarah guides prayer on one Saturday a month throughout the year. If you can't come this time, we hope you will join us soon or sign up to pray when you are available through Aurora's 40 Days for Life site (where you'll be able to see if others have signed up to pray). 40 Days for Life began a year-round prayer effort in Aurora in summer 2020. 40daysforlife.com/aurora Visit college-church.org/sohl to sign up for the Sanctity of Human Life task force monthly emails to stay up to date with life-related news and events. You can also find out more at facebook.com/40daysforlifeaurora

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I BELIEVE

My Journey to Truly Believe Budi Tjahjadi, member of the Evangelism Committee I grew up in the largest Muslim country in the world. According to the Joshua Project, evangelical Christians make up only 3.19% of the population of Indonesia. We are definitely a minority. I am a Chinese Indonesian, and we are usually culturally “Christian.” I grew up in a legalistic Presbyterian kind of a church that is very culturally legalistic. They promoted status symbols there.

Many would try to do their best to do well, to improve their status, either by educational degrees, but then they would brag about it. They would tell others how successful their children are. Some of you might understand these circumstances better than others.

Cultural Christian Growing up in a culturally Christian family, where you are born into your religion, it is very much what it is–a religion–it’s not so much faith. It’s like having a Christian ID, since people usually have to put on their ID what their religion is. Many Indonesian Muslims and Christians, as a result, don’t exactly understand their religious beliefs. Many “Christians” don’t have true faith because of their religion. For instance, going to church is expected and many feel good because they went, not because of what they experienced there.

So, when did I become a Christian? It depends on what you call a Christian. Most people just label themselves a Christian, or a Muslim, and so did I. However, in college, I came to the U.S and started reading the Bible, started attending Bible study with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship on campus. Over the years, I committed my life to Christ many times. I was baptized first when I was 15 in Indonesia, after going through some formal 2-3 weeks confirmation classes. Then, I was baptized again in college. But truly, I didn’t know what baptism meant, even though I could say, “It’s to publicly declare that you are giving your life to Jesus Christ.”

Yet, slowly and gradually, I realized that it’s not just about publicly declaring your faith. It’s about totally giving your life to your faith. My understanding of giving my life is gradually growing. Growing from just going to church and listening to the sermon, to then understanding the sermon, to reading my Bible, to leading Bible study, to living for God, to suffering for God. I am growing now so that everything I do is for God, and only for him, and finally being willing to conform to his death. I see

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now baptism means being baptized into his death, so I can be resurrected in his resurrection and get a new resurrected body like him, as Romans 6:3-5 says.

To Live Is Christ So, what does it mean to me now to be a Christian? It’s Philippians 1:21-22: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.” (NKJV). If you believe that you are saved as a Christian, then why do you still continue to live? We should just die and be with Christ–you have all to gain, right? Why live in this wretched corrupted body? But we live because we can still produce fruitful labor. It’s the evidence of our salvation. Not to labor to earn your salvation, but to suffer for Christ, so that others can live also.

The Apostle Paul told his readers not to turn away from their faith, because then he would lose his fruitful labor, the main reason he lived. Second Corinthians 4:7-12 says, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.” (NKJV)

Throw It All Away There were all kinds of legalism and self-promotion taking place, which included strictly obeying religious laws, earning certain reputations, getting into Ivy League schools or helping your children get into Ivy League schools. But as we know, our hope is in the righteousness of Christ being imputed into us. No labor, no earning.

In fact, we should throw it all away so we can get to know Christ as Paul wrote in Philippians 3. “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead…” (NKJV) The final goal is to achieve a resurrected body in heaven. But before then, believers are to enter into the fellowship of the suffering. Yes, suffering, because as Paul indicates, suffering is the necessary process to obtain faith. Suffering is necessary to get our resurrected bodies, by conforming to his death on the cross.

It's a Lifestyle That’s sure a long way from feeling good for going to church or listening to the good preaching of our pastor and then just going home. Why am I passionate to preach Christ? Because, once you become a true Christian, it’s a lifestyle, it’s the only thing you do. The role of the body of Christ is stated in Matthew 28, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Baptism is a covenant between you and God. It’s an outward, public declaration with physical water symbolizing the spiritual reality of receiving the Living Water (the Holy Spirit) as the signature of his covenant. That Spirit is deposited to guarantee

your salvation (Eph 1:13-14). You have the gift of the spirit to serve toward the goal of helping the body achieve that goal. You don’t have to be the preacher, but you can contribute to help the preacher, or the evangelist, and everyone can be a witness for the gospel.

A Part in the Commission If you belong to the body of Christ, his church, his bride, ask yourself: What is your role in that commission? What is your role in the body of Christ? If you don’t know, reach out to a member of the evangelism committee to help you explore that.

Once you become a Christian, a true Christian that is, you are given a spiritual gift. What is yours? You may have one and not know it, but you need to find out to serve more effectively and help the body of Christ achieve the goal of bringing people to the kingdom of God. It reminds me of the prophet Isaiah. “I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips. For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.” (Isaiah 6:5 NKJV) Then in verse 8, “I said, “Here am I! Send me.” [after he was cleansed and the Lord said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.”]

So, if your sins have been purged, show the evidence. You can say, “Send me. I now live for Christ and his kingdom.” You can stand on the corner of Wheaton College and remind students that they are not there to build their career, but to be network engineers, doctors, attorneys, whose real purpose in that job is to work for God by reaching fellow engineers, doctors, attorneys.

This work should not be done to achieve a status symbol, but to bring others into the kingdom of God. Let me encourage you to show evidence of fruitful labor in Christ.

If you have questions about evangelism or how you can be involved with evangelistic ministry in our community, please contact the evangelism committee at evangelism@college-church. org. And to grow in evangelism, watch the Christianity Explored series on RightNow Media with your small group.

About the Author | Budi Tjahjadi Budi currently serves on the evangelsim commitee.

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BOOK REVIEW

New and Old at the Same Time

Encouragement for the Depressed

By Charles H. Spurgeon, Foreword by Randy Alcorn In this classic sermon, Charles Spurgeon gently urges those struggling with depression to cast their burdens upon the Lord, who will not forsake his people. Having battled depression and discouragement himself for most of his years in ministry, Spurgeon encourages the downtrodden to hold fast to the promises of God, for he is steadfast and will comfort his children as they walk faithfully with him.

The Expulsive Power of a New Affection

By Thomas Chalmers, Foreword by John Piper In this powerful sermon, Thomas Chalmers inspires Christians to remove the snares and tangles of sin—not through legalistic obedience but through the power of a new and greater affection for God. Chalmers reminds God’s saints that as sojourners living in this world, true power over the trials and sins of this life is found only in desiring Jesus Christ.

Heaven Is a World of Love

By Jonathan Edwards, Foreword by Sam Storms In this classic exposition of 1 Corinthians 13:8–10, Jonathan Edwards exhorts Christians to ponder the love of God—both here in the world and in expectation of heaven. The things of this world are temporary, but “love never ends” (1 Cor. 13:8). God’s love is a foretaste of future glory, made available through communion with the Holy Spirit. Each page is rich with pastoral insights that will leave readers hungry to experience more of God’s love in eager anticipation of heaven.

Get these and more at our online bookshop: www.10ofthose.com/collegechurch 24

RIGHTNOW MEDIA

Most Popular Sites by College Church Users TOP SERIES FOR ADULTS Advent

The Gospel of Mark

with J. D. Greear

with Francis Chan

Psalm 119

Wild Places

Psalm 23

with Matt Chandler

with George DeJong

with Matt Chandler

Race and the Gospel with Bryan Loritts & Matt Chandler

It’s All Under Control with Jennifer Dukes Lee

TOP SERIES FOR CHILDREN

Superbook

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Sign up for these and many more resources: bit.ly/36m4sSF

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NEW MEMBERS

Hank & Emily Bowen

Todd & Julie Busteed

Carlson Chiles

PLACES LIVED: Hank was born and raised in Wheaton and at College Church; Emily is from Holland, MI. They married in 2018

PLACES LIVED: Chicago area, New York

PLACES I’VE LIVED: Georgia, Pennsylvania and Ohio

9 TO 5: Todd works in radio and audio production; Julie works for The Christian Working Woman

9 TO 5: Wheaton College student

FAMILY: Hank has a lot of family at College Church 9 TO 5: Hank works in wealth management; Emily is a national board-certified health and wellness coach PASTTIMES: Spending time with family, fitness and cheering on Chicago sports teams

PASTTIMES: Dogs, cycling, entertaining, cooking, gardening and travel CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Joint Heirs, Run for the STARS, communications, Women’s Bible Study, hospitality

PASTTIMES: Ultimate Frisbee, time with friends, car trips, nature excursions, good conversation, chess CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: College Group

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: HYACKs (high school ministry)

Taddie Cook PLACES I’VE LIVED: Texas FAMILY: Engaged to Jonathan Larson 9 TO 5: Works in finance for the federal government PASTTIMES: Reading, podcasts, jigsaw puzzles, hot chocolate CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: College Group, Audio/Visual team

More new members in our next issue!

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Henri & Olga Dietlin PLACES LIVED: Henri grew up in Geneva, Switzerland; Olga in Ukraine; both have lived in Florida FAMILY: Children are Daniel, Anna Sophia and Marc 9 TO 5: Henri is a general contractor; Olga is on the faculty of Wheaton College PASTTIMES: Spending time with family, fitness and cheering on Chicago sports teams CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Henri enjoys mountain biking and hiking

MILESTONES Marriages & Births

Condolences

• Blake Daniel Channing was born to Eric and Sara Channing January 27. Blake joins siblings Will, Claire, Malcolm, Louis and Tyler.

• Gwendolyn Jean VanSomeren was born to James and Eva VanSomeren on January 24. Paternal grandparents are Terry and Vonnie VanSomeren.

• Emily Jean Kissinger was born to Justin and Christy Kissinger. Maternal grandparents to this baby girl (after six grandsons) are Paul and Lynette Trautwein.

• Jesse Lin was born to James Lin and Sarah Hong Lin in New Rochelle, New York, on December 29. First time maternal grandparents are Hawoong and Sojung Hong.

• Boaz In-Su Bair was born to Daniel and Faith Bair on December 22. Boaz joins his siblings Arielle, Titus and Carissa.

• Pray for students Drew Hansen and Karsten Hansen as well as Phil ( Jessica) Smith and Marilyn Smith as they grieve the sudden loss of Drew and Karsen’s mother, Phil’s sister and Marilyn’s daughter, Linda (Bruce) Hansen.

• Please be in prayer for Judy (Victor) Covarrubias and family as they grieve the loss of Judy’s mother, Joyce Brown, who passed away recently in Batavia.

• Pray for Sue (Rich) Olson and family as they grieve the loss of Sue’s mother, Joy Sandlund, who passed away on January 16.

• Pray for Marion Waldschmidt and family as they grieve the loss of Marion’s husband, Ron, who passed away on January 14 in Wheaton.

LOOKING AHEAD High School One Day Retreat March 7, 1–8 p.m.

Spring 2021 Membership Class May 1, Saturday 8 a.m.–12 p.m.

Blood Drive Goes Monthly!

February 7

March 7

LORD'S SUPPER

Monday, February 22

Wednesday, August 25

Tuesday, March 30

Thursday, September 16

Tuesday, April 20

Thursday, October 25

Wednesday, May 26

Monday, November 29

Tuesday, June 29

Monday, December 20

Thursday, July 22 Watch for the signup link every month

332 E. Seminary, Wheaton, IL 60187 • Phone: (630) 668-0878 • www.college-church.org Connections is a monthly newsletter published for and about the people of College Church.

Send news items and suggestions to: connections@college-church.org.

Take advantage of events—some one-time, some ongoing—that are taking place around town this month. Also, keep Connections in mind to promote a community event to the College Church family. Send event information by the following dates to connections@college-church.org.

For the March issue: February 9 | For the April issue: March 9 | For the May issue: April 9 Our Pastors, Directors and Residents: Eric Channing, pastor of congregational care and family ministries | Cheryce Berg, director of children’s ministries | Julie Clemens, director of disability ministries | Erik Dewar, pastor of worship and music | Zach Fallon, senior high pastor | Dan Hiben, middle school pastor | Tim Hollinger, technology director | Diane Jordan, director of visitation and care | Howard Kern, facilities director | Josh Maurer, pastorial resident | Curt Miller, missions pastor | Josh Moody, senior pastor | Ben Panner, college pastor | Mindy Rynbrandt, director of women’s ministries | John Seward, executive pastor | Nancy Singer, director of administration and finance | Mike Solis, pastoral resident | Josh Stringer, pastor of discipleship | Wil Triggs, director of communications | Michael Walker, pastoral resident Our Council of Elders: David Bea | Howard Costley | Dave Gieser, vice chair | Randy Jahns| Heinrich Johnsen | Dan Lindquist | Josh Moody, senior pastor | Phil Nussbaum | Tom Nussbaum | Jeremy Taylor | Mark Taylor, chair | Tad Williams | Rob Wolgemuth, secretary

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