Keep Your Eyes on Jesus

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UNFIN SHED TASK GIVE in obedience to the Great Commission.

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Treasure ISSN# 8960038) Volume 10 • Number 2

EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-chief Elizabeth Hodges Managing editor / Circulation Phyllis York

WNAC Board Amy Johnson, Illinois Pam Hackett, South Carolina Jonda Patton, Kentucky Sarah Sargent, Ohio Tracy Payne, Oklahoma LeeAnn Wilfong, Missouri Khristi Shores, Oklahoma Jessica Edwards, Tennessee Katie Postlewaite, South Carolina

Contributors Amy Johnson, Illinois Sarah Sargent, Ohio Elizabeth Hodges, Tennessee Brenda Steedley, Alabama Chris Sargent, Spain Timothy York, New York Misty Todd, South Carolina Melanie Franks, Alabama

TREASURE (ISSN# 8960038) is produced quarterly by Women Nationally Active for Christ of the National Association of Free Will Baptists, Inc. 5233 Mount View Road, Antioch, TN 370132306. Copyright privileges reserved.

2021 Member of the Evangelical Press Association.

Studies April Focus On Jesus

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Feature Articles God is Better Than 2020 Season & Spice

Intentional Relationships

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Inquiries Mail questions or comments to Treasure, P.O Box 5002, Antioch, TN 370115002; treasure@wnac.org or online at wnac.org and through Facebook: Women Nationally Active for Christ.

In Every Issue 4 5 36 37

Amy’s Tidbits Behind the Scenes Thirtysomethings Vision APR-JUN 2021

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Brainstorming. When you hear the word brainstorming, does it bring dread your way, or does it stir an inner excitement? In school, when a teacher said, “We’re going to take a few minutes to brainstorm,” I must admit, I wasn’t exactly thrilled. I found the task somewhat daunting and wondered how others’ thoughts were going to help me with the task at hand. Fast forward a few years, my favorite thing during our WNAC board meetings is when we brainstorm, cast vision, and pray together.

Even during a global pandemic, we are seeing some of these dreams materialize. Our discussions often landed on more visibility and opening stronger communication among Free Will Baptist ladies. Have you noticed our social media presence lately? Visit WNAC’s YouTube Channel, Facebook and Twitter pages. Shine! also has Facebook and Instagram pages.

Treasure Bible Studies are free resources at wnac.org. Videos from the 2020 Flourish online event and the WNAC national seminars are there, too! Weekly devotional videos shared on Facebook Live are also on our YouTube Channel. YWAC studies are the newest resource which complement our current Bible studies.

It’s so exciting to see God at work. Where is He working in your life? I encourage you to keep focusing on God, even on those days when your vision seems a little blurred. As leaders, take the opportunity to brainstorm with others. Continue to focus on Him looking through a lens of love.

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with Melanie & Joel Franks

When we started down the church planting road, I wondered what it was going to look like for me. Going from an established church to a non-existent one was bound to look different. In the early stages, this was definitely true. I went from being a homeschooling mom that knew how to serve at church to not knowing what my days were going to look like. I spent my days going out into our new city to learn about the area. We participated in any event our community offered as a way of meeting people. When we finally obtained a building in which to meet, I became a construction worker.

The kids earned a credit in shop class that semester as the whole family was involved in the build-out! During that time, in order to build relationships, we invited anyone we could to come over for dinner. Although being hospitable wasn’t new to me, inviting strangers into my home was!

Now that the church has officially launched, I’m getting a clearer picture of what being the pastor’s wife of a new church looks like.

I have a few more jobs than I did before, and I never know where I may be needed to serve. One of the biggest differences (and probably my most favorite) is that I’m more often called for help from our church families since most don’t have family nearby. This helps cultivate those relationships.

Yes, there are differences between an established church and a church plant, but this truth remains: I am called to love and serve.

When I do this, Christ is honored, and souls are saved.

About the Writer: Melanie and Joel Franks are joint project (Alabama State Missions) church planters serving with BJ and Joann Eaton to plant a new church in Athens, Alabama.

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WNAC Executive Director Search Underway Antioch, TN—At the conclusion of the January 19, 2021, monthly Zoom board meeting, WNAC Director Elizabeth Hodges announced her retirement, effective December 31, 2021. Elizabeth submitted the official letter stating, “For several years, I have talked about God’s timing. In recent weeks, He has made very clear the time is now. It has been my honor and privilege to serve Free Will Baptist women for these ten and a half years.”

The WNAC board has developed a profile for the next executive director, and Application: s will be accepted from March 1, 2021, to May 15, 2021. (The Application: along with job description is available at www.wnac.org/director-search.) The new executive director will be introduced during the National Association when we meet in Memphis, Tennessee, July 18-21, 2021.

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Focus on Jesus

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2).

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“Stay focused and score.”

The words caught my eye as I scanned the newspaper’s sports page so I could carry on a conversation with my sportsloving husband. A talented high school quarterback made the statement. With those two thoughts and 7.8 seconds left in the football game, the quarterback threw a touchdown pass, stunned his opponents, and led his team to a three-point victory against their biggest rival.

“Stay focused and score.”

How can we apply these two simple thoughts to the Christian life and the race of faith we are called to run? Where should our focus be, and how do we score?

Focus on the Invisible As a chaplain in the Army, my husband Kerry was assigned to Fort Lewis, Washington, near Seattle. We were blessed to live there for two years, enjoying the Pacific Northwest’s beauty, especially Mount Rainier.

On a clear day, we could walk one block from our front door and have a full view of majestic Mount Rainier with its snow-capped peaks in all its beauty and splendor. Notice, I said, “On a clear day.” In two years, do you know how many days in that area are not clear?

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I did not count, but I will just say, “A lot.” Many people visit and never get a glimpse of Mount Rainier because of the gray sky, misty rain, and numerous clouds.

But the sky is not always gray, and it does not rain all the time. On the sunny days when we could see Mount Rainier, we were ecstatic. The view brought Psalm 145:5 to life: “I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.”

The beautiful landscape was the perfect setting for God to teach lessons about faith to a visual learner like me. On those long, cold, dreary days when I could not see Mount Rainier, I knew it was still there. I knew it would someday be visible again. It might take a while, but the clouds would leave, the sky would be bright blue again, and I would run to see my mountain.

That visual has stayed with me. On days when the clouds of doubt come, and the dreary gray skies of worry and anxiety blur my vision, I think of Mount Rainier and remember to focus on the invisible.

Reading the book of Psalms is a perfect way to focus on the greatness of God. In his commentary on Psalm 77, Warren Wiersbe notes, “When we look

APRIL STUDY at our circumstances, we focus on ourselves and see no hope, but when we look by faith to the Lord, our circumstances may not change, but we do. Look up by faith and rejoice in the greatness of God.”

and block our view of God and His mighty power.

Isaiah 26:3 reminds us, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” So, the question becomes, “How do I stay focused on the invisible? How do I intentionally fix my eyes on Jesus and not look at my circumstances, losing my focus and yielding to my fears?”

Focus with Intention In her book, Fixing My Eyes on Jesus, Anne Graham Lotz tells of a young friend who began experiencing dreadful panic attacks.

She went to see a psychiatrist who walked her through a simple exercise of listing everything that caused her to be afraid.

When she finished her list, her fears so dominated her thinking that she could not function.

Lotz recommends that when you feel afraid, make up your list—not of fears, but God’s characteristics. Reconsider your situation in light of who God is.

Then claim His promise: “Fear not, for I am with thee” (Genesis 26:24b). The secret to peace lies in your focus.

By focusing on circumstances, we choose to feel anxiety and doubt. By focusing on the problem, we allow it to grow

Dr. Caroline Leaf, author of Switch on Your Brain Every Day, states, “You become what you think about the most. When you focus on something constantly and intentionally, you love and ‘worship’ it, giving it power over your mind and life.”

As Christians, our goal is to be like Jesus, to love and worship Jesus, and to give Jesus power over our minds and lives. Doesn’t it make sense that we should intentionally focus on Him? Remember, whatever you focus on the most grows. Romans 8:5 reminds us, “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” Where is your focus?

Is it on the world that satisfies the sinful flesh, or on the things of the Spirit?

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We have free will. God allows us to choose where to place our focus. As Christians, we have the Spirit of God within us, but He does not force us to listen to Him. We must choose to focus our minds on what He is saying, let Him guide us, teach us, equip us, counsel us, convict us, and consequently change us to be more like Jesus. We must intentionally choose to focus on Jesus.

How do we do that daily?

To be intentional means you have a plan of action. Do you consistently and diligently read and study your Bible every day? What about your prayer life? Do you only pray when you have a problem? Do you meet with the Lord every day to sit with Him, talk with Him, and listen to Him? In his book Redeemed, Will Graham, grandson of Billy Graham, tells a story of visiting his grandfather to seek advice.

Will had just been called to be an evangelist with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Expecting a lecture on key verses to use in sermons, hand gestures to use, or tips on how 10 treasure

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to give an invitation to come to Christ, Will was surprised when his grandfather simply said, “Pray, pray, pray,” and, “Study, study, study.” Then he whispered, “Looking back, I wish I had done so much more of both.”

Pray and study—two thoughts that teach us how to stay focused and score. Let us heed that advice and intentionally make prayer and Bible study a daily priority.

Note the words of Proverbs 4:20-22 (NLT): “My child, pay attention to what I say.

Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.”

Do you get the picture? This is not a five-minute devotion as you run out the door. This is listening, concentrating, and meditating on what you hear and read. It is intentionally focusing with intensity on the Word of God so you can be mentally, physically, and spiritually healthy and run with endurance the race set before you.

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Focus with Intensity Two biblical champions of faith have much to teach us about how to stay focused and score. Both Peter and Stephen were chosen to be on significant New Testament teams. Jesus chose Peter to be one of His twelve disciples; the early Church chose Stephen to be one of seven deacons.

The gospels paint a vivid portrait of Peter, the big fisherman.

He is revealed as a self-confident man who is bold, impulsive, courageous, and fearlessly daring. He was a man’s man, ready at a moment’s notice to pick up a sword (John 18:10) or jump into a stormy sea (Matthew 14:29).

Read Matthew 14:22-33 for the story of Peter walking on the Sea of Galilee. He literally took a leap of faith when he came down out of the boat and walked on water toward Jesus.

He started with confidence, but as soon as he looked away from Jesus, saw the boisterous wind, and focused on his circumstances, fear overcame him.

However, Peter knew whom to call on for help. It was not to his team in the boat but to his coach on the sea that he cried, “Lord, save me!” Not only did Jesus take Peter by the hand and

keep him from sinking, but He got in the boat with him. Notice what happened next. The wind ceased, and all those in the boat worshiped Jesus, saying, “Of a truth thou art the Son of God” (Matthew 14:33).

Peter’s experience turned out to be a blessing, not just for him but for the other disciples as well. When they saw the power of Jesus over the stormy sea, they saw His glory and worshiped Him. When God’s great power and glory are revealed, we and others know that He is the Lord, and we bow to worship Him. This is a great victory.

Jesus changed the circumstances of Peter’s intense storm, but He did not choose to do that for Stephen. Read his story in Acts 6-7.

Notice the description of Stephen’s character. He was full of faith and the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5). He was full of faith and power (Acts 6:8). The Holy Spirit within gave his face the brightness of an angel (Acts 6:15). He was filled with wisdom (Acts 6:3, 10). He knew the Scriptures.

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In chapter 7, he covered the history of Israel from Abraham to Christ. He was very courageous as he boldly confronted his opponents (Acts 7:51-58).

He was full of love as he prayed for the forgiveness of his accusers (Acts 7:60).

Pay close attention to Acts 7:55, which reads, “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.” The word steadfast means “fixed” or “unchanging.” Stephen had his eyes fixed on Jesus.

What enabled Stephen to focus with such exceptionally great concentration, power, and force—to focus with intensity? He was full of the Holy Spirit. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, it’s a whole new ball game!

Have you ever watched coaches when games get intense? They rarely remain sitting. They stand, yell, give instructions, or cheer on the players. Notice that Acts 7:55 says Stephen saw Jesus “standing on the right hand of God.” Hebrews 12:2 states Jesus “sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Other references confirm the same fact (see Mark 16:19; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3, 10:12).

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intense for Stephen, but Jesus felt it as well. He stood to cheer Stephen on and welcome him across the finish line.

It is important to note when the storm occurred in Peter’s life, as described in Matthew 14, the Holy Spirit had not come yet. He did not come until after Jesus was crucified, rose again, and ascended back to Heaven.

While Peter had the privilege of seeing Jesus face to face physically, Stephen had the power within him to see Jesus with spiritual eyes. He had the Holy Spirit living in him, and we do, too! When we are surrendered to Jesus, allowing Him to fill us and control us, we can focus with intensity and make it to the finish line.

Did Stephen’s message have its intended effect? Did his final words of love and grace bring glory to Jesus? They were words that grabbed the attention of someone who was nearby watching.

Luke, the author of Acts, introduces Saul in 7:58. Saul, better known to us as the Apostle Paul, eventually became a valuable team player and intentionally ran the race of faith with intensity (2 Timothy 4:7).

Stephen’s faith never wavered.

He stayed focused and scored!

May we do the same.

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Focus Inquisitively How is your focus? Use the following study guide to intentionally direct your focus on the invisible with intensity.

1. Practice your ABC’s. Use nouns or adjectives to create a praise list of the attributes of Jesus. For example, A—Almighty; B—Bountiful; C—Creator. Continue through the alphabet. On dreary days when clouds of doubt and gray skies of worry and anxiety hover over you, review your ABC’s and remember to focus on the invisible.

2. Ponder the following Billy Graham quote from the book Redeemed: “At its deepest level, prayer is fellowship with God: enjoying His company, waiting upon His will, thanking Him for His mercies . . . listening in silence for what He has to say to us.”

Have you tried sitting quietly with God? Simply sit with Him, resting in His presence. Meditate on Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.” As you focus with intention on Him, write down anything He reveals to you about your concerns.

3. Peter’s leap of faith described in Matthew 14 significantly strengthened the other disciples’ faith in the boat.

Stephen, the first martyr of the early Church, had a profound effect on young Saul, the Pharisee who persecuted Christians. He became the Apostle Paul—missionary, church planter, and author of thirteen New Testament books.

Read Hebrews 11 for examples from the Old Testament of people who are commended for their faith. These are the witnesses mentioned in Hebrews 12:1.

Who has influenced you on your journey of faith? What about your Legacy of Faith? What will be said about you when your race is done? Is your life bringing glory to God and leading others to Jesus?

“Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1b-2a).

About the Writer: Brenda lives in Semmes, Alabama, with her husband Kerry Steedley, a retired Free Will Baptist Army chaplain.

She enjoys all things domestic, especially nurturing her five growing grandchildren.

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God is Better Than 2020 Psalms 139:14-16: I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

At nineteen years old, my young, first-time mother tried to convince doctors something was wrong with her baby. She even tells of a dream she had during her pregnancy of all the family gathered around after I was born talking about what a beautiful baby I was, but then someone asked, “what is wrong with her eyes?” She tells me that’s when she knew I would be a girl. Medical professionals of the time quickly silenced her concerns.

Many people have glaucoma, an eye disease characterized by increased intraocular pressure that causes damage to the optic nerve, but I was one of the few born with it. Congenital glaucoma occurs when the eyes’ drainage system does not develop correctly.

At birth, my pressures were over 100 in my right eye and the 90’s in my left. This was astronomical, and the damage to my optic nerve was irreversible—leaving me with 20/100 vision in my left eye and in my right, 20/400 vision, which is legally blind before the aid of corrective lenses.

My mom says God used that dream to prepare her for the roller coaster that would be the first year of my life. I had many surgeries and spent much of that time in hospitals. My mom was right there with me the entire time, even sleeping under my hospital crib on the floor when she had nowhere else to go.

Throughout my childhood, the prescription in my glasses changed often, and eye drops were a necessity. Putting drops that burned into my eyes and keeping up with my glasses were challenges for my parents. Early school years also had their difficulties.

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books, and had a social worker come to see me often in class. It was embarrassing. Then at ten-years-old, my pressures began to climb again. I had to have two additional surgeries.

Funding for these surgeries presented its own set of problems for our family. It was unclear how long these surgeries would last before I would begin to see my pressures rise again, but miraculously they have been controlled for 38 years! Only recently, have I had to use drops again.

The best doctors have been able to get my vision is 20/200 in my right eye and 20/80 in my left. This was partially due to my inability to clearly communicate what I needed clearly as a child. Still, mostly it is because technology and materials were not advanced enough then.

In December 2016, I went to see a new doctor in Manning, South Carolina. He took extra time and asked the right questions. He knew what to do to get me a pair of glasses that gives me 20/60 vision in my left eye. Wonderful!

One of my biggest struggles has been the inability to drive. In the state of South Carolina, this was good enough for me to obtain a driver’s license!

My childhood eye doctor always told me I would see considerable advancement in the medical field regarding vision care in my lifetime.

So far he has been right, but regardless, I know the Master Doctor.

God has allowed me to see and experience more in this lifetime than I could have ever dreamed. It is not because I am worthy, but because He is gracious. I know He has a plan for all areas of my life, including my eyes. Through the low points and on the mountains, He is good, and He is in control!

About the Writer: Misty Todd serves alongside her husband Chris, in ministry at the South Carolina Free Will Baptist State Office. Prior to this role, the couple served as pastor and wife for 13 years. Misty graduated from Liberty University and has two children, Gloria and Emmit.

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the • awe • lo • gy THE STUDY OF GOD Since 1960, the Commission for Theological Integrity has worked diligently to guard Free Will Baptists from theological trends threatening our doctrinal integrity.

The Commission promotes sound theology through annual symposiums, educational materials, and articles on its rapidly-expanding website:

www.FWBTheology.com Visit the site for book reviews, articles, and updated information regarding the annual symposium.

HELP FOR WORSHIP TEAMS

Visit fwbworship.com/training today to discover how you can become a better worship leader.

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The Free Will Baptist Music Commission website is designed to help everyday people be better worship leaders.

This growing library provides practical training any church can use.

The Free Will Baptist Media Commission exists to help churches and individuals effectively communicate the Word of God through communication technologies. Technology can be difficult to understand, and we would love to help you use it properly to reach the world with the gospel effectively and clearly.

VIDEO | SOCIAL MEDIA | AUDIO www.fwbmedia.org

Calling for History!

The Free Will Baptist Historical Collection still has significant gaps. If you have books or records to donate, please contact curator Phillip Morgan: pmorgan@welch.edu. Let’s work together to preserve the amazing Free Will Baptist story for coming generations.

FWBHistory.com

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Season & Spice

by Sandy Atwood

I’m easily distracted while driving. When something catches my eye and I glance toward it, I tend to run off the road. (Whoever thought up rumble strips is a genius!)

I’m also easily distracted by things that take my focus off Jesus. Hebrews 12:2 reminds us to stay focused on Him, but I’ve been known to focus on what others are doing, past events that can’t be changed, and what might happen in the future—but mainly myself and what I want.

I know the way to see clearly and keep going is to focus on God. That sounds so spiritual, doesn’t it? But how do I do that every day? I must be intentional about keeping my eyes on Jesus.

When I wake up in the morning, I need to open my Bible before looking at social media. The more I focus on knowing God through His Word, the more I love Him and want to stay close to Him. • When I focus on how much God loves me, I don’t need to compare myself or my life to others.

• When I focus on His presence, I can be at peace.

• When I focus on His wisdom, I remember He knows what is best for me.

•When I focus on His power, I can be sure He will work things out for my good (tough at 3:00 a.m. when things always seem worse).

After Chinese evangelist Wang Ming Dao was imprisoned for sharing his faith, he chose to focus on God. Every single day in prison (18+ years), he woke up and sang the same hymn by Fanny Crosby: All the way my Savior leads me; What have I to ask beside?

Can I doubt his tender mercy, Who through life has been my guide?

Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort, Here by faith in Him to dwell!

For I know whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.

When our focus is on God, we can keep going, no matter what.

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Eyes of

Part 1 Several years ago, when I was completing my training to become a mental health counselor, I worked for about six months as an intern at an inpatient mental health hospital. I was the therapist assigned to a unit that provided treatment for people with severe and persistent mental disorders. This population normally requires years of ongoing treatment due to the nature of their specific illnesses. As a therapist, I provided a safe place for people to talk about and work through some heavy issues.

One day after a particularly emotional session with a client who had suffered some very traumatic events, I asked my supervisor, “How do you do this every day? How have you managed to listen day after day to the hurt, pain, and trauma that people have suffered?”

Thirteen years later his answer continues to affect my view of ministry. “Chris,” he said, “it would serve you well never to forget that you and I are only one life event away from being exactly where our clients are. We do not deserve the blessed life we live any more than our clients deserve to suffer from their illnesses. It is only by the unmerited grace of God that my life is what it is.”

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Over those years, I have repeated these words to myself a thousand times. “We do not deserve the blessed life we live any more than our clients deserve to suffer from the illnesses they suffer from.” I do not have a birthright that entitles me to the blessings of God. I am not a Christian because I am worthy of God’s favor. I am nothing more than the recipient of divine grace and unmerited favor.

Job understood this truth well when, after losing everything he owned, he declared, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the

LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21). God was under no obligation to bless Job, yet He had chosen to do so. Now, due to a series of events that were out of Job’s control, his life had been turned completely upside down.

My former supervisor also understood this biblical truth, and it revolutionized the way he saw people who were hurting. He felt as though he had lived a blessed life, but this was not due to any merit he possessed. He also understood, like in Job’s case, that everything could change before the end of the day.

Application: What are some tangible ways in which God has blessed your life?

Spend a few minutes giving thanks to God for the way He has blessed you. Do not forget to acknowledge the truth that you do not deserve these blessings.

With this perspective in mind, a homeless person ceases to be a dirty, smelly nuisance. The immigrant struggling to communicate in English is no longer an annoyance. The Middle Eastern refugee is not a scary or dangerous person. They are all people, created by God (Genesis 1:26), who need to experience His grace and love.

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Respecter of Persons

In James 2:1-4, the apostle addresses first-century Jewish Christians with these words: “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”

The Jewish Christians were guilty of showing favoritism to the wealthy while treating the poor as undesirable nuisances. It is not hard to hear the astonishment James expresses here. The Jewish Christians claimed to have had their lives transformed by Jesus Christ, and yet they had an attitude of favoritism. How can this possibly be? In verse 4, James declares that their motives were purely evil. These are strong words that deserve a significant amount of self-reflection.

Application: Are we guilty of showing favoritism to socially and economically elite individuals? Do we treat the homeless beggar with the same amount of respect as the wealthy business executive? According to Genesis 1:26, each person is created in the image of God and is therefore equally worthy of respect and kindness.

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When our family first arrived in Spain, we wanted to learn firsthand about the plight of the refugees and immigrants whom we desired to reach with God’s love. We had done a lot of research and knew what the statistics said about this people group, but we wanted to learn what their lives were really like.

Consequently, we began to serve as volunteers at various social outreach centers that were trying to meet the needs of hurting people. Most of our time was spent volunteering with a secular organization that distributed government-subsidized food to as many people as possible. Without a doubt, needs were met. However, two things quickly became evident to us: the needs far exceeded the current infrastructure, and, although these refugees and immigrants were receiving help, ever-present hopelessness haunted them.

Their stories were as different as night from day. Some of the refugees we met used to be wealthy professionals whose country had imploded due to civil unrest and war. Other people had fled the poverty and disease that plagued their villages; while others made 22 treasure

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MAY STUDY their way to a new country because they needed medical treatment that did not exist in their home countries. Although their histories were different, they all shared a sense of hopelessness and alienation.

So, when we set out to launch the outreach center (where we currently serve), our conviction was to serve each person with dignity and kindness because they have been created in the image of Almighty God. We greet people with a smile, and we call them by name. We are intentional in communicating to each person that they are welcome at the outreach center and that we believe each life has worth.

This is, after all, what our Lord had in mind when He commanded His children to love their neighbors as they love themselves (Leviticus 19:18b).

Jesus later reinforced this idea when He declared this commandment to be second only to the command to love the Lord with all our hearts (Mark 12:2931). The apostle James later deemed this commandment “the royal law” (James 2:8).

This commandment is easier to obey when our neighbor is from a similar socio-economic

background as we are and we merely need to be kind and polite to show them the love of Jesus. But how drastically does this commandment stretch us when we are called to love someone who has not bathed in a week and is desperately in

need of food to survive? Perhaps this same person is exceptionally lonely because they have been ostracized by society, and they truly need a friend.

What does it look like to love this person?

Several months ago, a homeless man walked into the outreach center and asked if he could speak with me. I smiled and said, “Of course.”

We stepped into a semi-private area and began to discuss some of his needs. I had known this man for several months at this point but had never had more than a simple conversation with him while he was picking up his weekly food allotment. Most APR-JUN 2021

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people stepped aside or ignored him entirely because he usually smelled bad, looked disheveled, and appeared to have a very loose grasp on reality.

That day I chose to take about ten minutes with him, and afterwards he collected his food and left. In the months that followed, I had more frequent conversations with him. Through the course of these exchanges, I discovered that this man is highly

educated, is a published author, and once had a good career. But several years ago, he lost his wife and daughter and was unable to rebound from the tragedy.

He is honestly not the easiest person to love, but God created him in His image. His life has value. Because of this, I choose to reach out to him with the love of Jesus and pray he will one day say yes to His offer of salvation.

Application: Do you have people in your life that are difficult to love? Explain.

Are there people you have failed to love because they are difficult people or are different from you? What is God asking you to do differently?

Ultimate Example Read Luke 8:43-48. Jesus, our ultimate example of love, was walking through a crowd when an extremely sick woman sneaked up behind him and touched His clothes. Now, to say this woman was sick is an understatement. She had been chronically ill for years and had exhausted all possible medical 24 treasure

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treatment. It appeared that she was doomed to suffer for the remainder of her days. To make things worse, her specific illness made her perpetually ceremonially unclean, which meant that she was ostracized from society and cut off from worshiping in the temple.

In an act of desperation, the

MAY STUDY woman reached out to Jesus.

Even though this meant that Jesus was also now ceremonially unclean, something that would have outraged the average religious leader of the time, Jesus reacted with kindness.

Once the woman revealed herself to Jesus, he tenderly looked at her and called her “daughter” (verse 48). By faith she was accepted by God, making her a recipient of His loving care.

About a year ago, an immigrant woman in her mid-sixties walked through the doors of our outreach center. She appeared physically exhausted, so we offered her a seat and a cup of water. After she caught her breath, we attempted to have a conversation with her, only to discover that she did not speak Spanish or English, only Arabic.

Then another immigrant woman whom we had known for quite some time walked through the door, and she kindly agreed to translate for us.

This woman had arrived about a month ago seeking medical treatment that was unavailable where she lived.

She had been diagnosed with cancer and coming Spain was her only hope for survival. Arriving alone, she went directly to the hospital where she was

admitted and stabilized. She is now dependent on the charity of others for survival.

We have prayed over her and had frequent conversations with her through translation and occasionally through charades. We have watched as this woman’s health deteriorates, knowing that Jesus is her only hope. Even though we are frustrated by our inability to communicate with her directly, we are thankful for each interaction God allows us with her. Jesus has not yet called her daughter, although He longs to do so. Neither has He healed her, although He is powerful enough to do so.

Showing the love of Jesus to this poor lady is not easy. It is emotionally exhausting to be moved with the love of Jesus for someone with whom you cannot directly communicate.The easy thing would be to say we are not equipped to minister to this lady; to shrug our shoulders and walk away.

But that is not what God has commanded His Church to do.

We have been called to love those we encounter regardless of circumstances, religious background, ethnicity, or any baggage they may have.

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more than the hurting people whom we encounter deserve to suffer. Second, we learn in James 2:9 that if we show favoritism or “have respect to persons, [we] commit sin . . . .” Let us strive to see people the way Jesus sees them and love them the way He does.

About the Writer: Chris and his wife Tori are Welch College grads. Chris served in both youth ministry and pastoral ministry prior to their transition to cross cultural ministry. They have been with The Hanna Project since 2012 and live and work among refugees in southern Spain.

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JUNE STUDY

Eyes of

Part 2

As you read through the Gospels, it becomes apparent Jesus displayed a great love for those He met. He journeyed through the deserts, villages, and cities demonstrating His love in tangible but substantive ways. His love showed no partiality between Jews and Gentiles, men and women, rich or poor.

Matthew 9:35-38 is one of my favorite accounts of Jesus’ love for people, which begins with this summary: “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” Matthew describes the persistence of Jesus’ love because He “went about all the cities and villages…”

Jesus was not content to just minister in His hometown or His preferred locations, but He consistently traveled through all the cities and villages.

Application: How far does your personal ministry reach? Admittedly, not all of us are called to the same traveling style of ministry Jesus conducted, but do you reach beyond where you are planted?

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Knowing Jesus traveled extensively, Matthew goes on to inform us that Jesus went into these cities and villages teaching and preaching. Both words are interesting in the original language. “Teaching” (διδάσκων) means to provide instruction while “preaching” (κηρύσσων)

carries the connotation of heralding or proclaiming truth, especially in a religious sense.

Matthew clearly is driving home the point Jesus went through all these locations with the purpose of instructing them and proclaiming the good news of the gospel.

Application: How diligently do you study the Scriptures so you will be prepared to instruct or proclaim the truth to others?

What specific plans do you have for improving your knowledge of Scripture?

Matthew concludes this broad summary of Jesus’ ministry by saying, “[He was] healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” Jesus traveled and proclaimed, but He also healed individuals as part of His loving ministry. We are not going to be able to weild the same authority over sickness Jesus

did, but we can learn from His interest in helping people. Meeting the physical, mental, emotional needs of people creates an environment where they can hear the truth of the gospel in a different way. The adage is true: people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.

Application: Are you in touch with the needs of your community? How do you seek to alleviate the hurts of those around you? Do you tend to be a person consumed with your own hurts and needs or are you more focused on the pain of others?

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JUNE STUDY Missionary Moment: As a North American Ministries Church Planter, we look for every viable opportunity to intertwine our lives with those we are hoping to reach. This union makes us aware of hurts and issues these individuals face.

Amanda has focused on the families in our neighborhood and has made friends with a Muslim woman from Yemen who lives two doors down from us. By paying attention to this family, we have had multiple opportunities to meet their needs.

In fact, Amanda is the only American woman this lady’s husband has permitted her to speak to. Many hurdles existed between the two (language, religion, culture), but Amanda noticed their children were playing with a flattened soccer ball and found a way to demonstrate the love of Jesus to this family. At this point in the relationship, our neighbor fixes dinner for us once a week and she and Amanda spend time together as friends talking about life.

Matthew now moves from the general ministry pattern of Jesus to some very specific details. Verse 36 says, “But when he [Jesus] saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”

Matthew has strategically moved from the “what” of Jesus’ ministry to the “why.”

Why did He travel to all the cities and villages? Why did He take the time to instruct and proclaim? Why did He heal every sickness and disease? “He was

moved with compassion…”— (ἐσπλαγχνίσθη) His heart went out to them.

The literal meaning of the Greek word is “to feel in the viscera or bowels.” As Americans we often think of our emotions as being rooted in the heart, but the connection between our stomach and our feelings is not totally lost on us. We’ve all talked about “gut-wrenching emotions” or feelings that have literally made us “sick to our stomach.” Matthew explains that Jesus looked at the Jews and what He saw and heard from them created such APR-JUN 2021

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strong emotion in Him that He felt it in His stomach.

Application: When you consider the culture around you or observe the lives of the people in your town, what emotions do you feel? It’s easy to feel anger or disappointment towards those with whom we connect, but was this what Jesus portrayed?

What should change in the way you view of people so your emotions are more in line with how Jesus felt?

What was it about the condition of these people that caused Jesus to feel all He feels? It wasn’t that their sin grieved Him to the point of frustration. It wasn’t that they wouldn’t listen to Him and He was angry. Rather, He felt compassion for them because they lacked good spiritual leadership. The Pharisees and Sadducees had abused their authority as spiritual leaders in Israel by exploiting the poor and rigging the religious system so that they remained in power. Jesus looked upon the people and felt compassion for them because they were like “sheep having no shepherd.”

These counterfeit Jewish religious leaders were pretending to be the shepherds of Israel, but they lived in stark contrast to Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Jesus’ concern for the spiritual wellbeing of people is apparent on every page of the gospels. In fact, Jesus taught His disciples how to go and make disciples around the world, because His desire is for people to have competent and accurate spiritual leadership.

Application: Jesus commanded His followers to focus their energy on making disciples. Who are you discipling? Does it deeply move you when you observe people and cultures that are “sheep without a shepherd?”

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JUNE STUDY Matthew concludes this section of Scripture with two famous verses, the first of which is, “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;’” Jesus has changed the metaphor from shepherding to farming but the heartbeat of the passage is still the same. The immediate context makes it clear this harvest refers to unbelievers—the same people for whom Jesus felt compassion.

Jesus emphatically highlights the problem, saying there are not enough laborers to bring in the robust harvest. The problem is not that people wouldn’t believe in Jesus; the problem is an insufficient number of workers. The clear implication is the world is ripe with individuals who are ready for inclusion into the Kingdom of God but the work stalls due to an insufficient number of workers.

Application: Have you ever considered how plentiful the harvest is around you? When you think about Jesus’ description of the harvest, what specific names come to your mind?

The second famous verse that completes this section is, “therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” Since the harvest is ready, Jesus tells us we are to pray for more workers.

Application: What do you think is the connection between your prayers and God sending out laborers? How do you think praying for laborers will affect the way you engage those around you?

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Missionary Moment: Our church seeks to find as many ways as possible to show care for the people of our community.

Annually, we host two events, Family Fun Day Carnival and an Easter Egg Hunt, which are free of charge and designed to bring joy to those that attend. We also serve our community by adopting a section of our highway, providing free lunch events for employees of local small businesses, providing breakfast to local teachers, offering the Financial Peace University course, and many other ministries focused on tangible demonstrations of the love of Christ.

Our church is very focused on demonstrating Christ’s love because we are convinced this was the ministry Jesus modeled.

Remember, Matthew started this section of Scripture by reminding us Jesus went throughout all the region doing good and preaching the Good News of the Gospel. However, simply doing good is not enough. Jesus loved on people as He presented the truth to them.

The concept of sending out laborers into the field is an interesting one, especially when this illustration of Jesus is brought into the real world through the spiritual exercise of discipleship. For too long, the modern church describes evangelism and discipleship as two separate exercises. The current thought process goes something like this: the evangelist reaches the lost one (conversion) and a teacher comes along and disciples them (sanctification). However, this two-pronged approach is foreign to the pages of the Bible. Acts 32 treasure

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JUNE STUDY 18 is a fitting example of the correct approach where Paul in verse 8 preaches and “many of the Corinthian’s hearing, believed and were baptized” but Paul in verse 11 “continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.”

The Great Commission Matthew records at the end of this book requires all believers to “go and make disciples of all nations,” which is very different from “go and make converts of all nations.”

The heart of the Lord of the Harvest is that all nations become disciples of Jesus. Could it be the laborers are few in our generation because we have failed to disciple those that have made a decision to follow Christ? Could it be the answer to our prayer for more laborers is actually answered our taking seriously the command to make disciples?

Application: Who discipled you and what did that process look like? Who is currently discipling you and how teachable are you in that process? Who are you actively discipling? How closely are you monitoring their life for the purpose of feedback and intentional spiritual growth?

Missionary Moment: Our church has adopted a three-point strategy in the discipleship process of our people. The first step is our Sunday Celebrations, in which we try to be very conscious of our audience. For those who haven’t surrendered to Christ, we seek to expose them to Scripture so they might come to know the truth.

The second approach of discipleship for us is small groups. Our small groups are based around the Sunday sermon, so that the text is driven deeper. Our small group discussion centers around our head, heart, and hands in relation to the passage. The “head” questions are information questions and what we want them to know.

The “heart” questions are emotional/internal and focus on what we want them to feel. The “hands” questions are all about action and help that explain what they should do.

The third point to our discipleship strategy is something we call “dAPR-JUN 2021

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groups.” This term is not unique to us and you can find several different models for these gatherings. Our d-groups consist of three to five people and they spend 18 months studying the entire Bible together.

They journal every day, memorize Scripture, hold one another accountable, and work toward the goal of starting their own group when the current group completes their study. These are slow to get started, but once you begin to see the ripple effect of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation, the methodical pace of discipleship has proven well worth it in our opinion.

For too long, the church has neglected her commission to “go make disciples.” The amount of believers who go through their daily life without ever engaging others with the gospel is frightening. As we see the world around us and all of the turmoil and pain, we can’t stand by and watch others spiral into eternity. Pray that God sends workers into the harvest. Ask Him to open your eyes to the harvest around you.

About the Writer: Tim and Amanda York are church planters in Depew, New York, which is a suburb of Buffalo, New York. The Yorks were commissioned by North American Ministries to plant a church with an emphasis on the large Deaf population in the area. Tim and Amanda have two sons, Bryson and Haddon, and another one on the way.

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INTENTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

This season of life has lasted much longer than any of us hoped or expected. We are endlessly separated from our friends and loved ones in one sense or another. Sometimes we only see our friends through screens or plexiglass. It feels like one of the loneliest times in history. We are challenged to find new ways to interact and form relationships. That may even be what led you to be reading this blog.

As human beings, we are made for relationships. God told Adam it was not good for him to be alone, so God made a companion for him. Resist the temptation to shy away from relationships. My prayer is that we find new ways to be intentional in our friendships.

Intentionality will enrich our love for those people even more. Try writing letters to friends far away or making phone calls to grandparents, aunts, and uncles.

I encourage you to set aside some time every day to do these things. Make it a time to express yourself but also a time to relax.

The relationships you need to strengthen are not far away. Spend time with those in your own household. Honor your father and mother and those who take care of you. Remember, your siblings are your companions for life.

Commit to reaching out to a different friend or loved one every day this week. You will be surprised when you not only lift their spirits, but they also raise yours.

About the Writer: Hannah Gorrell is a 2021 senior at Welch College, studying Biology Education. She is a WNAC scholarship recipient and serves on many committees within Welch College. She is from Charleston, West Virginia, and attends McCorkle Free Will Baptist Church. Hannah enjoys gardening, singing, crafting, and cooking for family and friends.

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thirtysomethings

by Sarah Sargent

On August 5, 2020, I was on my way to work and listening to a daily devotion I get via email. The writer shared about a season in her life when she struggled to show “agape” love to a fellow church member. She realized that to be successful, she had to have God’s help. She and her best friend committed to reading 1 Corinthians 13 every day for an entire year.

Over that year, through His Word, God softened her heart toward that person. As I mulled over this devotion, I could feel God challenging me to a similar mission.

By the end of that day, I had started my year-long journey with 1 Corinthians 13. At the time of this writing, I am almost six months into this endeavor. As a single woman, I long to find love. This consistent reminder of how God defines love has been challenging to my heart, thoughts, and actions.

I typically read it in the morning before I start my day. Many times God reminds me of my recent actions when I come across a particular characteristic of love. “Love is patient and kind”—unlike when my irritation with a co-worker was reflected in my attitude toward her. Having now read it consistently over 150+ times, I find the Scriptures coming to me in the moments of daily life. “If I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” (verse 2). I can be a scholar of God’s Word, but if I do not share His love with those around me, my knowledge is for nothing.

I am excited to see how God will challenge me through this chapter over the next six months. I am eager to put this love into practice. I also hope God challenges many of you to start your own year-long journey with 1 Corinthians 13. This world desparately needs more of God’s love shining through us.

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W

VISION by Elizabeth Hodges

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose [activity, matter] under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). I shared this verse with the board announcing my retirement. “A time” represents my nomination to serve as the sixth WNAC director (May 29, 2010). “The season” began July 20, 2010, with my election and will extend until my retirement on December 31, 2021. What a privilege to serve Free Will Baptist women over 11 years.

As Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt and approached the Red Sea, he challenged them to “Fear not—stand firm—the Lord will fight for you—you only have to be silent” (Exodus 14:13-14).

Imagine facing the Red Sea with the Egyptians behind you. The Israelites had been in bondage for over 400 years. Their bodies and spirits were weary. Moses encouraged them to let the Lord fight for them. What a promise as they faced an unknown future!

We, too, faced an unknown future in 2010. God led us all the way, allowing us to see the birth of new ministries, expanding our footprint in the denomination, and growth in existing ministries.

We have better communication among all levels in WNAC. Thanks to social media, we can “see” our international sisters serving faithfully.

God has already chosen the next director. Join me in praying for Him to direct the board to this lady. May He knit their hearts together as He leads them into the next chapter of our history. We can each uphold this process in intercessory prayer. We have a rich heritage, and our future is bright. To Him be the glory. Great things He has done, is doing and will do in the future.

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P. O. Box 5002 Antioch, TN 37011-5002 www.wnac.org 877-767-7662

76 Missionary needs met in 2020 For a current list of needed items, visit wnac.org.

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