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Pastor's Point - February 2024

Dear Church Family,

My recent trip to see Nick, Melissa, and the kids was a wonderful, encouraging trip as we were able to spend time with them after a two-year separation. It was so great to get to hug, kiss, and talk in person with them. Eliana has grown so much on one hand, but on the other she is the same sweet bubbly little girl she was when she left. It was also amazing to get to hold and kiss our seven-month-old grandson for the first time as well. God was so kind to us because as we met him, he greeted us with the most amazing bright eyes and smiles as if we had met before. So, we were personally blessed and edified by being able to see Nick and family once again.

But it was more than just a family trip. I was there also as their pastor representing our church. We are their sending church and with that comes a special privilege and responsibility to do all we can to encourage them while they are on the field. This became very real one day when I was talking to Nick, and he thanked me for coming because he said he really needed the encouragement from his pastor. Of course, I know that I have been the only pastor Nick has ever known, but it reminded me in that moment that I not only have a responsibility to Nick, Melissa, and the kids as a dad and grandfather, but also as their pastor. I came back with a renewed dedication to be the best pastor I can be to them while they are away from us on the mission field. 

It was very helpful to see the mission field where they are serving. I have a fresh appreciation for the urgency of the work as well as the difficulties that come along with ministering in Japan. They really do need our prayers and support. As I came home, I thought of a conversation that Nick and I had before they left to go to the mission field. I told Nick that as they go to Japan, that I would be here “holding the ropes” to support them. This is a reference to something that William Carey said to one of his friends as Carey was going to the foreign mission field and his friend was staying behind in the states. William Carey is considered the father of the modern-day missionary movement.

In 1793 as Carey left to go to India, it is reported that Carey famously told his friend Andrew Fuller, “I will go down into the pit, if you will hold the ropes.” Fuller held the ropes by serving as president of the Baptist Mission Society from its founding until his death in 1814. He traveled all over the British Isles, raising funds and preaching
missions-related sermons. The missionaries in India and other early fields could concentrate on their ministry in the field because they knew Fuller was advocating for them back home. He did all he could to support his friend where he was while Carey was on the mission field.

I desire to do a better job of holding the ropes for Nick, Melissa, and the kids. And for that matter any other missionaries that we may have the honor of sending out from our church family! Of course, I cannot do this alone. Pastor Paul Willett who oversees our missions’ ministries will be a key part of this effort, but we will need to come together as church family to do the best job of “holding the ropes.” Here are a few ways that we can “hold the ropes.”

• Pray – The need is great for prayer. Loneliness, burnout, fatigue, depression, and exhaustion are real enemies that Satan would love to use to discourage them.
• Encourage – Writing letters, sending emails, or messages on Facebook messenger would all be huge encouragement to them. One of our little girls at church sent with us a letter to Ellie and she absolutely loved it. It brought a great smile to her face.
• Give – We have a Japan Mission Fund set up at church that you can give to if you would like. Please know that Nick and Melissa are fully supported through the International Mission Board for all their daily needs. This fund can be used to help fund ministry emphasis that may need some extra resources in Tokyo.
• Go – Our state convention of churches in Indiana are forming a partnership with the mission team in Tokyo, Japan. The convention will be organizing mission trips that some of us would be able to go on to minister directly with Nick and Melissa’s ministry team.
• Cultivate – I pray we can grow a missional mindset in our church to where we pray for God to call more people into the mission fields all around the world.

Let’s hold the ropes and let the Scott’s in Japan know that we got them and are supporting them in what God has called them to.

I love you and I love being your pastor! 

Family Ministry Moments - February 2024

The modern world assumes many things that are contrary to the Bible.  The world assumes that God does not exist. The world assumes evolution is a fact.  The world assumes the Bible is just another book full of errors.  They assume Jesus was just a man whose miraculous powers were greatly exaggerated by His followers.  These are not only
assumptions by the culture we live in but they are also common objections to the Christian faith.  People use these “facts” as a reason why they will not become Christians.

This is not a new problem.  From the first day of Jesus' resurrection, people have sought to discredit Christianity.  This has been a problem for the church for the past 2,000 years, which is why Christians have had to develop a defense of our faith.  This is commonly referred to as apologetics.  The word apologetics comes from the Greek word “apologia” which means to give a defense of something, in this case, we are presenting a defense of Christianity. This is what Peter is highlighting in 1 Peter 3:15, “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” This is the goal of apologetics.

On Sunday nights during Student Gathering, Alex and I have begun a new series.  It is based on the book by Alex McFarland, The 10 Most Common Objections to Christianity.  This book tackles all the questions I mentioned in the first paragraph and more.  We felt it was important for our students to begin to think critically about their faith.  We want them to understand why they believe what they believe.  We also wanted to challenge any that might have bought into the world's lies.  Students can also use this information as they reach out to their friends.

One of the major reasons I wanted to do this series was to get students to start thinking and to ask questions. When I was a teenager there was an unspoken rule in church that you don’t ask certain questions.  I think it is important to ask all kinds of questions, especially ones about faith.  Our God is big, and He is not afraid of our questions.  This is the reason He has given us His Word. We can study the Bible and find answers to all of life's big questions.  God tells us in Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

God’s word is the first place we should look when seeking to answer questions, but we should not discount things like science and the natural world.  It is no surprise that God designed the universe to point to His glory.  If you examine the intricacies of the world, you can’t help but see a grand design that points to the grand designer!  We have given the students so many examples to help them answer questions like, “Does God Exist?” and “Did God create the universe in seven days?”.  One great resource that we have pointed the students to is Answers in Genesis (answersingenesis.org).  Ken Hamm has developed a robust website full of apologetic science.  Science and faith do not stand opposed as the world would have you believe.  Science confirms a great and glorious creator God.

My challenge is don’t be afraid to ask questions!  Ask questions then seek the answers first in God’s word and then in trusted Christian resources.  Don’t just take the word of anyone about what you believe.  Do your own research and study.  You must develop a robust theology so that you can give a defense.  We must all be ready!

“…if Satan can't take away our faith, he might be able to intimidate us to such a degree that we are paralyzed, that we are not quite as bold as we were before. And so, not everybody is called to be a professional apologist, but we are all called to study apologetic issues and to see that there are reasons for the hope that is within us.”
R.C. Sproul - Ligonier.org