Pursuing Jesus

Over the past several months, I have been gathering twice a month with clergy and laity from churches from illinois and Iowa as a component of the Missio program that was started by Dr. Christopher James, professor of evangelism and missional Christianity at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary.  Gregg Hampton, lead pastor of The House church in Rock Island is the local Coordinator of the Missio group.  In his role, he plans the agenda for the monthly gatherings of the clergy and laity.  Gregg also assembles groups of presenters each month to provide detailed insights into some of the ways God is at work in the community.  

Last month, three phenomenal women of the community shared information about their efforts in the community—Sangeetha Rayapati, mayor of Moline; Nina Little from Emerge Church and Daycare; and Christie Adamson from The Third Place.   They also described the obstacles and challenges that they’ve encountered along their journeys of faith.  

At each gathering of the Missio group, we spend time together reflecting upon a passage of scripture in a process called “dwelling in the word.”    The passage selected for February was Jeremiah 29:4-9

4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes, this is what the LordAlmighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have.9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.

While many of us are familiar with Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,” the earlier verses of this passage are less familiar.  One of the most remarkable verses of the selected passage was the seventh verse “seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”  

Each of the presenters described experiences in their Faith journeys that could be compared to exile and they described moments of determination to seek and share the prosperity with those who are often overlooked.   The goal of the Missio Project is to help people of faith connect with others to discover some of the things that God is doing in the community.   Christopher encourages participants to extend the impact and service of God beyond the walls of the sanctuary to make an even larger impact upon the community.  These connections can provide renewal, clarity and collaboration for the people of various congregations around the quad cities area.  

During the season of Lent my fast will include reducing the number of meetings that I attend for more than one hour to allow more time reading, journaling, reaching the members of the congregation who do not attend regularly and visiting members who are unable to come to the campuses of the church.  Hopefully, this will allow an increase in efficiency and effectiveness.  

Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, the world-renowned former president of Morehouse College in Atlanta was known for his 54 word poem that explains the importance of our careful management of time.  The poem ends with the words “Just a tiny little minute, but eternity is in it.”

As you select the practice(s) of your Lenten fast, consider how it will bring you closer to God’s will for your life and how it will help you impact the lives of others.   Please participate in one of the classes using the book that we’ve selected for our church-wide Lenten study “Give Up Something Bad for Lent” by James Moore.  We are looking forward to seeing you in worship, in class and in ministry.  

In Christ,

Jon McCoy