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The core value that we are focusing on in this issue of our connection magazine is "Grace Infused". Grace is the foundation of everything that is precious to us in our relationship with the Lord. As those who are following the Lord Jesus and acting as His ambassadors to this world we want our character, our churches, our ministries to be full of grace. It is grace that marked the life and ministry of Jesus in such a special way.
John 1:14 puts it like this, "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."
He was full of grace! You see it as He offers living water to the woman at the well, the woman with five ex-husbands who is living with a new man, not her husband. You see it as He stops to heed the calls of blind Bartimaeus coming out of Jericho. You see His grace perfectly in tune with truth as He deals with the woman taken in adultery. You see His grace stopping to dine at Zaccheus' house, the house of a tax collector and cheat. You see it as He calls Judas "friend" in the garden and after His resurrection when the angel makes special mention to the woman to not only tell the disciples Jesus is raised and will see them in Galilee, but to especially tell Peter who had denied knowing Him. We are called to reflect that same grace to the world around us.
I love that it says that Jesus was full of grace and truth. It wasn't a 50%-50% balance, but it was 100% grace and 100% truth. He always stood for the truth and He always showed grace. This is what we are to be like, we are to be like Him, full of grace and full of truth! It's not easy in this world we live in where people want to ignore truth - the current debates in our own country over same-sex marriage and abortion rights - but it seems to me that as the ambassadors of our King (who is full of grace and truth) that is exactly what we are called to do.
I love John's testimony just a few words later in John 1:16 "For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace". That is not only a wonderful personal testimony from John himself, but it is a blessed promise and reality that we have experienced also! We have touched and received of His grace in our lives and He is even now working in our lives to make us like Him so that we might represent Him to this world as people full of grace and truth.
Let us strive hard to be grace infused in our lives and ministries.
Blessings!
Steve
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in the Vision
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Proposed Constitution Rewrite
A proposed constitution rewrite for the Association was recently mailed out to our churches. Over the years a lot of change has taken place to the original document. A couple of years ago the board realized that the current document which had been added to, subtracted from and amended many times had become somewhat cumbersome and at points conflicted with itself. The board began an 18 month process of starting over with a new document to try to streamline, simplify and clarify what was contained in the old document. Through that process the board also looked at some of the processes that didn't seem to work as well in our current culture and to provide a more effective process. I hope that you will take some time to look over the proposal and if you have any questions, thoughts or concerns to please communicate with me, a board member or one of our staff.
Steve Engram
SWCC Regional Executive
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Death that Brings Life
Bert Downs, SWCC Regional Coach
As the rain settles in for "that season" in Washington State, so does the thought that being in the Southwest would be a really good idea! But more than the weather, I'm drawn to that SW thought by what I see happening in and through the Connection . . . a new local Body of Christ under way in Morenci, new transitional leadership in place in several churches with new life emerging as a result and many established Connection leaders bringing their expertise to bear on these emerging realities. It's very exciting; and while I can't be there physically, I'm there in heart, spirit and through some sort of project nearly every day.
In fact, I've become the ministry "project guy," mostly with the assignment of helping beyond-mature ministries find new life and effectiveness again. Those ministries have included mission groups, local churches, para-church entities as well as individuals looking for renewed ministry emphasis.
And here's one thing I've learned through those projects and the people behind them: death is a necessary element for grace to live.
Let me tell you what I mean by letting you inside one of my project failures. . .
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A Story Infused by the Grace of God
Carol Tetzlaff, SWCC Event Coordinator
The story of Ruth is familiar to many. A young widow who was considered a foreigner to the Jews is rescued by a man who saw beyond her background and into her heart. As I take the time to study this account I am found overwhelmed by God's grace upon her life in the midst of a family drenched in disobedience.
I always looked at this story as a beautiful romance bathed in the reality of redemption, but I missed the beginning which is captured by selfish ambition.
When a famine came to Bethlehem, Elimelech chose to move his family to Moab, a city known for pagan worship and a place that was forbidden to be associated with God's people. While living in the land of foreign gods, Elimelech allowed his two sons to marry Moabite women which was in contradiction to God's law. After the death of Elimelech and his two sons, Naomi tried to convince her daughters-in-law to stay in the land of Moab instead of joining her in Bethlehem. She even coaxed them into worshiping the false gods of their homeland instead of leading them in the worship of the only God! Her statement in Ruth 1:13, "the Lord's hand has gone against me," attributes her trials to God's doing, failing to see her own disobedience.
Even though Elimelech and his family went against God's plan, Ruth found the one true God! This story of Ruth is infused by the grace of God!
Set in the time of the Judges, Ruth was destined for destruction. . .
Read More
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Dwight Hunt, SWCC
Church Health and Placement Consultant
New Transitional Pastor at Calvary Baptist in Yuma
Meet Tim Boudreaux, our new part time Transitional Pastor at Calvary Baptist in Yuma. He and his wife Daphne and their daughter Breanna will live in Yuma part of the week and at their permanent home in Phoenix the remainder of the week.
Tim shared with me that he grew up in New Orleans Louisiana in a home of "functional" alcoholic parents. No outward verbalization of love between family members existed. This lack of demonstrative love created a void in his life. So Tim thought that turning to sports might fill this vacuum. He experienced great success in playing the outside linebacker position in football in three state championship High School football seasons. He also played in college and the Marine Corps. He soon discovered though that sports eventually did not fill this void. Maybe trying religion would provide the answer. So he walked down the aisle of a church to make a "profession" of faith. That did not work either. Neither did many other things.
Then in 1993 Tim Boudreaux's life changed. He became a believer in Jesus Christ. Peace began to characterize his life. The emptiness was filled. Tim credits the preaching of Pastor Dan Yeary of North Phoenix Baptist for leading him to Christ. He also credits the twenty years that he spent at Calvary Community Church of Phoenix for teaching him how to live by grace.
He defines a grace-infused ministry as one that understands and applies these values.
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Without Christ I can do nothing
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Follow wherever the Master leads
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Rest and abide in Christ
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Teach the Word of God with love, mercy, and grace
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Point others to salvation, healing, and wholeness
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Provide ways for those who have fallen in the dirt to get back up and continue running the race
These values will be essential for him as he builds the leadership team and empowers them to form the new mission, vision, strategic direction for the Yuma church in its transition period. These values will also provide the foundation for the search team as they seek the new permanent pastor.
Pray for Tim, the board, and the congregation of Calvary Baptist Church of Yuma as they begin their grace-infused ministry under his leadership!
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Is your goal to one day be a church-planting church?
As a dad of four sons between the ages of 7-14 my life stays pretty busy. There seems to always be something that needs to get done or some place where I need to be going. Don't get me wrong, it's a very fulfilling experience to raise my sons and to watch them mature and find God's purpose for their lives. However, learning to be a giver more than a taker comes with the territory if I'm going to be a good parent.
Grace-infused churches, that are also healthy and mature (no matter what size) can choose to give more than they take as a result of their strength, stability, wisdom, and their ability to handle big responsibilities. Practically speaking these churches are in a unique position to either birth or adopt other churches as a matter of calling and stewardship.
Church planting is an intimidating concept for churches who are just now considering this possibility for the first time, not unlike a young couple planning to start a family. However, choosing to begin moving toward being a church-planting church is a faith-filled and often rewarding experience. Like raising kids there will be some big challenges and some missteps, but fear of failure can't be a reason to forgo this Kingdom priority.
I'd love the opportunity to meet with your staff or board to Q & A about a possible first step toward an eventual goal of being a church-planting church.
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article by Micaela Clark, Prescott Pines Camp
The Power of a God's Grace in a Song
Last weekend we had the honor of hosting an all men's group. During one of her breaks, one of our cooks was taking a quick stroll around camp when she heard the group singing in the chapel during their praise and worship time. She thought it was just so beautiful that she had to see for herself. When she entered the chapel, she was so moved by their singing that she started to cry. The song then ended, and she returned to the kitchen to make lunch, feeling so touched by that song. A song that really isn't a song, but a phrase made up of five words, I need you more Lord.
The next day, she talked to some of the people she recognized from the chapel and asked if they could sing that song during lunch, their last meal here. They agreed and the whole dining hall of men started to sing the passionate song. Everyone started to go around and pray for each other and hug, their food forgotten in the moment.
The moment was memorable, but what happened next for one of our young kitchen staff members is nothing less than incredible. One of our kitchen staff members had been struggling in her relationship with God. A few years ago, she lost touch with Him when her father passed away. Since then, she has had a hard time getting back to having a strong relationship with God. She didn't want to go to church, even when other kitchen staff members tried over and over to get her to come to church with them. But after all this time, witnessing the singing that took place in the dining hall that day finally broke a barrier. Something about the passion, joy, and love spoken in that song changed something in her. Years and years of resentment were lifted because of a single song sung, not in church, but in the middle of lunch in our dining hall. After that, she asked a fellow kitchen staff member to meet her at his church, where she rededicated her life to Christ. Since last weekend she has attended church and become involved in a Bible study.
Just reading that gave me chills. Again.
This story spoke to me so greatly because it's a pure and simple way to show how great things happen here. God does the impossible, the never-going- to -happens, and with only love, He changes someone's life for the better. It feels good to be reminded of that, to see that, to know it's real, especially when I'm at work, seeing it happen.
God works in amazing ways.
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