Update from the President
Last Sunday, March 20, we held a wonderful Beyond Today Live event in Indianapolis. Fifty-five subscribers came to hear Darris McNeely, Steve Myers and Gary Petty tell HOW God's purpose will stand, no matter what may be happening in the world around us. They also heard that God has a plan for every one of us personally. The final presentation was about what next steps God expects people to take when they learn about His plan.There is a natural logic and flow to the entire presentation, and we were pleased with the results. The next event will be in Columbus, Ohio, on April 10.
We have added four more cities to the public appearance campaign after the start of 2017: Kansas City, St. Louis, Tampa and Orlando. We appreciate the local support and the anticipation of meeting new people personally. This is a very important part of how we preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God. With each campaign we are seeing the impact of the Church's efforts to reach people with a strong message of biblical truth.
Tomorrow, Chris and Katherine Rowland, along with Bev and myself, will be flying to Southern California for the final in the series of regional ministerial conferences. It will be one of the larger groups, and we look forward to our time with so many ministers and wives.
Christ - The Head of the Church
When I worked on the campus of Ambassador College, one of the senior ministers of the time told me about a campus tour he was giving to leaders of another Sabbath-keeping church who knew very little about us and our organization.
Do we live our lives knowing well that Jesus Christ is in us?
One of the visitors asked: Who is the "head of your Church?" Our tour guide responded, "Jesus Christ." The follow-up question was, "Well, we know that, but who is really in charge?" The answer again: "Jesus Christ." They asked one more time: "But who really runs things?" And finally, the answer: "Jesus Christ."
This insightful exchange made a point about the relationship of Jesus Christ to His Church. Unlike organizations that look to a founder who is long gone, we look to Jesus Christ as the Living Head of the Church who works in the lives of His followers: "And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18).
We are a Christian church, meaning that we identify with Jesus Christ, who was always God. We understand that He came in the flesh to live amongst us and to perform the mission that leads to our salvation. By becoming flesh, Christ was able to relate to our human condition: "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:14-16).
By being called the Son of God, Jesus repeatedly referred to His Father. He taught us how to pray to and relate to Him. He told us to strive to "become perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48).
He returned to heaven to His former state, yet He continues to live in the lives of His followers. It is more than a metaphor. As Christ leads this Church in real time, He also can live in our individual lives. This is what being a Christian is. The apostle Paul said: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).
Do we live our lives knowing well that Jesus Christ is in us? We emulate His life and example. We carefully apply His teaching, because He is alive and sees all.
While we are all very aware of this fundamental understanding, it is good to deeply think again about the relationship that we individually and as a Church have with Christ. We will be observing the Passover in just a few weeks. This festival is all about Jesus Christ and His service to mankind as symbolized by the foot washing and His great sacrifice for our sins and pathway to salvation through the symbols of the bread and wine. Even after keeping the Passover almost 50 years, this sobering understanding is still awesome to me, especially since it concerns our eternity.
In the book of Revelation, the apostle John wrote in anticipation of the living Christ returning: "He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen" (Revelation 22:20-21).
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
