Moments An e-newsletter of the North American Baptist Conference Women’s Ministry
May/June 2017
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Reclaimed...Rahab BY JEAN EWING
n Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus Imentioned…” we meet the second women Salmon was the
father of Boaz (his mother was Rahab)”. Rahab is the second woman Christy Fay focuses on in her study Reclaimed. People still wonder how two righteous Israelite spies landed on Rahab’s (the prostitute) doorstep. She took the men in and hid them
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and even though she was told to and the downfall of the city was hand them over, she didn’t. Making accomplished, Rahab and her family this choice put her life and that of her were spared. family at risk. What a compelling love story is In every story of life, decisions shared here. Rahab marries Salmon, are made in haste that determine the course of In every story of life, decisions eternity. In Joshua 2 we read the account of Rahab are made in haste that determine and realize she knew the course of eternity. something was about to the spy-prince, and as a princess happen in Jericho and trusted these her name appears in the royal line of two men enough to save them even David, the lineage of Jesus. if it meant risking her life. She had With God it isn’t who you were that seen the power of God matters, it is who you are becoming, at work, accepted the and Rahab became something awereality of His existence, inspiring. Our past does not determine and confessed that the one they called God was our future, which is something else Rahab teaches us. More can be God. learned about Rahab’s reclaimed life Rahab was more by studying Christy Fay’s six week concerned about Bible study based on the five women the lives of others. in the lineage of Jesus. Her selfless actions The Women’ Ministry Leadership suggest that she was Team has gifted 65 people with a copy determined to oversee of Reclaimed. her family’s welfare We would love to hear how you and and not just her own. your group used this tool. Email your A plan was devised story to
[email protected], with the two spies and and we will share your experience in when the Israelites marched around Jericho future issues of the eJava.
2 R ehab: Our Lesson in Expecting the Unexpected by Amber Dowd 3 R eclaimed –To a New Life in Canada by Heather Senges
3 Triennial 2018 4 & 5 Focus on the Saskatchewan Region 5 Restoring Hope thank you 5 Jesús siempre por Sarah Young
Rahab: Our Lesson in Expecting the Unexpected BY AMBER DOWD
er story is one H that just gets better and better.
The unlikely heroine: a prostitute from Jericho. The unexpected turning of events: she conceals Joshua’s spies and they in turn agree to save her. The joyful conclusion: “ And she lives among the Israelites to this day” (Joshua 6:25). Then she shows up again in the New Testament. She is celebrated among the “faith lineup” of Hebrews 11. She is used as an example of faith with deeds in James 2. And, as Christy Fay points out in our WMLT theme book Reclaimed, legacy is galvanized as a prestigious member in the lineage of Jesus in Matthew 1. What a great story! With all this in mind, the details of her story present timeless lessons relevant to our lives of faith today. Rahab’s salvation and inclusion with the Israelites reveals God’s mysterious ways in action. She should not have been included. She
lived a morally unrighteous life and was a member of a group destined for destruction. She posed a risk to “taint” the people of God with her loose pagan ways. She was destined for the spiritual junk pile. But we see in Rahab’s story that God’s impressions differ from our impressions. And this should make us think. The reality is that we tend to start thinking it’s our job to decide who is worthy or not worthy of having God’s net cast toward them. There are many Rahabs in our world today, and many of us would pass over these people another religion, questionable occupation, secular worldview or morally fuzzy lifestyle. But these worthiness measures are deal breakers to God. For one, apart from Christ absolutely nobody is worthy. So then God’s system must be based on something more. Rahab’s story reveals this to us. In spite of who she was, the stories of God’s
Be in the place of Rahab, ready to bring your faith and deeds into action and enter into life as one of God’s own.
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mighty works had penetrated her heart. She was then given an opportunity to respond to God through her relationship with the spies. And in that opportunity we find that Rahab had brimming within her a hope that she too could be part of God’s story and be saved from destruction. The spies were her “opportunity-makers,” and as such all that was stirring in her came gushing out in an incredible fusion of faith and deeds, to the point of saving the spies’ lives as well as her own! Lost in the rubble of Jericho. The spies were on a mission that was not their own, sent to be watchful and “look over the land.” They did not discount Rahab’s testimony. They gave her the opportunity to prove her faith as the real deal, and they entrusted themselves to her. They viewed God as one who is willing to cast His nets wide; and she proved herself to be captivated by and useful to God, and came to be included as one of God’s own. Be in the place of Rahab, ready to bring your faith and deeds into action and enter into life as one of God’s own. Like the spies, already integrated the community of believers and now sent out. And although we are not on a physical mission of conquest like Joshua’s famous battle of Jericho, we are on a mission for the King and His Kingdom, sent to be watchful for those who are ready to know Him. Let Rahab be in our minds as we live out our high calling to make Christ known, remembering that “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). My prayer is that we will have eyes to see the Rahab in our midst and the potential faith that might be unleashed if we live as “opportunity makers” to knowing God. Who are we to judge who is worthy or not to hear the Gospel? Let all praise be to God if we should experience the privilege of initiating a new legacy in Christ from a modern day Rahab, the unlikely heroine of faith.
May/June 2017 • 2
RECLAIMED–To a New Life in Canada! BY HEATHER SENGES
I
t was a dark and rainy night when the Akhrass family arrived at the airport in Canada. But a warm welcome awaited the tired family! A sponsoring church group greeted them with love and excitement and then escorted them to their new home—a beautiful three-bedroom house, fully furnished and equipped and set on one-and-a-half acres of grass and garden. Hamid and Mariam and their four children had finally arrived in a land of safety and security. Life had not always been safe and secure for Hamid and Mariam. Both were born and raised in Syria, and their first three children were born there. Life before the war was more normal, though schooling was not easy to find. However, Hamid had a job polishing stone and life carried on. Married at 19, Mariam enjoyed her life at home with the children. However, war came to Syria, and in the uncertainty and danger, the Akhrass family fled to Lebanon. But as refugees there, life was still uncertain and dangerous, so they decided to apply to Canada for refugee status. The
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process took five years. Finally the day came for a long flight to a strange country! The family gratefully received the warm welcome from the church family and began the lengthy process of settling into a new place with a different language and culture. They received government services, with English classes, school for the oldest three children, and health and dental checkups. The church provided housing and help with arranging finances, bus passes, shopping trips, and all the small details of life. Along with that came friendships and fun times together. Everyone laughed and had a great time when they all went ice skating for the first time. Hamid played soccer on the church soccer team, and the children all attended the summer Vacation Bible School. Hamid and Mariam feel comfortable now after a year in Canada. Learning English is still a struggle, but they are both taking classes. And Hamid has found full-time employment in a factory close to home. Mariam struggles to find time to take language courses and deal with all the household matters. Most of all they feel safe—a feeling they have not had for a long time. Though they miss their family and friends left back in Syria and Lebanon, they are happy to be in Canada, where they and their children can build a new life. God led the Akhrass family to a new country and a church family who loves and cares for them. He gave them hope for the future. He set them on a new path, with reclaimed joy for each day. We are grateful for His care over this family. May/June 2017 • 3
FOCUS ON THE SASKATCHEWAN REGION
Deborah & Karin’s Journey
From left, Deborah, Norma and Karin.
BY KARIN MOSS ESTERHAZY, SASKATCHEWAN
I
t never ceases to amaze me how the LORD WORKS in our life and in the life of others. Last year, July 2016, my life intersected with Deborah’s. Deborah came to our church (Esterhazy Baptist) with a lady from our community who occasionally visited our church fellowship. We are a smaller congregation and it is easy to meet and to get to know visitors. I introduced myself, chatted for a while and invited Deborah to our home for coffee that week! I love getting to know people because they enrich my life. I also learned that everyone I meet is made in the image of our heavenly Father and therefore worthy of my care and attention. I was curious how a woman who had lived for most of her life in a metropolitan city on the West Coast ended up in our small town – population of approximately 3,000. She moved to the community so she could get to know her extended family better. However, over the course of several months Deborah found herself to be very much alone and decided to move back to the West Coast. It was
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during this time that Deborah met someone who suggested to her that one way of getting to know people is to attend one of the local churches. Deborah always had an awareness of God even as a child. Deborah was willing to attend church as a last resort. It was during a visit to one of our local churches that Deborah met
Norma. Norma had also relocated from a big city a few years ago. She had a desire to attend the Baptist church but did not want to go alone. One thing led to another and the two ladies started attending our church and were welcomed into our church family. The coffee time in July was the beginning of our friendship and turned into countless hours of sharing. That fall Deborah joined our ladies Bible study, attended services, was baptized. Deborah’s desire to learn, study and fellowship is amazing. The plan was to develop a better relationship with her family – God’s plan was to give her a forever family, the family of God. By the time you read this, Deborah on the West Coast found a new church family and continues to grow in the Lord. Focus on the Saskatchewan Region continued on next page...
Thank you to all who gave so generously to help those who are homeless and being rescued out of human trafficking in the Anaheim, California area. Magnolia Baptist church will continue to provide supplies and housing for those who seek help.
May/June 2017 • 4
FOCUS ON THE SASKATCHEWAN REGION Deborah’s testimony at her baptism on January 15, 2017.
can’t remember the first time Ipeople I heard God. I know that when spoke of Him there was a
power in that name. I remember being told “if you don’t behave God won’t like it.” I knew God was stronger than my Mom and Dad. I remember looking out my window, watching clouds float by, thinking they were God’s angels and I would talk to them. When I got older I realized God’s angels weren’t clouds but people who came into my life to guide me on the path God had chosen for me. One angel was named Gwyneth. She came just after my brother had been killed, and my father, because of grief over the loss of his son, passed away. It was overwhelming for a twenty-one-year-old. Gwyneth was an actor working in the film industry in Vancouver and directing plays in community theatre where I met and befriended her. One day she called to say her acting agent was looking for a secretary and would I be interested —I was. I got the job and within six months, I too was an actor’s agent. Life was much better. It was rewarding work, but hard. I used to describe it as working 25 hours a day, 8 days a week. Three years later, once again, Gwyneth stepped into my life, making it possible for me to move on to an even better job working for the union. I thrived on the job where the rewards were great and the benefits even greater. Little did I know that these benefits would play a significant role in my life. After working 15 years at the union an illness that I had all my life reared its ugly head, making it impossible for me to work any longer. Even though I was unable to work, my job with its benefits, made it possible for me to live the life I have today. I thank God every day for my angel Gwyneth who, I am sure now sits beside our Lord in heaven.
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One disappointment in my life has been that my parents never baptized me. Many times I tried to do it but it just didn’t seem right at the time until I moved here to Esterhazy. Once again I believe angels have guided me here. I have never experienced such a profound closeness to the Lord. The people I have met here in the church have fueled this
closeness and for this I am grateful. And now, I will take that step and proclaim my acceptance of Jesus who died for my sins so that I may have eternal life in heaven. I think you all for being witness to the next step of my journey that God has chosen for me.
G
Regional Minister’s Wife Marlene Solberg
North American Baptist Conference
erman born, British Columbia raised and Regina based, Marlene Solberg is a typographer/graphic artist by trade. Married to RegionalMinisterKen Solberg, she spends her free time grandparenting and dreaming of beach ministry. The desire of the Saskatchewan Association is to seek God’s glory! We look to our God to inspire us, to honor us with His guidance, and to give us a sense of his good pleasure on our commitment to His passion – people! We will bring glory to Him alone, for He is absolutely worthy. Nothing will please us more than to know He is glorified in more hearts and lives in Saskatchewan. We covenant to be faithful until Jesus comes again. Ken and Marlene minister to 14 churches in this region.
Jesús siempre por Sarah Young uedense Quietos, Reconozcan que yo soy Dios. Q Muchos cristianos estan familiarizados con este mandamiento, pero no tanto como para
tomarlo en serio. Sin embargo, para quienes lo hacen, las bendiciones fluyen como corrientes de agua viva. En la medida en que estos creyentes permanecen en quietud — concentrados en mi y mi Palabra — su percepcion de mi se expandira y la importancia de sus problemas disminuira. Quiero que participes de estas bendiciones, mi amado. Aparta tiempo. Aparta tiempo para estar conmigo. Mientras descansas en mi Presencia, esclarezco tus pensamientos y te ayudo a ver las cosas mas biblicamente. Recuerda: mi Palabra es una lampara que guia tus pasos y alumbra tu camino. Los pensamientos biblicos van alumbrando delante de ti, de modo que no tengas posibilidad de extraviarte. Es absolutamente importante saber no solo que yo soy Dios, sino que yo te hice y eres mio. Tu eres una oveja de mi prado. Las ovejas tienen una comprension bastante limitada en cuanto a lo que su pastor esta hacienda por ella, pero de todos modos lo siguen. De igual manera, como mi oveja, tu deber es confiar en mi e ir a donde yo te guie.
1219 Pleasant Grove Blvd. Roseville, CA 95678
[email protected] www.nabconference.org