Stewardship For the Global Community

Stewardship For the Global Community

Steve Cherry


Paul Maina, an Oxford colleague of Janelle Larson, is in the states on break from his work as director of the Children & Youth Empowerment Center [CYEC] in Kenya. He spoke to the Every Topic Considered [ETC} Class on November 20th. You’ll recall that Berwyn UMC has partnered with him in support of this durable, successful project operating under extremely challenging conditions. Children and youth, many of whom were homeless and orphaned, are comprehensively supported giving them the best shot at whole and full life. Paul is articulate about the importance of helping young persons develop, in the Global Community in which we participate and are a part. We get to take part in God’s work while seeing the fruits of those labors bloom into success. [see emails: Giving Tuesday & Online Auction for Zawadi Fund International (ZFI), write to cyec.zfi@gmail.com or see website

For Berwyn UMC to be a force in the global community your participation in the church community is essential. Over the next several weeks you’ll receive some special requests: 

  • One is to make a plan for giving to BUMC for 2023 and respond by US mail or email. This helps us prepare for the various ministries and missions to which we’re called.  You can return your commitment to the church office on or before worship on December 11th.  You can also complete the form online at https://berwynumc.org/pledge
  • The other is to consider a ‘2nd mile,’ end-of-year gift as part of your 2022 tax year charitable planning. This will help us address a spending deficit for the year. You can give in person on Sunday Morning, mail your gift to the church, or give online.  Learn about all of thew says to support the mission and ministry of the church at https://berwynumc.org/give

Paul Maina is one who inspires us to see ourselves as part of a world community, aware of those for whom Jesus cared beyond our local community. Thanks for your being a part of the Berwyn UMC witness and participating in the global community.

links

This post was orignally published in the December 2022 of the Lighted Cross. Please use the links below to view the full newsletter.

Download PDF

Other Things You May Be Interested In:

The Surprising Message Of Grace In The Story Of Jonah

Published: November 10, 2024

Beyond the Whale: The Real Story of Jonah We've all heard the story of Jonah and the whale. It's a tale that has captivated imaginations for centuries, often reduced to a simple narrative about a man swallowed by a giant fish. But what if I told you that the whale is not the most incredible part of this story? What if there's a message of grace so profound and unexpected that it challenges our very understanding of God's love? The book of Jonah, though only four chapters long, carries a weight far beyond its size. It's a story set against a backdrop of national tragedy and bitter enmity. Imagine a prophet being sent to the heart of Nazi Germany in 1939 to proclaim God's judgment and call for repentance. That's the emotional equivalent of Jonah's mission to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria – a nation that had destroyed Israel's northern kingdom and taken its people into exile. In this context, Jonah's reluctance to go to Nineveh becomes understandable. Was it fear that drove him to flee in the opposite direction? Or was it something darker – a desire to see his enemies destroyed rather than given a chance at redemption? Whatever his reasons, Jonah boards a ship bound for Tarshish, as far from Nineveh as he could get. “But the Lord provided a large fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” – Jonah 1:17 But here's where the story takes an interesting turn. Even as Jonah flees from God's command, he still identifies himself as a follower of the very God he's disobeying. When a storm threatens to sink the ship, Jonah doesn't hesitate to tell the sailors that his God is responsible. It's a stark reminder of how we often try to compartmentalize our faith, claiming to follow God while actively running from His will. God's Unyielding Grace The sailors, interestingly, show more compassion than the prophet. They try desperately to save the ship without harming Jonah, even after he tells them to throw him overboard. It's a poignant moment that challenges our assumptions about who truly demonstrates godly behavior. When Jonah is finally cast into the sea, God's grace makes its first dramatic appearance. Instead of letting His wayward prophet drown, God sends a great fish to swallow Jonah and carry him to safety. It's a miraculous rescue, but more importantly, it's a powerful illustration of God's unwillingness to give up on us, even when we've given up on Him. After this dramatic intervention, Jonah finally goes to Nineveh. His proclamation of impending judgment is brief – perhaps just ten words – yet its impact is nothing short of revolutionary. The entire city, from the common people to the king himself, repents in sackcloth and ashes. It's one of the most successful prophetic missions in the entire Bible, and it happened through the most reluctant of messengers. “Should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left?” – Jonah 4:11 But the story doesn't end with this mass conversion. In a twist that reveals the true heart of the narrative, Jonah becomes angry at God's mercy. He sets up a shelter outside the city, seemingly hoping to still see it destroyed. It's a shocking reaction that forces us to confront our own attitudes towards those we consider beyond redemption. Takeaways from Jonah's Story God’s grace is relentless, reaching out even to those we might deem unworthy. We should examine our own hearts for any reluctance or bias that might hinder God’s work through us. God’s mercy challenges our assumptions and invites us to expand our understanding of His love. Every person, regardless of background or past, is within the reach of God's grace. We are called to be bearers of God’s grace, extending compassion even to those we consider "beyond hope." As we go about our lives, may we be mindful of the Ninevehs around us – the people and places that seem too far gone. And may we, unlike Jonah, rejoice when we see God's grace at work, transforming lives and bringing hope where there was none before. The story of Jonah invites us into a grander narrative of redemption. It calls us to turn away from our own limited understanding and step into the boundless grace of God. In doing so, we might just find ourselves part of a story far more amazing than we could ever imagine – a story of grace that changes everything.

Answering God's Call: Finding Worthiness In Unworthiness

Published: November 20, 2024

Feeling unworthy of a big opportunity? You’re not alone. From Isaiah’s powerful “Here I am, send me” moment to modern examples of faith in action, this post explores how grace transforms our doubts into purpose. Discover how God doesn’t call the perfect—He qualifies the willing—and how your simple “yes” can make a profound impact...
Top