Scripture of the Week

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

Min Fo’s Reflection

I’m accustomed to having doors slammed in my face because I am not an ordained minister.

Theologian Frederick Buechner wrote, “There are all kinds of voices calling you to all different kinds of work, and the problem is to find out which is the voice of God rather than of society. By and large a good rule for finding this out is this: The kind of work God usually calls you to is the kind of work (a) that you need to do and (b) that the world needs to have done … The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

Thank God Trinity folks like John Peters and Doug Rechenbach and Ken Hart and Lesley Halstead Buttars and Peggy Tabb and the others on the youth director search committee in 1997 looked beyond my glaring lack of seminary training and paid church work experience to offer me this job, which has brought me much joy and fulfillment for nearly 14 years.

I am not anti-ordination. I have the utmost respect for most of the ordained pastors I know. (Don’t try to figure out which ones I don’t respect. None of them is on staff at Trinity.)

But I am often troubled by the general sense that we need to call in the ordained folks for the real ministry work, much like we would need to call in a brain surgeon if an X-ray at the local emergency clinic revealed a tumor.

I live by an unwavering belief that true ministry happens when we let almighty God work through us.

When my man Joseph stood before Pharaoh – a man deeply troubled by the dreams of his sleep – Joseph quickly let it be known that he couldn’t interpret the dreams, but God would give Pharaoh the answers he was seeking.

Paul wrote of this, too, to the church at Corinth and unwittingly named one of if not the greatest Christian bands of all time. (Thankfully, those band mates took their name from the translations that refer to our bodies as “Jars of Clay” and not to those that refer to them as “Earthen Vessels.”)

This ministerial hierarchy is why I often tell people I am happy to be the voice in the crowd praying, but not to assume my prayers have any more of a direct line to God’s ears than their prayers.

One reason I am so dogged in my determination to engage young people in mission ministry is this – I’ve seen God work as powerfully through the lives of high school youth with acne on their face as I’ve seen Him work through ordained folks with diplomas on their walls.

I could go on and on about this subject, but what I really set out to do was this – praise an elected official for seeing the big picture.

As most people know, I am involved in the lives of three young men who graduated with Haley from Douglas Freeman High School last June. They’re locked up in jail, awaiting their sentencing on Feb. 16.

(I ask you to join me in praying for each of them and for the judge as well. In these days to come may these young men be filled with peace and hope and reminders of all who love them including their heavenly father. On that day of sentencing may the judge be filled with wisdom to look beyond those few minutes from August when the young men made a bad mistake to see the big picture of the lives they lived before that night and since.)

A few weeks ago, I wrote Henrico County Sheriff Michael Wade, seeking clearance for special weeknight visitation with the three young men at the Henrico East facility.

Only a couple of days after I mailed the letter, Capt. James Harper called me, listened as I explained that I am not ordained (typically a requirement for pastoral visitation), and assured me that we could work something out.

I filled out the paperwork. We exchanged some more e-mails.

Last Thursday, I got to visit 30 minutes each with all three young men.

I really appreciate the big-picture thinking of Capt. Harper and Sheriff Wade. Capt. Harper even gave me his cell number in case I had any problems upon arriving at East.

It would have been easy to focus on what I don’t have – my ordination papers – instead of what I do have – a genuine interest in helping these young men see life beyond whatever sentence they must serve for their mistake.

It would have been easy to slam the door in my face. Instead, they chose to open the door for me.

I believe there’s a lesson in there for church people everywhere.

MAC Lock-in

On Feb. 17, a Friday, we will have our annual lock-in at the Midlothian Athletic Club. We will meet at Trinity 9:17 p.m. You will need to be picked up at Trinity at 6:21 a.m. on the 18th. Cost is $15 per person. We will have access to the indoor tennis courts, racquetball courts, gym, and indoor pool. It is always a night of great fun. We need each young man to bring a 2-liter drink to share and each young lady to bring a salty or sweet snack to share. If you want to sleep during the night you will need to bring a sleeping bag as well. For transportation reasons we must know if you plan to join us by Feb. 15 at 10:07 p.m.

Bible Studies

Catherine continues the Something Bigger bible study on Wednesday night at 7:01 p.m. for middle school youth. The Disciple Bible study group is off this week, but returns next week, Feb. 1, at 7:01 p.m. in my office.

Advancing God’s Kingdom

Each Saturday between now and March, we will serve with Project WARM – the wood delivery ministry that has been around since 1976. It provides wood to individuals and families who demonstrate need through Salvation Army screening. You can find out much more about its history by visiting www.projectwarm.com. Let me know by the middle of the week if you want to help on a given Saturday and I’ll let you know where to meet.

Sunday

·        Sunday school at 9:30 in my office for middle school and Eaton Hall for high school. Confirmation class meets in Room 317.

·        UMYF at the regular times

Prayer focus

            Opening doors to let God work through us