We loved having the NYGM board in town for a couple days this last week. They were a great encouragement to me and the other staff. They bring such energy to this place!
As mentioned in last week’s blog post, we did a baptism service this last week. It was truly a wonderful time for us to rejoice together with two new brothers in Christ who have reached the point of desiring to make their profession of faith public through baptism. We had a wonderful time of fellowship, a meal, testimonies, Scripture, music, a formal blessing, and prayer together. I had never really experienced anything quite like that service. It was incredible and I look forward to many more baptisms like it in the future!
In church today, Rick Cross, of Frontline Missions preached and gave an introduction to their ministry. I was very encouraged to pray for the persecuted believers around the world, and to pray specifically for our neighborhood, the Penn South housing community, from 23rd to 29th street between 8th and 9th ave. Lately I’ve been burdened with the thought of how much we are “settling” spiritually. We’re being satisfied with a knowledge of God that falls far short of what He has revealed of Himself in the Word, and we’re satisfied to commune with Him far less than our souls long for. The result then is that we seek to fill the deepest longings of our soul with other things, stuff, approval, activity, and more. While I reject the Keswick/deeper life/carnal-spiritual Christian narrative, I do think there’s a great deal of truth to the idea that we have barely scratched the surface of what is available to us in Christ, through the Word, by the Spirit.