Transformations

Over the last few weeks we have been meeting Asian Christians at Park Church. One was a former Hindu, who came to faith in Jesus through religious education! His RE teacher was a Christian and when speaking of other religions, would always indicate that whatever their qualities, Jesus was still Lord. This so upset our man that he was determined to prove his teacher wrong, but in exploring the religions in order to reject Jesus he came to accept Him. Another of our speakers told us of the desperate plight of Muslims, who yearn to know the God of love. She herself prayed for a young Muslim friend to be healed and she was healed, and as a result the girl came to faith in Jesus! These are just two examples, of the hundreds that could be shared that Jesus is the way to the Father. Did you know that there are over 50, 000 Asian Christians in this country? Did you know that, according to Helen Shapiro there are more Jewish people coming to know Jesus across the world today, including herself, than at any time since the 1st century AD.

It is a human tendency to think that what is our experience is other people’s experience. So because we belong to the shrinking URC we think all UK churches are shrinking, but this is not so. The Baptists are growing. The Pentecostal Church is growing. Across the world thousands upon thousands of people are coming to Jesus from other faith and non-faith backgrounds. Did you know that the Church in Uganda has experienced a national revival? While our Government built a Millennium Dome with a multi-faith zone, the Uganda Government called Church Leaders together to organise a Millennium ceremony, which was attended by the President, to re-dedicate the nation to the Holy Trinity!

Why is this growth happening? Because of people, people who expect Jesus through the Bible and by His Spirit to guide and shape their lives. They demand that God gets involved, for they expect God, to make a difference in their lives and in their community. They invite God in and expect Him to come in. And they do that in prayer together. Not prayer alone at home, though that supports the corporate effort. Not prayer that is a brief episode of action, like the sip of a drink in a meal, but prayer that may be hours long and even nights long. And prayer that involves personal suffering, for it challenges the use of their time and is supported by fasting. They are fellowships willing to take risks for God, because they know God and value what God values. They live in God’s world as God’s agents of change. They trust Jesus to see them through because they know that He is Lord, they know that He has overcome the world, they know that Jesus is with them. Could we be such people?

They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed. Psalm 22.5 for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Acts 2:21. Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2 NIV)

Nick