March
24, 2014
Pastorgraphs: “The World of Miracles at Our Door”
It was five
years ago I first met a small group of Haitians, religious asylees from the
oppression they faced in their homeland. That was a year before the earthquake.
They were not only seeking a new home, but a new church home. We connected
instantly, and I offered Christ United Methodist as a place for them to
worship.
Last night,
we shared precious memories of what has happened since then. The Haitian
Methodist Church celebrated their Fifth Anniversary. We have experienced both
great joys and bitter tears, especially when Christ Church became the hub of
Haitian earthquake relief efforts in San Diego.
I dug out
my Pastorgraph from March 9, 2009. Here are some excerpts:
“It was
last Friday night (March 6, 2009) as I was on my way to the Russian Methodist
Convocation that I briefly met with a small congregation of Haitians at Christ
Church. Anita had purchased a large box of groceries for Our Brother's Keeper
ministry; but when I learned 20 Haitians were staying in one house (and more
were on the way), I knew God had other plans for those groceries.
It is not
the only time recently I have felt God's direct leadership. In late December,
God impressed upon me, "Until you start serving, you will not start
growing!"
I could not
get an image out of my head. I kept recalling a young Russian pastor who spoke
at Annual Conference four years ago. After her speech, she walked down the
aisle near me. The Holy Spirit led me to hand her the $300 in conference
expense money I had brought with me. I'm not sure who was more surprised by
that gesture, but I knew it was the right thing to do.
(God
impressed upon me I should reconnect with her and help support her orphans
ministry.)
"But
Lord," I thought, "I don't remember her name; she doesn't speak
English and I don't speak Russian, and I have no idea how to contact her. Plus,
I am not even sure they have an orphan ministry." After a prolonged
silence, it was as if I heard God say, "Trust me on this one, son, I know
what I'm doing. And I want you to help. Beside, aren't you always saying the
Methodist Church is 'connectional'? Let me help make the connections."
A few
minutes later, I typed "Russia" and "Methodist" in my
Google search engine. God must use Google, too, because what I saw was:
"Russia World Methodist Initiative - SAN DIEGO - March 5-7, 2009".
Coincidence? I think not.
At the
Russian Consultation, I learned that several San Diego United Methodist
churches have been assisting Russian Methodists for years. Some of our
neighbors have gone on missions to Russia. Guess where? Khabarovsk, (the city
where the Russian pastor conducts a street orphans ministry)! Surprised? After
the goose bumps went away, I remembered the still small voice saying, "I
know what I am doing. And I want you to help. Leave the connections to
me."
It was all
in a night's work, as I was on my way to meet with my new Russian Methodist
friends, that I met with the Haitian congregation, seeking food for their
bodies and souls. They wanted to form a Methodist Mission within our
congregation. Their presence in worship Sunday, and their exciting music
thrilled my heart. And I heard again the still small voice, "When you
start serving, you will start growing." The Great Commission states
"Go ye into all the world..." It seems to me the whole world is
coming right to our door at Christ United Methodist Church. The Apostle Paul
would be envious.
And, oh
yes, her name is Pastor Elena Sokolova. And yes, they sponsor a “street
orphans” ministry in Khabarovsk. But of course, God knew that all along. He
always does. She doesn't speak English, and I still cannot speak Russian (or
Haitian French-Creole), but we have a Great Interpreter making the connections.
(A modern day Pentecost!) It's exciting when He lets us in on his mission:
whether it is a box of groceries for our new Haitian friends, or food and
clothing for some Russian street orphans He wants us to help.” (End excerpts).
That night
I had a good excuse to just stay home. After 35 days of radiation treatments
following prostate cancer surgery, my doctors warned me about the toll fatigue
would present. Wow, were they ever right! But I will be forever grateful
God supplied the strength that Friday evening.
Christ UMC
was struggling to survive then. That one night in March 2009, when we reached
out to Haiti and Russia, was a turning point. Suddenly, there was a “World of
Miracles at Our Door”.
Today,
Christ Ministry Center is not only home to the growing Haitian Methodist Church
and Russian Orphan Ministry, we have been joined by congregations from
Ethiopia, Eritrea, the Marshall Islands, Latin America and various ethnic
congregations from the USA. Our combined congregations and charities easily
touch over 1,000 lives each week.
“When you
start serving, you will begin growing.”
Devotedly
yours, Bill Jenkins
Images:
Fifth Anniversary Logo, Haitian Methodist Church of San Diego
From the
Quote Garden:
“Laundry is the only thing that
should be separated by color."
~ Author Unknown ~
Christ United Methodist Ministry
Center
“Christ
in the Heart of San Diego”
3295
Meade Avenue - San Diego, CA 92116 - (619) 284-9205
Home of
Exodus Cooperative
Parish
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