How to Pray About Ferguson

The word Ferguson is "trending" on social networks like Facebook, now that we know that the Grand Jury has refused to charge Officer Darren Wilson with any criminal activity in the shooting death of 18 year old Michael Brown. Like the case of Trayvon Martin, this case is bitterly dividing the nation. It is dividing even us in the Body of Christ, just as happened in the case of Trayvon Martin. Yes, I have already received email requests to sign petitions calling for justice for Michael Brown and I signed one of them. You may have seen calls to sign petitions online already. Whatever our positions on the Grand Jury decision, we all should be united in praying about the entire sad Ferguson situation, as it affects not only Ferguson but larger St. Louis and the entire US. Let me give some key points for prayer.

1). Pray for the safety of all the residents of Ferguson and nearby St. Louis, Officer Darren Wilson, other Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs), the Grand Jurors, the Prosecutor, and the peaceful protesters. We know that emotions will remain raw in the wake of the Grand Jury announcement that Michael Brown's killer will not be held accountable for causing his death.

2). Pray for all those whose livelihoods have been affected by all this. Pray that they will God will draw them to His side, provide for them, and that they will use this time to get closer to their families. This includes many school teachers and staff members, and many businesses, including small businesses.

3). Pray for all supporters of Officer Darren Wilson who may consciously or subconsciously harbor racial prejudices or biases, that they God will convict them, soften their hearts, and that they will overcome fear and hate of those who look or act different because of race, disability, nationality, or anything else.

4). Pray for the Black community and others who look or act different, that they will place their hope in God, turn to Jesus in their hour of need, forgive those who have hurt them, and find true community with others who feel their pain. Pray that they will use their pain to make a difference and work to make the world a better place for all.

5). Pray for the family of Michael Brown and for many other families whose loved ones have never received justice from the courts, that they will find in God their refuge and comfort. Pray that they will be given the grace to forgive and the courage to work for change in this culture.

6). Pray for the criminals involved in this, including groups like the KKK, the Black Panthers, and other hate groups, and for the looters and the arsonists, that God will save their souls from sin. Pray that God will convict them and capture their hearts for Jesus, and that they will overcome anger, rage, bitterness, and hate. Pray that they will find that love is more powerful.

7). Protests are going on in other parts of the US and criminals are infiltrating the peaceful protests, just as they are in Ferguson. Remember these cities also in your prayers, as you pray for Ferguson.

8). Give thanks and praise to God that He can bring good out of all the chaos, just as He can in any situation. Praise Him for His sovereign grace even in this.

Let us remember that this not only about Michael Brown or Ferguson, but is about all of us!

May God help us.

How Your Church Can Welcome the Internationals Among Us

Lately, I have become aware of a matter that many of our congregations need to pay attention to. I know that some already are. I mean making an effort to reach beyond the walls of our church buildings and welcome our international friends in our communities, to our fellowships. Now I know that that some of them may belong to congregations "of their own kind." After all, as I was often told when growing up, we ought to "stich with our own kind." But is this the way that Jesus has called us to do things?

In my personal experiences in local congregations and in my research, I'm keenly aware of the lack of racial and ethnic diversity in our congregations. Sadly, from looking at many congregations, you would think that Christianity fits the stereotype of white, middle-class and "religious right wing" type demographics. You and I know that when God appeared on Earth in Christ, that He hung around with all types of people, including the diseased, the disabled, the demon-possessed, the outcasts, and even gross sinners that everyone else despised. What would His ministry look like today? Whom would he be hanging out with? I think we know the answer.

I'm convinced that God, in Christ, would be spending much time with those among us who are often called "illegals." He would be reaching out to Muslims, including radical Muslims. He would be reaching out to Buddhists, Hindus, and to those involved in Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Scientology, Freemasonry, and other religions. He would be hanging around with Native Americans, Blacks, Hispanics, Jewish persons, and others. I don't think I need to tell you who that He wants us to do the same. The question is how. How can we get our local churches to become more diverse?

1). Pray about this matter, about what God would have your congregation do, and pray for the internationals in your community, that they would come to know Jesus through your efforts.

2). We cannot expect them to come to us; we need to go to them. This means that we need to find internationals in businesses owned by them, in international student ministries, and at global supermarkets. Listen to them and talk to them. Make friends. But a good idea is to buy the book REACHING THE WORLD IN OUR OWN BACKYARD, by Rajendra K. Pillai, and learn about interacting with internationals BEFORE taking doing this.

3). Set up small groups for internationals to answer the questions they may have about God, about Christ, and about Western culture.

4). Set up English as Second Language classes for internationals; this was done at a local congregation I used to belong to.

5). Invite international Christian Pastors and others in leadership, to speak to your congregation.

6). Pastors and others in church leadership, prioritize church funding for international ministry.

7). Once or more times a year, host an international dinner, as has been suggested in a cross-cultural ministry book. I went to such a dinner many years ago. What a blessing.

8). If you have international neighbors, form friendships with them, introduce them to Jesus and invite them to your local church.

9). Offer members, who have the option, opportunities to host an international student in their homes. Such a student can learn about Christ's love through a family's hospitality. My former congregation offered members this opportunity at little cost to the host family.

10). Allow internationals Christians in your congregation to contribute of their time and talents, even filling leadership positions. This will benefit everyone.

Many internationals are from countries that are closed to the Gospel or from areas that are hostile to it. Those who come to Christ often return to their homelands to share Jesus with their own people. We can do more for world missions by reaching the internationals among us than we can by trying to send our own to restricted countries or hostile areas where Western missionaries are not welcome. We can be missionaries right where we are!

Christians & Voting

We in the US have been focused on one thing on this Tuesday. Voting. I don't know if you have already voted, plan to vote today, or have decided not to vote because you are tired of having to choose "the lesser of two evils" or the Candidate who will "do the least damage to the country."

I know that these are the "Mid-term Elections" and that these are often not seen as important as the four-year Presidential Election. At home, I have been hearing much about Republicans and Democrats and about the merits or lack of merits of each party. I'm sure that almost all of us are turned by the frequent negative and often distorted ads, run by Candidates, trashing their opponents instead of "selling" themselves and what they themselves are passionate about. I get it if you are so turned off by politics that it does not even seem worth it to get out in the rain, take off work, or what discomfort you may have to put up with, to vote.

But there are Bible verses that tell us to "Honor the government" and to "Render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." Periodically, the Government asks for our vote. Many lives have been given for this privilege and many people risk their lives to enter this country so they can have the right to vote. These give us some powerful reasons to take time out of what we may be doing, to vote. Yes, I know that, like me, some us live in states that make it more difficult to vote and that allow us only one day to vote. I also live very near Ferguson, which has made national headlines because of the Michael Brown shooting and the way this sad case has triggered the racial unrest that has festered in Ferguson for a long time.

I know very well that many among you, my brothers and sisters in Jesus, strongly identify with the Republican Party and see the Democratic Party as indifferent and even hostile to Christians and the things that Christians hold most dear. I have heard these feelings uttered, over and over, in local churches and Bible studies. I have read them, repeatedly, on Facebook statuses and posts, all over the internet, and reflected in causes and TV ads. Like so many of you, I share your value for the sanctity of human life (from conception to death) and for the sanctity of marriage and the family (as between male and female as created by God). But, as I read my Bible, I see the God also is very concerned about many things that the Democratic Party generally concerns itself with. He identifies with the poor, orphans, widows, immigrants, the disabled, and racial relations. Yet in voting for all Republican Candidates, I believe we overlook many issues that break God's heart and on which He has spoken. But if we vote for all Democrats, we also put the unborn, marriage, and the family at risk. I used to feel that following Jesus in the matter of voting, meant that people like myself are in a no-win situation. But are we really?

This post does not tell anyone how to vote. That is between you and God, not between you and anyone else. But so many of our precious brothers and sisters in Jesus, worldwide, are deprived of the right to vote. Their regimes do not allow free Elections. I realize also, as a woman, that many, especially among Progressives, are concerned about a "war on women." Yes, I know that things are not ideal for women even in the US. Men who are guilty of rape, domestic abuse, and sexual abuse, are often not held accountable are get off "too light." I get that. But many women throughout the world would gladly trade places with women in the US or other women in any other Western nation. So many of them are stripped of basic human rights, are little more than property and voting is just a dream to them. Just do some research on the Internet.

True, the Candidates you vote for may not get in. They may end up having to give concession speeches. The Candidates I voted for may not get elected. But for the high price that was paid for our right to vote, we need to exercise this right, knowing that no matter who gets in, ultimately it is God Who works through them to get His will done, no matter what their stance on the issues.

This is my take on this. Sincerely,

Lisa DeSherlia