Pastor's Perspective Articles:

April 2008: Elder Phil Steckmann
March 2008: Elder Ed Gann
February 2008: Elder Rob Wiggins
January 2008: Elder Dr. Steve Stephens
December 2007: Elder's Perspective
November 2007: Thankful for Broken Things
October 2007: God Rubs Off
September 2007: Have you ever gotten it wrong?
August 2007: Belize Journal, July '07
July 2007: What's the picture of the church?
June 2007: Making the Complex Simple
May 2007: Majesty

March 2008: Elder's Perspective
by Elder Ed Gann

When you decide to say "yes" to God, you may be surprised. On February 9, I participated in the "Grace Milwaukie" Day as part of the prayer team from MFBC and other Milwaukie churches. I went, figuring we would be tucked into a back room somewhere, having an impact on the events unfolding in the unseen realm, but away from the real action. But I was surprised. We expected to pray for requests that were written in at the bottom of the registration forms, for city officials, and for God's work in Milwaukie in general. We were available to pray with people, if anyone wanted, but I didn’t really expect many to ask.

We were not more than a few minutes into the first session when a woman was ushered in, asking for prayer. She shared a bit of her story, and we began to pray for her. While we were praying for her, another woman came up. She waited patiently for her turn and we repeated the process for her. She was so moved by the experience that she stayed with us to pray for others who came up! It was an exhilarating experience! We were praying for real people with real needs, helping them connect with the real God. At times it felt like heaven and earth were intersecting right there in City Hall, and we were privileged to be a part of it. Far from being insulated from the action, we began to feel like we were at the hub of it!

This parade of individuals and families continued for the next hour, and we prayed for everyone who came up. Personally, I was surprised by two things throughout the morning. I probably shouldn’t have been surprised by either one, but I was. First, as we were praying with people, it began to dawn on me the depth of need that exists in our community. I live in a world that is somewhat insulated from the raw needs that some people face. I know from reading the newspaper and watching newscasts that the needs exist, but it feels different when the statistics are sitting across from you and have names and faces and children. I was a little startled by the level of need some live in.

The other thing that surprised me that morning was something I hadn’t anticipated at all - I was surprised by joy. It would be hard to explain exactly what we experienced upstairs in City Hall that Saturday. You almost had to be there. As we prayed for people, I felt like I was connecting with God Himself, being a conduit of His love and power for them, and making a difference all at the same time.

I know that the few moments we shared would likely be nothing more than a "blip" on the timeline of their lives, but for me, it was a significant and unforgettable "blip". My hope is that they would not soon forget it either. I suspect we didn’t permanently solve anyone's problems on Grace Milwaukie Day. Their problems and difficulties were still with them when they left. However, we have the hope that at least for a moment or two, they were able to find a fresh sense of encouragement and hope and a sense that Jesus is real and cares about them.

It is hard to explain what Grace Milwaukie was like. You had to be there. The good news is, next time you can be there. As we continue to pursue externally-focused outreach events, I encourage you to seize the opportunities to serve our community. You might just be surprised.

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:37-40

Copyright© Milwaukie First Baptist Church 1998-2008