Our Mission: A New Creation
The Joy! Lutheran Church Mission is: “To be a joy-filled, Christ centered community that is PASSIONATE about reaching our neighbors with Christ’s radical love so that all our lives are changed.”
Why are we PASSIONATE?
For the love of Christ urges (“compels” NIV) us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all… And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them. (2 Cor. 5:14-15 NRSV)
Paul, who believed that the Jesus followers were heretics lead by a false Messiah, was changed by his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus. He was transformed by God’s mercy and grace, living no longer for himself but for Christ.
He describes that transformation…“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” (2 Cor. 5:17 NRSV). Paul’s life was filled with struggle, trials and hardship. His motivation throughout was the radical love of Christ that compelled and urged (5:14) him on. That love is shown most clearly in Jesus’ death on the cross “for all.”
Our passion, motivation and identity are founded in faith that Jesus died and was raised for all…for us! The love he has given us is why we are passionate! As we fervently pursue a life that reflects Jesus’ love for us, his glory is shown and “new creation” happens in our lives and in others we touch.
Do you have a story to share about receiving Christ’s love?
How has it made your life different…passionate?
– Pastor Scott Hackler
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December 10th, 2009 at 10:09 am
A long time ago, I would have told a story about joining my first church, and then soon after leaving a bad relationship. Just as I was beginning to learn that God loved me personally, I found that many people at that church who were willing to give me a place to live, help me move, and love me and my daughters during that difficult time.
In the years since then, I have had many ups and downs in my faith: times when I was more faithful to God and times when I slipped away. Sometimes I’ve felt God as close to me as my own skin, and other times I felt I could not find Him at all.
Honestly, it is often hard for me to believe that God loves me the way the bible describes his love: that He delights in me, and that Jesus would have died for my sins even if I was the only sinner. I was passionate about His love at first because I unrealistically thought becoming a new creation meant I was always going to be strong in my faith. When I slide back into sin and struggle with doubts, I feel like I am letting down God.
But recently I’ve been studying the life of Abraham with my mom. Even though the bible talks about him as a tremendous example of faith and righteousness, I see he made a lot of big mistakes in his life. Abraham would lie about his wife every time they went to a new country. He gave up on God’s promise about having children with Sarah and tried to have them with a slave girl, but then twice cast her and her son out into the desert.
God didn’t give up on Abraham, and He didn’t change His plans to use Abraham even when he was making those big mistakes and lost faith. This has recently given me so much hope – that God’s love doesn’t depend on me ALWAYS doing the right things or on NEVER struggling with my faith. I wasn’t made a new creation just once: I am constantly becoming a new creation.
This is truly a God worth all my passion!
December 14th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
When i was in college i was very badly burned during my sophomore year. One of the students was angry with the “house mother” in the girl’s dorm. (see how these phrases date me? This was 1962) So, this fellow made a bomb in the chemistry lab, wrapped the bomb in a pretty paper with a ribbon and wrote , “To Miss Montgomery , from the Girls”, and he left it in the lounge of the girl’s dorm where Miss Montgomery would find it. I was visiting with Bonnie (my college sweetheart, now my wife) when Miss Montgomery brought the package over to where we were sitting at a small table. When she opened the package, it burst into a massive flame that sprayed Bonnie, Me, and Miss Montgomery in a flash of burning fire. All three of us were rushed to the hospital; Bonnie was treated and released that evening; i was hospitalized for ten days, and Miss Montgomery was in the hospital for thirty three days. Only days later did we learn who planted the bomb and why. But as i spent those ten days in the hospital, three times someone quoted Romans 8:28 to me. “All things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Through hearing this text over and over, through the care of friends and family, through the healing power of God, i made a decision to change my major from English/Speech to Religion. My childhood experiences of church were now coming home in a decision for vocation. My burns healed nicely, and only a few scars remain on my shoulder. Bonnie’s burns also healed nicely; Miss Montgomery’s scars remained on her face and hands and arms; and she took retirement and moved home with family. But i also remembered from Genesis the words spoken of Joseph, “What others planned for evil; God used for good.” This tragic event became my Road to Damascus experience. I made my major in religion; i graduated from college then pastored two small churches in Iowa before coming to seminary in Illinois. My professional ministry career was lived out at Garrett-Evangelical Seminary where I served as librarian and associate professor of ministries. My journey now in my retired years has led me to make my home at JOY! with my wife Bonnie. Every Christmas when packages are ready to be unwrapped, i pause to remember a package that exploded and changed my life; but as i pause, i also know tht every package under the tree is promise of someone who loves and cares and nurtures in the name of Jesus. Thanks be to God for his expressible gift.
thanks for listening, al
December 14th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
I was not raised hearing or learning about Gods love. Yes, I heard of his sacrifice on the cross but how that impacted me, I had no idea. During my adult years, after becoming a mother, I began to soften my heart to join a church family. After some searching we came to Joy! I was full of uncertainty and fear but was trying to stay open to this leg of my journey. While my story into a small group is long it is there I first encountered what felt like real love/Christs love. This group of women, who knew little about me, were there for me to openly talk to, explore with and share with and its their embrace of me that knocked me off my feet. I had nothing to fear with them. They accepted me as I was and seemed excited for me to journey with them into the Word even though I was just learning how to use a bible when with them. It was through that experience that I grew a passion for making sure others who were uncertain, who strugggled with faith, with life, came to know they were loved, accepted, as is, by the one who makes all things new. The way I look at life, my parenting, how I feel inside, my career path, all have been greatly impacted by my faith. And like Angela said although my days are not trouble free and my choices seem beyond reason somedays… I know Gods love for me isn’t one that changes. Being a receipent of his love each and everyday makes me want to live that love out loud to others. Praise our God who is passionate about me so I can freely live out and be passionate about others!
December 15th, 2009 at 1:29 am
Thanks, for putting this up.
December 16th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Al, what an amazing story. After your experience, a lot of people would have moved in a different direction, towards anger and the desire for retribution. The fruit produced in their lives would be very different than the fruit produced in yours!
So often people use those scripture verses to assure us that everything is going to go our way as Christians. But as you point out, not everything is going to work for our good the way WE see what’s best for us. Instead, those verses are about God’s plan and how he can use even a person’s evil choices to bring good into the world – if we are willing to cooperate with Him.
December 16th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Jenelle, thanks for sharing your experiences of God’s love! I always grew up around people who went to church and who had at least a rudimentary understanding of Christianity. It’s interesting to hear the perspective of someone who came to know God as an adult.
December 18th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Al, thanks for sharing another story from your life. Jenelle, I never tire of your adventure into faith.
I resonate with these stories. My passion for ministry has come from unlikely sources: anxiety and insecurity, pain and failure. Through those experiences i’ve come to know more deeply the great love of God. God’s love through it all has created a passionate heart inside me for people and their pain.
December 22nd, 2009 at 2:23 pm
I grew up seeing Christ’s love in action every day in my home. My parents were shining examples of his love.
I had the unique distinction of being born in Cameroon, Africa, because my parents were missionaries there for 7 years. Following that, my dad was a Lutheran pastor for 25 years. His goal in life was to reach as many people as possible with the love of Christ.
The examples my parents lived out in front of me as I grew up has had the biggest impact on who I am today. I saw the impacts they made and the lives they changed and it makes me want to do the same.
Christ’s love is contagious if you show it and share it, because we are all yearning for it!
December 23rd, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Bob, how fascinating to have parents as missionaries in another country! I imagine you saw many examples of faith – though I am sure those are hard examples to live up to.