How can we work together to be an authentic expression of ‘’the good news’ in today’s complex and fast moving society?
In 2 Corinthians 4 (NIV), the Apostle Paul says, “7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
I don’t know about you, but I as I go about my work I am reminded every day of the fragility of human life.
We are all simple ‘jars of clay’. Brittle, earthen containers, created as vessels to carry the beautiful and unique potential of a God-inspired human soul, gifted into a troubled world but shaped by the dynamic forces of a harsh and unforgiving world.
The Apostle goes on to say, “8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
If this is so, then how do you and I invest the God-given ‘treasure’ that has been placed into our earthly ‘jars of clay’ to advance His missional purposes here on earth?
It has been a great encouragement to hear the stories of creativity and faithful service that are emerging from the nine Baptist churches that are actively pursuing the Collaborative Community Projects (CCP’s). These kingdom ventures have faced challenges, but with support from Baptist Care SA (made possible by funding support from the Baptist Care SA Foundation), lives are being transformed.
Clovercrest Baptist Church recently reported that they “continuously receive positive feedback from teachers, parents, school staff and the wider school community about the positive changes they can see in these children’s lives.”
When speaking about their ‘Get Out’ initiative with homeless and at risk young people in the south of Adelaide, Blackwood Hills Baptist Church were surprised by the “amount of Christian engagement our participants have had [without it] forced upon them at all.
“[We’ve had] two baptisms and seven professions of faith. We’ve seen a few take on leadership roles at youth group, leading bible studies or helping with logistics of running youth group. One young person is doing an internship at their church over the summer.”
It seems to me that when people of faith genuinely reach out in the light of the Gospel, great things happen. The light does in fact shine in the darkness, and sometimes it’s the poor, the meek and the most vulnerable that see it first.
We do not do this audacious work alone. Rather, inspired by the servant heart of Jesus, our earthly ‘jars of clay’ are filled with ‘treasure’ that we can share.
I invite you to please pray with me that together, the Baptist movement in South Australia, including Baptist Care SA, will be a beacon of light that illuminates the paths of more and more people.
Yours in Christ
Graham Brown
Chief Executive Officer
For more information about Collaborative Community Projects, visit: https://baptistcaresa.org.au/service/church-services/collaborative-community-projects
