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Won't Give Up
12/15/2003
"Then
Jesus told his disciples a parable that they should always pray and not
give up... However when the Son of Man comes will he find faith on the
earth? "
Luke 18:1-8
The Sunday send-off
of the Eugene Mission Team was incredible! We literally witnessed a
modern day miracle of God! Seeing the smiles of the 18 dynamic
disciples God had gathered and then seeing the Holy Spirit sending them
out with
a congregational prayer to plant a true church of disciples in Eugene will
be forever etched into our memories. At the service, which was
largely led by the Eugene Mission Team, Chuck Hess inspirationally led
"Joy to the World" with a youthful zeal that showed promise of
greater things to come. Tom Reitmann's opening, heartfelt prayer
drew us close to the Father. Jeremy Ciaramella, the leader of the
Eugene Mission Team, preached a sermon that was delivered with an
intensity, warmth and humility that went way beyond his years. The
team's financial administrator and his wife, Rich and Stephanie Hackett,
did an outstanding job with the communion. Rich began by asking,
"What was the worst thing that someone has done to you?"
Each of us thought of several sins quickly. He then asked,
"What was the worst thing that you have ever done to someone
else?" We were much slower to think of any instances.
Then Rich challenged us all on our sinful, critical natures, in perceiving
other's sins more clearly than our own. Then he pointed out that the
worst thing we ever did was killing Jesus, the perfect son of God, on the
cross by our sins. God forgave us. He shared that we can
forgive others and will be freed from our bitterness when we see our own
sin as clearly as others, as well as remembering that all of our sins are
ultimately against God.
Immediately after
the sermon, the Eugene Mission Team gathered on stage, which caused many
in the crowd not just to cheer but to cry. There was a strong
realization that the Portland Church was not only being healed by the
blood of Christ, but the Holy Spirit had worked to rebuild the foundation
of the church to be only "sold-out" disciples. This
reminded me of the Scripture in Ezra 3, when many of the remnant in
Jerusalem "shouted for joy, while others wept aloud" when the
foundation for the second temple was completed. However, the
highlight of the service for me was a song collectively written by Jeremy,
Kareah Garrison and Stephen Beason entitled, "Won't Give Up."
As 1 Samuel 3 says, "In those days, the Word of the Lord was rare and
there were not many visions." For the last several months there
have been few miracles in our fellowship. However, this
rock/instrumental hymn became an anthem of hope to our congregation in
this dark hour in the kingdom.
The words of this moving
anthem are:
In the streets, in the
silent nights
You see it in their faces, a silent scream out loud
Should I just keep on walking acting like its all good?
Should I just keep on walking, or will I do what I should?
No I won't give up, as long as I can see the break of day
Won't give up, I may stumble and I may fall
But I won't give up,
I'll keep on trying anyway
Won't give up, I'd rather die than walk away.
Harassed and they're helpless, just like you and me were
Or don't you remember? If you really tried you could.
Have you ever wondered what it is all worth?
Have you ever wondered? Ask the soul dying when it leaves the earth.
No I won't give up....
We in the Portland
Church have felt the vicious counterattack of Satan to our worldwide
fellowship's bold advancement to evangelize the world. Yes, we too
realize there have been many mistakes and sins. As in all of our
sister congregations, individuals have been hurt by the sins of others in
discipling, as there are sins in all human relationships. We have
felt the betrayal of those who no longer want to be disciples but merely
want to be religious in a lukewarm fellowship that has little or no
expectations involving Jesus' mission. All of us have felt the
discouragement of our dwindling numbers. And yet, those in Portland
who have remained faithful, those that have persevered, are now being
blessed by God because of their righteousness with the fruit of the Spirit
and the fruit of new disciples. This suffering has produced a
perseverance, that has produced a character that now gives us hope that
our God will once again move across the face of the earth. Yes,
Sunday was a time that 18 disciples were being sent out of a church of
only 145 disciples to a city of a quarter-million. But all of us
gathered that morning sensed there was so much more spiritually happening.
Guarded by angels, these disciples not only believe that Eugene can be
evangelized in our lifetime, but the dream that the world will be
"evangelized in our day" is still alive in their hearts. I
pray Jesus will still find others that are praying and "won't give
up."
Kip McKean
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