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When you read about a Baptist Church and their pastor in the newspaper the news is not always about a pastor and church who have acted in a Christ-like manner. Most of the time churches and pastors go unnoticed until they do something that is less than Christ-like. That is not the case with three Baptist pastors and their churches that I read about this week.
First Baptist Church in Nashua, New Hampshire has warmly welcomed Teagan and her outbursts, Harvey said. "Our church has several people who are disabled," said the Rev. Mark Jackson, noting disruptions are just part of the service. "Everybody in the family of faith is loved by God," Jackson said. "Some have disabilities they can't help, but our congregation is accustomed to that, they're tolerant and accepting. When a disruption happens, we just move on."
Teagan is a child with special needs. She is unable to speak. However, she can make sounds. When she gets excited she makes a piercing shrill sound. Just over two months before her family started attending FBC Nashua, Teagan had gotten excited during the praise and worship time at the church they were then attending and her mother was having a hard time settling her. They were asked to leave the sanctuary. Having had such a negative experience, they did not even attempt to go to church for the next two months. Then they visited FBC Nashua and received the welcome described above.
Despite everything, Massad said, his church continues to "experience the power of God's presence, his peace and love."
Hanna Massad is the pastor of Gaza Baptist Church in the Gaza Strip. The church has experienced much turmoil in recent days. Twice their building was seized by the Palestinian Police Authority. A church member was injured when his apartment was bombed. Office equipment and computers have disappeared. A worship service had to be stopped due to nearby shooting. Amazing, isn’t it, that these followers of Christ are still able to “. . . experience the power of God’s presence, his peace and love.”
“We are quite excited to see how God multiplies the invested efforts and so brings fruits to His glory. Indeed, it is His hand in our midst that keeps us encouraged amidst the very frustrating – and at times quite alarming – conflicts and explosions that shatter our country’s peace,” said Nabil Costa, head of the Lebanese Baptist Society, which runs both educational institutions.
“It is a challenge for us – the Church in Lebanon – to remain focused on Him. May God help us to see the aggressors through His eyes, to pray for them, as well as to reflect our true identity in Christ in times of peace as well as in times of difficulty,” Costa said.
The Lebanese Baptist Society is not a church, but it serves to unite Baptist Christians for ministry in Lebanon. Over the last twelve months, Lebanon has experienced a 33-day war that killed 1,200 Lebanese civilians and 44 Israeli civilians, and displaced nearly 1 million people, mostly from southern Lebanon. Still, in the midst of that turmoil, there are followers of Christ who are praying for those who caused the death and destruction while they seek to share the love of Christ.
May our walk with Christ always be enriched by those who faithfully follow him.
Joy and Peace,
Ed
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