By Josue Villatoro The emphasis during Advent season is on waiting. We are expectant; we are preparing to celebrate Christmas. I like that dynamic. However, Christmas is not an ordinary party: it is not about Santa Claus, the gifts, or even the family. It is good that there are gathered families, gifts under the tree,... Continue Reading →
Learning from Mary
By Charles W. Christian I once heard a Catholic priest tell a joke about a scene in Heaven. Jesus walks up to a Protestant and a Catholic and says to them, “I am glad to see you two getting along so well.” Then Jesus turns to the Protestant and says, “I would like to introduce... Continue Reading →
Not God’s Favorite
By Scott Armstrong Jesus Comes Home with a Sobering Message Christmas is a time when many of us return home. We laugh with relatives and gorge ourselves on excellent food. Grandmas grab our cheeks and tell us we’ve grown sooooo big, which is awkward when you’re 8, but try when you are 40! Luke 4... Continue Reading →
Incarnation – Moving into the Neighborhood
Yesterday (December 14), the Worthless Servants podcast published a new episode touching on an appropriately Christmas topic: the Incarnation. When we speak of the Incarnation, we are referring to God becoming man. This is the essence of Advent and of Christmas; these are the moments in the Christian calendar when we celebrate that God sent... Continue Reading →
The True Story of St. Nicholas
By Adam Estle *This article was originally published by Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding (EMEU). Have you found yourself pondering where the story of Santa Claus originated? You might also be asking yourself, “What does Santa Claus have to do with increasing my understanding of the Middle East?” We’re glad you asked! To answer the... Continue Reading →
Come, All You Not So Faithful
By Rev. Chris Gilmore One of my favorite Christmas carols begins with the line, “O, come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant.” I imagine shepherds and wise men singing these words and asking others to join them as they visit the newborn and long-expected Savior. It is an invitation to gather around Jesus to celebrate his coming. Come,... Continue Reading →
Part of the Gift
By Charles W. Christian One of my favorite Advent stories is about a missionary couple on the eastern coast of Africa. They were waiting to go back to the United States, their home country, after having served for over twenty years and impacting two generations of people in the village where they were assigned. They... Continue Reading →
CCO – Nicaragua, 2017
From November 24-26, 2017 the Nicaragua North District held a Cross Cultural Orientation, with 48 participants from 4 countries in Central America: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. In addition, 12 volunteer missionaries were serving in the CCO. During this time, the youth were able to listen to testimonies of what God is doing... Continue Reading →
An Uncommon Mission
By Ken Childress "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." John 20:21 A cursory reading of this verse might give us the impression that Jesus is saying, “The Father first sent Me; now it's your turn." But there is more to this verse than that. He is also saying, "In the very same way... Continue Reading →
Why We Wait
By Charles W. Christian “They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength…” (Isaiah 40:31, KJV) The Season of Advent is about waiting; not a passive waiting, but the kind of waiting we see in this passage from Isaiah: an expectant waiting. If there is a “fun” kind of waiting, it is this kind! As Christians,... Continue Reading →