April 2005

The Kingdom of God is like Yeast Hidden in the Dough

            How people of faith are interconnected continues to amaze me.  When I was in high school my pastor, knowing I was interested in ministry, suggested I go to Asbury College where I met my wife.  Later on I attended Asbury Theological Seminary.  Years later, at Asbury Seminary’s Minister’s conference, I looked across the class room to see someone who looked exactly like my former pastor.  It was not him — it was his son.  John is now a missionary with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and has served in several countries.  In a recent letter to supporters, he tells a story of how God works in small ways that become powerful.  He writes: “I’m at a state of ministry where I can see some of the long-term effects of my contributions.  Back in the early 90's there was a young university student name Monica, who lived in Washington.  She applied to go on a short-term mission project with InterVarsity to Ukraine.  This was the early days of sending Global Projects to the former Soviet Union and it was very exciting.  During the month Monicas was in Ukraine, a Ukrainian student she befriended professed faith in Christ.  Monica was so struck by what she experienced that she applied to serve on an IFES year team in Ukraine.  She was able to continue ministering to her new Ukranian friend in Christ.  This new Ukranian friend was Vladimir who ended up leading the new IFES [International Fellowship of Christian Students] movement in Ukraine called CCX.  He also had friends who came to Christ.  One of these friends has another friend who became a Christian and ended up being a lawyer.  This lawyer friend was asked recently to make the case before the Ukranian Supreme Court for why a second election should be helped.  And now you see the long-term connection.  In ministry one thing leads to another.  The current students and staff of CCX Ukraine were highly involved in the “people movement” which led to a fair election in Ukraine. . . Today Vladimir dreams of a CCX Ukraine graduate one day becoming President of Ukraine.” 

            This is just one small example of how powerfully the Kingdom of God is moving throughout the world. 

Praying “Thy Kingdom come,”

Rod