Our dear Volunteers,
At the Liberia Annual Conference, we are trying to integrate the functional areas to attain overall goals and objectives of the church, incorporating the needs of multiple stakeholders, recognizing the dual objectives: Worshiping Gog and serving humanity, and reconciling potential conflict of our need to serve to our service to need.
The bases of all we are saying is found in the New Testament Book of Roman Chapter 3 verse 22 (Good New Bible) “God puts people right through their faith in Jesus Christ. God does this to all those who believing in Christ because there is no difference at all”.
Therefore, for and on behalf of Rev. Dr. John G. Innis, Resident Bishop of The United Methodist Church of the Liberia Annual Conference, the Coordinator of the Volunteers in Mission Program, Mr. F. Shaffa Seward, wishes to thank the GBGM Web Team for the space allotted to LUMVIM. In subsequent publications, you’ll have information on how God is putting people right through their faith in Jesus Christ to bless the work of the United Methodist Church in Liberia.
With this introduction, kindly allow God to work in you by going through this Christmas message – from a friend as is-as our season’s greetings.
Jesus Love & God's Will
God's Will is for unity, not for division (even in the church). Love through Jesus is the only way to achieve that.
Most people when discussing love will quote in part or total the "love chapter," 1 Corinthians 13. I'm going to do the same thing, but as I do, I will lead us through a correlation I believe greatly typifies "Jesus Love."
You will recognize the love that is God's Will, and maybe the true story I share with you . . .
The morning turned cold and dreary on this icy dawn of February 3, 1943. The S.S. Dorchester, an old ship being used as a troop transport, was pushing through the treacherous waters of the North Atlantic with 900 men aboard. She was bound for Greenland. As she neared her destination, the escort convoy left her. But, they left too soon, and she never reached Greenland. A Nazi submarine had been stalking the convoy for some time, and now moved in for the kill. A launched torpedo struck the S.S. Dorchester amid-ship and exploded in the boiler room.
(1 Corinthians 13:1-3) If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
At the instant of explosion many died in the immediate area. Others were trapped below deck. With confusion reigning and terror in every walk way, sleepy soldiers and sailors jolted from their sleep scampered to reach the deck of the dying ship.
(1 Corinthians 13:4-5) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
On deck the men found more confusion and terror. They also found four United States Army Chaplains moving about calming the frightened and helping the injured. The Chaplains directed soldiers to life boats and distributed life jackets with calm precision. The supply of life jackets was soon exhausted, and yet four young men stood, frightened, waiting for jackets. Without hesitation the Chaplains removed their life jackets and forced them on the young soldiers. The four men of God forfeited their only chances for survival.
(1 Corinthians 13:6-7) Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
The Chaplains were of different faith, but shared a "Jesus Love" that surmounted any theological differences. Clark C. Pulling and George L. Fox were Protestant ministers. John P. Washington was a Roman Catholic priest, and Alexander Goody was a Jewish rabbi. Yet in that moment of decision none of them asked of the young soldiers, "Are you Protestant? Are you Catholic? Are you Jewish?" It simply didn't matter. Before them stood four human beings in need, and their commitment to serve the Will of God as Jesus would.
(1 Corinthians 13:8-10) Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
Men rowing safely away in life boats saw the four Chaplains clinging to each other on the rapidly slanting deck of the old ship. Their arms were linked together and their heads were bowed. They were praying to the only God whom each of them loved and served.
(1 Corinthians 13:11-12) When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
These four men of God: a country boy from Vermont, a city boy from Washington, a slum kid from Newark, and a preacher's son from New York City, met on the deck of the dying ship. They met with God during the cold winter's dawn on the icy sea, and joined together with voices of love: "Our Father...which art in Heaven . . ."
(1 Corinthians 13:13) And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
The S.S. Dorchester sank beneath the icy waters of the North Atlantic, and with 600 brave souls, the four heroic Chaplains were buried in their watery graves in February, 1943.
(John 3:16) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
In this season of love, let us not forget what Christmas is all about. Everywhere I go these days I see signs saying "Jesus is the reason for the season" and "Christ is first in Christmas." You see them too. I would differ with these messages a little. You see, Jesus isn’t just the reason for the season – He is the season!! And, Christ isn’t just first in Christmas – He is Christmas.
This Christmas, as never before, let’s praise and worship our King, our Savior, our Lord, our Jesus!! And, let’s share Jesus’ love with the whole world!!
Praying God’s Best for You and Yours,
Shaffa Seward
Coordinator,LUMVIM
