Dear
Southcity and friends
What an
incredible privilege it is to serve, love, and live amongst men and women whose
lives are devoted to God and who love to be a part of God's Kingdom coming on
earth as it is in heaven.
One of
our core beliefs is that we are an apostolic people, a people who are sent by
God into all the world in order that His gospel may be proclaimed through the
life and words of those who love Him.
In the
next few weeks, we have the privilege (and sadness) of saying goodbye to Clif,
Sarah and Chelsey, and supporting them on their way as God sends them to Doha,
Qatar, to help a church in that city under the leadership of Rob and Hellette
Botha. This church is doing an incredible work in Doha as they love God
together and are reaching fifty two different nationalities at this moment in
time. What a great expression of every tribe, nation, and tongue worshipping
God as part of the great multitude!
3 John
reads like this:
5 Beloved, it is a
faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they
are, 6 who testified to your love
before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner
worthy of God. 7 For they have
gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore
we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the
truth.
Church,
friends, fellow workers, as Clif and Sarah go on their journey for the sake of
His name, we want to send them in a manner worthy of our God. A Father who is
loving, incredibly generous, and provides everything we need. So this Sunday,
we will be taking up a special offering for them. This offering is over and
above our normal giving for the sake of the work going on here locally. I am
asking, that this week, as you allow God to lead you in your stewarding of your
finances, you come prepared to give on Sunday with an expectant and joyful
heart as we have the privilege of sharing in Kingdom work by helping send them
on their way.
And then
the following Sunday, the 6th May, we will be having a celebratory service as
we say goodbye, and send them with our love and our financial support. So
please plan to stay after the service and join the church as we fellowship
together over lunch. (We will be sending out lunch plans and details a bit
later).
I am
aware this Sunday falls in the middle of a school long weekend, so if you are
planning some time away, may I urge you to give by transferring into
Southcity's bank account with the reference: Longhurst.
I close
with Paul's encouragement to the Corinthian church in his 2nd letter, chapter
8:
We want you to know, brothers,1 about the grace of God that
has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for
in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty
have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For
they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means,
of their own accord, 4 begging us
earnestly for the favor2 of taking part in the relief of the saints—
5 and this, not as we expected,
but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
6 Accordingly, we urged Titus
that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But
as you excel in everything—in faith, in
speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you3—see
that you excel in this act of grace also.
I love
you deeply Southcity and am overawed by God's continued love and grace toward
us as a community of believers together.
See you on
Sunday and much love
Richard
