“Do you have big dreams for Chapel Hill?” a friend of mine asked me not too long after I received my appointment. I told her that it is not so much “my dream for Chapel Hill” but rather it is my prayer for the church and for me. This is what I shared with her: I want to love the people and be with them when they need me; I hope to recognize where God is working in their lives and in the life of Chapel Hill so that they know how their stories fit in with God’s story for them; I want to be a pastor who can walk by their sides in their desire to know Christ; and I hope people of all ages who walk through the church’s door experience God’s presence through worship, teaching, fellowship, and last but not least the church’s ministry, especially mission and outreach.
These are not so much my goals but my prayer. Goals imply that I rely on my own efforts where prayer is counting on God’s willingness and help to make things happen. Yesterday in the sermon on the Lord’s Prayer, I touched on asking, seeking, and knocking for the things of God and in seeking God’s Kingdom. I believe my prayer is my act of asking, seeking, and knocking that Jesus mentioned in his instructions for the Twelve and I will keep praying and asking for these. More than this, I ask you to pray with me. Remember what we talked about yesterday? Through Jesus, we are allowed to call God the Father, “Abba,” or “Daddy” in English. God loves us and God will grant us these requests. How, you may ask? I’m not quite sure on the “how” exactly except that the Holy Spirit will lead us in the correct path in the weeks, months, and even years ahead. In addition, love is what comes from the heart and not on the actual technique or the mechanics of doing something.
It is almost a month now since I have come back to Chapel Hill. I am excited that the choir is going to be coming back to worship this Sunday and that Team Africa is scheduled to come home this Wednesday. My hope in the next couple of months is to get in touch with all the church’s members who are homebound. In the meantime, please know that you are in my thoughts and my prayers. If you want to get a hold of me, please call the church. If I am not there, I will get back with you.
Have a blessed week!
Mai
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