Pentecost

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This Sunday is Pentecost, the seventh Sunday after Easter, when we celebrate the birth of the Church and the coming of the Holy Spirit, who was sent to earth to empower the disciples and ultimately the Church.

Jesus had been crucified and the disciples were huddled in the upper room trying to regroup, to refocus their lives and futures. Everything had changed; all their dreams and plans were in tatters. But out of a seemingly hopeless situation, birthed a movement that has shaken empires and uprooted evil around the world.

What about today, how many people’s lives are in tatters? How many families are looking at an unknown future and wondering what will happen to their livelihoods, their plans and the plans they had for their children? Just as Christ had a plan at Pentecost, he has a plan for the Church today.

We may appear to be in various stages of lockdown, but you cannot lock down the Body of Christ. It is living and constantly growing, reaching out and encompassing those who are lost and bringing them in to a safe harbour.

The big questions are: Are we willing to adapt? Are we willing to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into new ways of being and new ways of expressing the gospel message?

History shows us that God is always on the move. The message remains the same, but the expression changes for each generation. I believe there will be new opportunities for The Salvation Army as we pray and ask. Yes, there will be painful adjustments for many, but God is faithful and he did not—and will not—leave us as orphans to work it out on our own.

Vivienne Hill
Editor

Bible Verse

Acts 2:21
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Ngā Mahi
Nā, ko reira ora ai te hunga katoa e karanga ana ki te ingoa o te Ariki.