The community of Nain
Dear Louisiana Leaders,
I was recently sharing a devotion with the Lake Charles area leaders from where Jesus performed a miracle in the small community of Nain. That city name is so interesting because it has a meaning that seems so different. According to J.B. Jackson’s book, A Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names, the name means both afflicted and beautiful. Those two words rarely go together. Nain was a place of supernatural resurrection where Jesus met a grieving funeral procession and turned it into a joyous parade. He moved the people’s experience from affliction to beautiful.
From affliction to beautiful
This past spring has been a visit to the community of Nain for so many of you. The closings, the covid19 issues, and the cultural upheaval have touched us with the pain and discomfort of affliction. In the midst of all the affliction, I have been blessed to hear so many of your testimonies of beauty. God has resurrected a creativity of ministry. He has birthed amazing new streams of revenue. He has turned mourning to joy and ashes to beauty.
If you are still on the affliction side of Nain, keep holding on, keep standing, and keep believing. Your miracle is just ahead. Your painful affliction is about to be interrupted by Jesus and turned into a beautiful experience.
Together in the Nain
One of the many beautiful moments in my Nain, has been the gathering together in our All-State Zooms. I believe I have spent more time with pastors, missionaries and Louisiana leaders the last four months than I ever have. Though we haven’t been in the same geographical location, we have been together. We have gathered in zoom rooms, conference calls and webinars. We have exhibited heart, focus, and mission as leaders have connected to share ideas and practices as we all maneuvered through our Nains.
Monday's All-State Zoom
The next opportunity to be together is this upcoming Monday (June 29th) at 10:00am for our latest ALL-STATE Zoom. I have invited Alton Garrison and a few others to join our discussion as we talk about your first steps back into the building and taking advantage of this time to make some changes in ministry.
- What questions are you and your team asking about current ministry?
- How has this time allowed you to evaluate areas of ministry?
- What changes are you implementing as you move forward?
These are a few of the topics we will explore in our time together with Alton and his team.
I look forward to seeing you on Monday morning at 10:00am.
The Zoom Meeting link to join:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83534231569?pwd=VjIycnJhNGdpYWRGM1hPdlFsdFVRZz09
Meeting ID: 835 3423 1569
Password: 712128
Blessings,
Pastor Scott
Louisiana Assemblies of God
P.O. Box 7388
Alexandria, LA 71306
318.445.6238