John Thomas' Living Hope Ministries was featured on Birmingham's ABC 33/40 local news. John's visit to the US (specifically Birmingham) has given our community a greater sense of our church sponsorship of Living Hope and the vast needs the CHURCH can do for the AIDS population and prevention of this disease. I'm so thankful to be chosen to serve with Living Hope!
28 September 2009
15 September 2009
The official site of the journey...
While in South Africa, I'll be using my website to communicate all the details of this journey and chapter. Check it out:
www.melaniedill.com
www.melaniedill.com
14 September 2009
Go!
This past week was a big week in closing a chapter and beginning a new one. On Tuesday, I announced to our staff that I was moving to South Africa. On Wednesday, I told our Student Ministry adult leadership (at a special meeting)- cried as I told my story, and was so touched at how supportive they were; then told the high school students at our Wednesday Youth Worship. Then during our Sunday morning service, our pastor announced to our congregation that I'd be one of Shades Mountain's strategic missionaries.
So... the news is finally out and it's so bizarre. It's a great relief and so hard at the same time.
This weekend as I was mulling over the events of the week, I picked up Experiencing God Day-by-Day by Blackaby, turned to the day's date and found this encouragement:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." - Matt 28:19
"Our Master commands us to 'go.' We need permission to stay! The gospel is the account of Jesus' leaving His Father's right hand to go to Calvary. Jesus instructed those who wanted to be his disciples to leave their homes and their comforts and follow Him. Some insisted that they could not go yet because they still had to care for elderly parents (Luke 9:57-60). Others wanted to make sure everything was in order first (Luke 9:61-62). Still others expressed unwillingness to follow but wanted to know the details of what they would be doing (Luke 9:57-58). Jesus never excused those who struggle to follow Him. He made it clear that to follow Him meant He set the direction and they were to follow. We can convince ourselves that Jesus does not really want us to adjust our lives, pointing to the success we are enjoying right where we are... Success where we are can be our greatest hindrance to going where Jesus wants us to be. If you become too comfortable where you are, you may resist Christ's invitation to go elsewhere." Experiencing God Day-by-Day, pg 255
God is continually guiding me and making His timing, comfort and path so clear! He is so good. He is so faithful. He is God!
So... the news is finally out and it's so bizarre. It's a great relief and so hard at the same time.
This weekend as I was mulling over the events of the week, I picked up Experiencing God Day-by-Day by Blackaby, turned to the day's date and found this encouragement:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." - Matt 28:19
"Our Master commands us to 'go.' We need permission to stay! The gospel is the account of Jesus' leaving His Father's right hand to go to Calvary. Jesus instructed those who wanted to be his disciples to leave their homes and their comforts and follow Him. Some insisted that they could not go yet because they still had to care for elderly parents (Luke 9:57-60). Others wanted to make sure everything was in order first (Luke 9:61-62). Still others expressed unwillingness to follow but wanted to know the details of what they would be doing (Luke 9:57-58). Jesus never excused those who struggle to follow Him. He made it clear that to follow Him meant He set the direction and they were to follow. We can convince ourselves that Jesus does not really want us to adjust our lives, pointing to the success we are enjoying right where we are... Success where we are can be our greatest hindrance to going where Jesus wants us to be. If you become too comfortable where you are, you may resist Christ's invitation to go elsewhere." Experiencing God Day-by-Day, pg 255
God is continually guiding me and making His timing, comfort and path so clear! He is so good. He is so faithful. He is God!
03 September 2009
Poor, Poor Africa
As my heart is continually pulled more and more toward the crisis of Aids, hunger and poverty in Africa, I found this article profound... especially one of the last thoughts:
"As Westerners we obviously have our own responsibilities in this world, such as living simply and equitably with the rest of the world, as well as pursuing justice and human rights in every facet of our lives. Whether it’s buying a cup of coffee, voting for the next president or actually leaving our country to lend a hand to someone that needs it, we have moral obligations that the kingdom of God requires of us." - Joel Hoffman
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