It's a Wonderful Church

Do you have a favorite Christmas movie? As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, I appreciate a good Christmas movie to bring the family together when it’s too dark and too cold to do anything outside.

Here’s a quote from one of our favorites, “Every time a bell rings, an angels gets its wings.”

As you probably know, Clarence got his wings and George Bailey was able to see what it would be like if he had never been born. It was an eye-opening experience that made him fully appreciate all the small and big ways his life had made a difference in his community. In the end he discovered just how “wonderful” his life was!

Have you ever stopped to think about how “wonderful” the Church is? If you haven’t, give me a chance to earn my wings: What if the Church ceased to exist? The local church (little 'c') is the most visible expression of the universal Church (capital 'C') so as I ask myself that question, I can only do so with Bentonville Church of the Nazarene in mind. 

·         Where would I go to encounter God in worship, to feast on his Word, and to develop relationships that feel like family?

·         Who would partner with my wife and me to disciple our boys and teach them about Jesus? 

·         Who would I rely upon to give Luke a pre-school education like the one he is currently receiving through In His Image?

·         How would families facing hunger insecurity in Bentonville get food on Mondays?

·         Who would supply OHMS students in need with weekend snack packs and new shoes?

Can you imagine going through life without a dedicated team of pastors who are called to teach the Word, lead in worship, cast vision for the future, administer the sacraments, marry the young (and old), comfort the hurting, mourn with the grieving, and equip the believers for the mission of God?

Take a moment and think about it.

Just so you know, the Church isn't going anywhere. I've read all the statistics saying the North American Church is in decline, but I refuse to believe the sky is falling. God is on the move, and he is transforming lives through his hands and feet known as the Church. 

However, taking a moment to imagine life without the Church is a beneficial exercise for us all. No one thinks about these things when everything is going well, but perhaps we should. It's a good way to not take for granted what God is doing by his grace and through his Spirit at work among us. 

It's not perfect, but it's a “wonderful” Church!

Our Only Hope

I'm always amazed at the power of hope. Hope enables people to do the impossible. No one has ever done anything great for God without putting their trust and hope in Him.

Sometimes I wish God would give us information instead of hope. I wish he would tell us exactly what to expect, when certain challenges would arise, and how he is going to deal with them, but he doesn't. He has always called people to places that make them hope. I was reminded of that as I reflected on this scripture:

"As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more."(Psalm 71:14)

What is God wanting you to do? Where is he leading you to go? How is God wanting you to change? Whatever, wherever, and however would be much easier with information, with something tangible, with something we could understand, control or manipulate.

This was the challenge for the people of God living in Canaan. The gods of the Canaanites did not operate on hope and faith. The idols of the land were built around that which could be physically touched and was within the realm of human comprehension. That was the appeal of these religions. The people of God were constantly being allured from a life of faith to a life of control. They exchanged the mystery of God for the user-friendliness of the Canaanite idols.

This temptation is alive and well today. What plagued the ancient Israelites confronts us today, but in a different form. There are all types of recycled idols from the days of old that have become the recycled lords of today.

I'm finishing a sermon series entitled "Jesus is Lord." I want us to think seriously about the hope that we have in that confession of faith. Do we hope in that which we can see and control? OR Do we place our hope in the one who has conquered death? When we proclaim that "Jesus is Lord" we are placing our hope in Him...wherever, whenever, whatever, and however. Jesus is our Lord...Jesus is our only hope.

A Back to School Prayer

It happens every year about this time. There is the smell of newly sharpened pencils in the air. Old and outgrown clothes are being replaced with this year’s latest styles. Students are reveling in that “new backpack” scent similar to the way their parents savored the first few weeks of driving in the new mini-van. Every tree quivers in its roots fearing that its lasting contribution to the ecosystem will be either “wide ruled” or “college ruled.”

It’s back to school time. For the first 20-something years of our lives, we are marked by this rhythm: August to December followed by a break, January to March with a little break, and April – May followed by a long break for the summer. We enjoy the summer sabbatical only to gear up to do it all over again.

At some point, however, we receive a piece of paper that says we are adults, that someone should give us a job, and that we should move out of our parents’ house. To help ease the violence of that transition we are given 2 week of vacation. Thanks corporate America. No more fall breaks, Christmas breaks, spring breaks, or summer sabbaticals. Welcome to the real world.

As a graduate student I had one foot in the rhythm of work and one foot in the rhythm of learning. I’m now almost a decade removed from any connection to this way of life, and I’m finding that exchanging these rhythms impedes our ability to be “life-long learners.” This is detrimental to our walk with God because at no point in my faith journey will I will receive a piece of paper from God that says: “Be it known to all present that John Mark Snodgrass has completed the courses and requirements necessary to be fully restored in the image of God and is Christ-like in every way.” 

I’m afraid that many of us function as if the moment of forgiveness is the terminal experience of the Christian life. A prayer of confession, the act of repentance, and the sacrament of baptism are not the complete fulfillment of God’s purposes for our lives. These moments are not the end, but only the beginning of what God wants to do.

Let's try something different this school year. With the smell of freshly sharpened lead in the air and with the sound of diesel powered buses rolling through our neighborhoods at ungodly hours of the morning let’s approach each new day as an opportunity to draw closer to God. In Scripture, this is called sanctification. It’s God’s way of finishing that which he started the moment you gave your life to Him, and there is a certain rhythm to His work. I pray that we would not be so caught up in the rhythms of this world that we miss the best God has for us.

If you have kids in school this new school year will provide reference points to remind you of God's work of sanctification. For me it will be the early morning walks to the bus stop. I hope to fill those walks with this thought to keep me in rhythm with God's purposes for my life:

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)

A Global Family, Church, and Mission

I really enjoy working in downtown Bentonville. It affords me the occasional stroll to the Square, which cannot happen without a visit to the Spark Café for ice cream. I made the mistake of ordering something other than mint-chocolate chip one time. It’s not that butter pecan was that bad, but it was clearly NOT mint chocolate chip. Case closed.

I decided to take one of these walks last Wednesday. When I got to the Square it was adorned with all the flags of the different nations that will be represented at this week’s shareholder's meetings. Guests from all over the world have converged on our little town. I had the chance to interact with one of our international guests, and my prayer is that he was able to experience a little Southern hospitality. I actually was able to keep him from making the mistake of his life by recommending the mint-chocolate chip. Tragedy avoided.

The wheels of commerce that drive our town extend around the world. Many of my parishioners work in the retail industry are intimately connected to the global economy. My shareholder report reflects a profit in 27 different countries. That’s really impressive.

As I enjoyed my ice cream on the Square in the presence of these 27 flags, the Lord began to speak to me about my connection not to a global economy, but to a global family. As a connectional church, we are united with brothers and sisters in the Church of the Nazarene in over 160 world areas. In just a little over 100 years, we have taken the Gospel to the “uttermost parts of the earth.” This mission is to “make Christ-like disciples in the nations”, including nations that will never have a flag represented on the Bentonville Square, but are eternally important to God. We engage in this mission without regard for a nation’s GDP or the average annual income of its citizens. Our reasoning for entering a country is simple: Do people there need to know Jesus? The answer is always the same, and so we go.

Ironically, our students leave today to go to the Dominican Republic, a country not represented on the Bentonville Square. The people they will be serving this week would have difficulty finding something they could afford in a Supercenter. We send our students to the Dominican Republic, however, because we are driven by God’s mission. This mission is much different than the one that drives the economy. The one who calls us to go says this:

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” (Isaiah 55:1)

Living this verse out makes for a lousy shareholder’s report, but it produces a great Church.

Dedications, Graduations, and Grace

Last week I was able to dedicate two beautiful babies. This is one of the most significant things we do as a church. When parents present their children for dedication they are signifying their commitment to the Lord and making a promise to raise their children in the church. We pray a blessing over these children confident of God’s prevenient grace that is at work in their life. Prevenient grace is grace that goes before our conversion. Prevenient grace becomes saving grace when a child is old enough to make a commitment to follow Christ. We dedicate our children in full confidence of this moment.

This week we will celebrate the high school graduation of our seniors. Last week’s dedication ceremony and this week’s graduation celebration is another example of how every season of life finds expression in the Church. In one week’s time, our church will experience 18 years of God’s grace at work among us. I’m thankful that many of our graduates have testified that God’s prevenient grace has become saving grace. Some of them experienced this saving grace at a camp, or on Wednesday night, or on a mission trip, or possibly at a Nazarene Youth Conference. However they experienced it, we thank God for his saving grace, but now we pray for keeping grace as these students move on to another season of life. God’s grace pursues us, saves us, and keeps us.  

As we think about these students and the life God has planned for them, I’m reminded that God is able to do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20). God has a great future planned for each one of them – one that is better than anything they could imagine.

Over the last few weeks I've been preaching on how the resurrection changes everything. That includes our future. Because of God’s grace and the power of the resurrection at work within us, our future is bright.

In order to fully embrace God’s future for our lives we must be free of the pain of our past. The mistakes we’ve made in the past have a tendency to haunt us. It’s easy to dwell on what we could have done differently and should have done better. Jesus’ disciples knew what it was like to be plagued by their past, especially Peter. In Jesus’ last appearance with his disciples he restores Peter, ensuring that he does not allow debilitating guilt to ruin the glorious future made possible through the resurrection.

Maybe you don’t feel like you have much of a future. You can’t imagine being as hopeful about your tomorrow as some of these high school graduates are. The empty tomb proclaims there is always a new day in Christ. God has something special planned for your future.

Today is the National Day of Prayer

Yesterday was the National Day of Prayer. This day was established by President Truman in 1952 as a call for people of faith to pray for God’s protection, provision, and blessing upon our nation. I was able to participate in multiple events that commemorated this call to prayer.

One of the events was on the Bentonville Square. The Daily Walk, a ministry to business professionals, sponsored “Prayer on the Square.” Several hundred people gathered on the steps of the courthouse, sang a few worship songs, and prayed for our nation. It was attended by several of our elected officials, including the Mayor of Bentonville, and I was greatly encouraged to hear these leaders praying over our city and for our families.

In this age of political correctness and hyper-sensitivity to all things religious, it felt strange to be lifting my hands in praise in the shadow of a county seat of power. As the American and Arkansas flags flew above me, I kept looking over my shoulder wondering if some lawyer from the ACLU was going to come in with a bull-horn and shut the whole thing down. Gatherings like this in the USA are becoming the exception and not the rule. Moreover, I was reminded of all the places on this planet where a gathering of believers like this would not be possible.

While the loss of overt Christian influence in our government is lamentable, the Lord reminded me of this: no government, no power, no amount of legislation, no amount of resistance can stop God’s kingdom purposes from being realized through the work of His people who are empowered by His Holy Spirit. In fact, the Church has historically thrived in contexts that are hostile to its message. While I do not welcome the secular values and growing opposition toward the Church that is present in our government and society, I know that God’s presence is a promised reality in scripture and his ability to work through His people in the midst of such challenges has been proven again and again.

With this in mind, I hope we, as the Church, realize that prayer must be a constant practice, and not just a novelty that we display on the first Thursday in May. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “Pray without ceasing.” As you consider the direction of our government, our ambivalence in regards to basic morality, and the current pulse of our culture, has there ever been a greater need for God’s people to pray?

Let’s stand with the Apostle Paul. It's a stand that will not require new legislation. A boycott will not be necessary, nor a march on Capitol Hill. As God’s unique covenant people in the world let’s declare today as the National Day of Prayer.

The Playlist of Jesus

Do you have a favorite playlist? It’s that list that you go to in the airport, driving in the car, exercising, or just cleaning the house. I still think it’s cool that we can organize music, create unique playlists, and essentially carry 1,000 CDs around with us in our hip pocket. No one under 25 thinks it’s that cool, but I still do. Those of us who spent hours in our bedroom making a “mix tap” or trying to master the art of “high speed dubbing” will always appreciate the ease of the digital music revolution. Sam Goody’s, Camelot, and F.Y.E.…not so much.

You may not know this, but Jesus had a playlist. It was his go-to list of songs. I have been preaching through the statements that Jesus made from the cross in the“Red Letter Day” series. If we listen closely, we hear lyrics from his playlist: fragments of Psalm 22, 31, 42, and 69 are on his lips as he dies.

That’s the power of songs. Songs have a way of giving expression to the deep need of our souls. A good song can bring comfort, offer encouragement, and inspire us. Songs connect people and bring ideas together in a way that prose cannot.

Jesus quotes a lyric from Psalm 31 on the cross, “Into your hands I commit my spirit.” It’s a song of simple trust, and at the same time is very profound prayer. Jesus had always committed his way to the Father. Now, in his moment of death, he once again offers himself to the Father’s care.

While we may not die on a cross, we will die. It’s a part of life. I’ve been beside people who have passed from this life to the next. Many times I've sung with the family as they usher a loved one into eternity. Even when mind and body fail, the songs of trust that we learn in worship stay with us. I’ll never forget the time a women who didn’t even know her name because of Alzheimer’s sang “Jesus Loves Me” just before she died. That’s the value of a good playlist.

Do you have the right playlist? Are you singing the right songs? Are you connecting with God in worship and Bible study? These are the things that teach us to trust so that when our time comes, we can pray with Jesus, “Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit.” We will not have the confidence to commit our spirit to God in our moment of death, if we have not also committed our time, our ambitions, our money, our family, and our careers to the Father in life.

"Father, help us to surrender to you with every detail of our lives. Teach us your songs so that trust and faith might awaken in us."

Red Letters from the Cross

I got my first cell phone when I was a sophomore in college. I was one of the only kids on campus to have one. I remember trying to explain to my Grandpa why it didn’t have a dial tone. It was one of the first Nokia phones that was actually small enough to fit in your pocket, however, I bought a clip that enabled me to wear it on my belt. I was cool.

Here’s what I remember about that first cellular plan I had with GTE Wireless: for $49 a month I was able to talk to anyone in the 615 area code for 30 minutes. Long distance calls were .30 a minute, as was every minute over my allotted 30. Text messaging? What was that? Attached to my belt, was a device that enabled me to communicate with anyone in the country, but it was going to cost. I remember not using that phone a whole lot, but when I did my conversations were short, direct, and to the point. I did not have the money to waste words. I had to communicate that which was most essential in the shortest amount of time possible. 

I'm currently preaching a series on the last statements of Jesus from the cross entitled, "Red Letter Day." As we explore the “red letters” of Jesus from the cross, we see that Jesus is making his words count. The effort required of him to speak from the cross meant that what he had to say was extremely important. Although not as eloquent as the "Sermon on the Mount", these words from the cross teach us about the significance of this moment and allow us to peer into the very heart of God.

If you knew you only had a few hours to live, what would you say to your friends and family members? What message would you want them to hear? What memories would you want them to cherish? We could think of all kinds of flowery and elegant words to share with our loved ones, but our dying words will only be as significant as the life we have lived. No amount of eloquence on our death bed can redeem a life wasted on our own selfish pursuits. That’s what makes the “red letters” from the cross so special. They are validated by the kind of life Jesus lived. My prayer for the “Red Letter Day” series is that God will use it to help us live in such a way that validates what we say.

The Hope We Have

The God Space sermon series has really challenged all of us to be intentional in our conversations, interactions, and relationships with others. Our motivation for sharing our salvation story is a response to God’s love that has been shown to us.

As we become constantly aware of “God Space”, we will have the chance to turn a normal conversation into a spiritual conversation. However, most people don’t want a spiritual smorgasbord of information about our story. Rather, I think we should be prepared to share “spiritual appetizers” with those who are curious about matters of faith. In this way we will be prepared to live out 1 Peter 3:15, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

Doug Pollock in his book, God Space (2009, Group Publishing), offers 15 questions to help us work through our salvation story. I’ve included the questions here along with a few responses from some people in our church. As others respond to me, I’ll post them here. My goal is that a beautiful tapestry of faith will emerge as we share different elements of our salvation story.

As a spiritual exercise, I would encourage everyone to download this word document with the 15 questions in it. Over the next 15 days, take a few moments and type out a 7-10 sentence response to each of these questions. This essentially will serve as your spiritual autobiography, and will prepare you to share the hope that you have.

Blessings,
Pastor Mark

How would your family and friends have described your life before God showed up in it?

What phrase sums up your attitude toward the life before you came to know God?

It was all about me! Before I came to know God I was extremely self centered. In every situation, circumstance, and relationship what was most important was what I personally could gain. My thoughts, words, and actions were predicated off my wants and needs being fulfilled at the expense of others. I was so self-absorbed I did not see the needs of others much less try to meet others needs. Bottom line: I was a taker. I believe most of this attitude stemmed from my own depravity, but also know it was a defense mechanism coming from a broken home. I learned to fend for myself and become self reliant in an unhealthy fashion. I trusted no one and invested very little of myself in anyone. I lived a very shallow, self centered, godless existence.

Michael Cochran

How did you attempt to meet the needs in your life apart from God?

What things motivated you most before you became a Christian?

I think the things that motivated me prior to my conversion plagues many other young adults as well. The desire to be successful, to be recognized in what I did, to advance in my job, to earn as much money as I could, etc. I still have some of those same desires, but I think the thing that changed the most was that it was not all about me anymore. It was about the One who works through me. In everything I do, I want to draw others to Christ. I want lives to be transformed by the one who transformed my life. Today I would say the things that motivate me are different from my pre-Christian days. Quite simply, they are the love and grace of God!

Diane Solberg
Where did you find your sources of identity before you encountered Jesus?

What or who did God use to awaken you to your need for him?

My wife was 5 months pregnant with our first child. We had been married for over five years and were childless. We were very happy at the prospect of our first born. My wife was on her way to work and her car was struck from behind by a careless driver pushing her into an oncoming lane of traffic where she was struck again and the car pushed over an embankment. She was severely injured I was told by the Doctor that my wife will be fine; but the baby will miscarry. Devastated, I went to God for the first time in years. I wasn't close to God at the time. I prayed that God would spare my wife and child and promised to turn my life over to him. My wife recovered and a fine healthy boy was born to us in about 4 months. I have tried to be faithful to that commitment since then.

Daniel Church

What struggles, doubts, and fears did you have about making a commitment to Jesus?

When and how did you make a commitment to Jesus? (Be specific)

How did you know for sure that a spiritual rebirth had taken place in your life?

What kinds of "aha's" do you remember experience when you were awakened to the reality of God?

There was a period in my life where I began wondering off the path. I wanted to do things my way and experience my own freedom. My relationship with my parents was being strained and everything around me seemed to be crumbling down. I had a boyfriend at that time that wasn't following God, and I thought he was my world. I began to notice that I was pushing my family and close friends away and even God. I began doubting life and who I was. I felt more lost than ever, and I hated who I had become. I was selfish, thinking I could handle life on my own. I had to lie to myself just to make it seem ok. Being influenced by the world, I began to tear myself down and harm myself because I wasn't perfect enough! My heart ached for something more, and I felt I was spiraling down into a dark hole that I couldn't get out of I was losing hope!

One night I had an argument with my family, and I had had enough. I went upstairs to my room, locked the door, went into my closet, and closed the door. I fell to my knees and began sobbing. I was done with life and everyone! I began begging God to help me and to not forsake me. At that moment I felt a warmth that I hadn't felt in a long time. God had always been there and I needed His light to get me back on his path. I literally felt His presence with me and I realized that I must draw close to Him and allow Him to heal my hurts and to forgive me. I felt relieved and so loved. From that moment I knew I was going to be a different person and truly try to live a life for Him and not me. A lot had changed after that prayer in my closet, and God opened up my heart and eyes. Don't get me wrong I still had a lot of challenges and hard times, but I knew God was always there to guide me. That little moment changed my life, and it affects me till this day. I'm so thankful God reached out his hand that night and pulled me out of the darkness.

Jessie Carter

What changes did God begin to bring about in your attitudes, actions, and appetites? Were they immediate, or did they take time? Explain.

As you look back over your journey to faith, what misconceptions did you have about God or Christians?

One of the biggest misconceptions I have had about Christianity is that the only righteousness that God accepts comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Period that is it. This is sooo hard to accept for some reason. Jesus' righteousness is credited to me because of what he did on the cross for me. None of my "righteous acts" puts me in a better position or makes me more acceptable. In fact, they are like filthy rags before our Heavenly Father (Isaiah 64:6). We like to make salvation something we work for and therefore something we earn and deserve because of all our hard work and time we put in. It is so simple yet so amazing! "What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus."

Michele Parks

What Scripture verses or quotes has God used to leave a lasting impression on you?

Luke12:48 speaks to me often, especially in moments when I'm too self focused.

"...From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."  I don't understand why I'm able to put my kids to bed each night with full bellies and other moms, both near and far, must put their children to bed hungry.  I can't imagine what that feels like.  I quote this verse often to myself in hopes of finding my "much more".

Aimee Vernon 

What life lessons do you feel God has taught you along the way?

I have learned many life lessons as I have been on this journey as a Christ follower. The one that I continue to learn sometimes daily is that God is in control and will be there for every situation that life throws at me. 1 Peter 5:6-7 says " Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast ALL your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
I take such comfort in knowing that God is not blinded to the troubles that we may have but that he does care and will meet our needs in due time!

Larissa Goff

Is there one particular experience in your walk with God that left an immediate and lasting impression?

The experience in my walk that made an immediate and lasting impact was a mission trip I took about 14 years ago with my youth group. I experienced God in an entirely new way. He met me on that trip and opened my eyes and my heart. I remember praying and seeking Him for hours, just extremely hungry for His Spirit. One day as we were praying I remember the Lord saying, "Aaron, I have some of you, but I want your entire life! I want every bit of you to be committed to me." In that moment I remember surrendering to the Lord, and since that day I can honestly say that my life is different. I still stumble, but my confidence is no longer in myself instead it rests in God. He changed me that day, and I am forever grateful.

Aaron Webster

I grew up in the Bentonville Church of the Nazarene, but when I reached Jr. High age, we had a new pastor come to BCN with ideas that my dad could not agree with. So being the typical Skaggs male, he said little, but did not support those ideas. Before long, that pastor caused lots of damage toward our family by spreading false info to others. As a result, we left BCN to begin looking for another church to attend. Needless to say, experiencing that as a teenager, I had some very bitter feelings for that pastor, BCN, and the church in general. It wasn’t until college that I heard the Lord speaking through an evangelist, telling me that I had to let go of all the bitter feelings I had built up from those experiences. I remember a very warm feeling of relief wash over me when I went forward to ask forgiveness and leave that bitterness on the altar that night. I graduated from college not long after that, and had an opportunity to take my grandparents to BCN one Sunday that next winter during some bad weather. I took a deep breath as I walked back into BCN after being gone all those years and was able to not only endure, but enjoy worshiping there again. And as a minor side benefit, I saw my future wife Sharon that Sunday morning leading the music. Ain’t God good???

Steve Skaggs

God Space in the Birmingham Jail

Over the last few weeks I've been preaching through the book of Acts. My goal has been to highlight how the early church created “God Space” by boldly taking the good news of Jesus into "Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth." Believers filled with the Holy Spirit entered into homes, marketplaces, and the city squares and by their obedience created space for God to work in the lives of people. As you read through the sermons of Peter or the adventures of Paul, it’s clear that God’s plan is to use the Church as His agents of forgiveness, peace, and hope. I firmly believe that “the local church is the hope of the world.” (Bill Hybels)

This is an amazing task that the Church has not always accomplished very well. There have been moments in our history where the accomplishment of this mission was in serious jeopardy. That certainly was the case when Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote these words:

In deep disappointment I have wept over the laxity of the church. But be assured that my tears have been tears of love. There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love. Yes, I love the church. How could I do otherwise? …If today's church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. (Letter From a Birmingham Jail)

I’m glad Dr. King didn’t give up on the Church, even when self-proclaimed Christians opposed the fight for equality. We don’t always get it right, but God doesn’t give up on the Church. The Gospel of Jesus Christ brings hope for the hopeless and liberation for the oppressed. This news is too good to be suppressed by fear, squelched by intimidation, or neglected by complacency. As evidenced by the heroes of the American Civil Rights movement, the Gospel message entrusted to the Church has the power to transform individuals, break the power of oppression, and revolutionize societies. As we enter “God Space” on a daily basis, I pray that we would fulfill our mission with just a measure of the same boldness, tenacity, and steadfastness that was embodied in this movement.