“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” Hebrews 11:1-2
The thought for this Monday is would you please consider for just a moment the faith walk of your ancestors. Yesterday, Pastor Tom Wirsing asked our congregation to imagine that Jesus was there and asked us “Who do you say that I am?” How would you reply? What does your spiritual tree look like? Since the late 1500’s there are so many different ‘brands’ of Lutherans throughout this sin filled, fallen world. Both sides of my family came to America from Germany and they were Lutherans. Back in the day, while serving as a Lutheran missionary in Haiti, I often wondered what my ancestors would think of me being there walking through the rural countryside visiting churches and schools.
I marvel at how the Holy Spirit worked through my lineage and also wondered about how the Spirit will move through the Lutherans living in Haiti today. I heard the hymn ‘faith of our fathers’ recently and it brought me to think about a question that I hear quite often from people asking what will happen to the children attending Christian schools in Haiti. Where do they go? Quite a few of them come from homes that still practice vodou and these Christian children in the attached photo will be the family members who will be recognized as ancestors that began the Christian legacy in their family tree; ‘Faith of our fathers’ will describe the work of the Holy Spirit within their lives. These boys in the attached photo that was taken perhaps 20 years ago at Bon Berger in Caredeux are now in their mid to late 30’s, if they survived the earthquake in 2010…and the gangs today.
“Faith of our fathers, living still, in spite of dungeon, fire, and sword; oh, how our hearts beat high with joy whene’er we hear that glorious Word! Faith of our fathers, holy faith! We will be true to thee till death. Faith of our fathers, we will strive to win all nations unto thee; and through the truth that comes from God, we all shall then be truly free. Faith of our fathers, we will love both friend and foe in all our strife; and preach thee, too, as love knows how by kindly words and virtuous life.” Frederick Faber 1849
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay