Two weeks ago on my backyard deck, I had a strong sense of the Holy Spirit’s presence. I often sense the Spirit the most, especially in late summer and early fall, when I sit on the deck after work for a few quiet moments, minus technology, to enjoy God’s creation.
Out of nowhere, a picture came into my head that the media had been circulating about the global refugee crisis. I also felt a deep sense of urgency. Jesus assured his followers that when he left he would not leave us as orphans but send the Holy Spirit to guide us in truth and lead us into things to come. I knew this was more than an idle thought and sensed a nudging from God.
Photo Courtesy of Mike Slaughter
Different Christmas
The Rev. Mike Slaughter (center) poses with General Secretary of United Methodist Global Ministries Thomas Kemper and Rev. Denise Honeycutt, head of the United Methodist Committee on Relief, while meeting at Global Ministries headquarters in New York City.
Even though it was 7:20 pm and I assumed I would reach his voice mail, my friend Thomas Kemper took my call to his cell phone. Thomas is the General Secretary of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, based in New York City. The United Methodist Committee on Relief within Global Ministries has been Ginghamsburg’s 10-year partner for our $7 million investment into providing people in Darfur, Sudan and South Sudan with sustainable agriculture, safe water, schools and treated malaria nets.
I quickly sketched out to Thomas an idea of how Ginghamsburg’s “Christmas is not your birthday” approach for funding The Sudan Project could empower hundreds of churches globally to resource efforts to serve refugees and the communities that host them. Twelve days later, I found myself on an airplane heading to New York to meet with Thomas, his team and leaders from the United Methodist Publishing House on a preliminary plan and resources that could start bringing that God-prompting into reality.
Even after 40-plus years of ministry, God is still working on me. But, one lesson I have learned very well along the way is when the Spirit calls, don’t wait until tomorrow. Otherwise our hearts grow cold and the forgetting starts. I have also learned that no matter how crazy that prompting may sound, if the call is from the Spirit, God will provide all of the accesses and resources needed to bring it to reality.
We will share more about what this can mean for our United Methodist churches and other churches around the world very soon. In the meantime, materials from A Different Kind of Christmas can help those whose hearts are “strangely warmed” begin to prepare. Global Ministries is preparing an Advance number soon for all contributions. Can you imagine what could happen if the people in your church brought in an amount equal to what they spend on Christmas toward God’s purposes in this global crisis?
I am looking forward to how God’s Spirit will work in us and through us powerfully this Advent season.
The Rev. Mike Slaughter serves as senior pastor of Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church in Tipp City, Ohio. He blogs at Mike Slaughter.com.