Today was Band of Survivors Orientation at DHQ (For those not in the Metro Division, or in the Salvation Army at all, BOS is our month long summer mission and discipleship school). For the first time, we were all able to sit down in the same room, worship, pray and get ready for the things God has for us this summer. Just to remind you, here’s a roster for Band of Survivors 2008. Please, keep us in your prayers:
Directors:
Cathleen Himes
Nate Irvine
Interns:
Kirsten Aho
Amanda Keene
Mike Stiensland
Leadership:
Audrey Hickman
Andres Villatoro
Stephen Rivero
Survivors:
Liz Brundige
Addie Clayborne
Lemard Fields
Maggie Garcia
Raven Gougis
Ryan Gougis
Lindsey Hall
Moteka Harris
Lilly Robles
Lisa Rodriguez
Alejandra Salic
Ricardo Tellez
We started the orientation by stating that BOS really has a twofold mission: 1) To grow deeper in our relationship with the Lord (this takes place through Salvationism classes, 24/7 prayer, bible study [we’re doing the book of Galatians. We’ll post them on our sight each day], worship) and 2) To share our faith with others (evangelism, VBS, service, etc).
Yet, when you realize it, this is actually the call of every believer. In other words, after we get saved, after God rescues us (see Galatians 1), we are then implored, or called, to share that with others. Don’t believe me? Well read the following scripture:
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16).
Or again, read 2 Corinthians 5:16-21:
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
This is what this means: our salvation is not about us. It doesn’t end with us. When we get saved, and we live out our faith, others should start seeing that and praise God in turn (Mt. 5:16). Moreover, God has given us, or committed to us, the ministry of reconciliation. Let’s be faithful with this amazing tasking, and with this amazing news!