Building a Church in 40 days.

Since first coming to Ashland in 1887, the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has built three church buildings and now they are almost finished with their fourth.  The first church that was built was on 17th Street and is still used to this day as a house of worship.  The second building was on the corner of 20^th Street and Winchester.  The third, which is used today, is the familiar edifice sitting on most of the 1900 block of Winchester Avenue.  It is expected that the fourth church will be ready for dedication on May 22, 2011.  A modest brick building with no pews and costing about $20,000, the most unusual aspect of this new church is the neighborhood.  Located in Hussain Khan Wala in Pakistan, the new Christian Church becomes the eighth church founded by Pakistani Christian pastor, Dr. Saleem Massey. 

Since returning to Pakistan in 1989 after completing his studies at Cincinnati Bible Seminary, Dr. Massey founded the Pakistan Christian Evangelical Services with the goal of planting churches throughout the country.  To date, the eight churches now have a membership of over 3,000 Christians.  Many of these congregations provide Christian schools for children.  Additionally, medical camps are conducted with the aid of visiting medical teams from the United States where anyone in need, Muslim or Christian, is able to receive free medical care.  This spirit of service has allowed Dr. Massey to minister effectively to the Pakistani people.  The World Convention of the Christian Churches, the world organization with representatives from the churches of Christ (accapella), the Christian Church and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), has recognized Dr. Massey as a partner for evangelism in Pakistan.  His funding efforts are endorsed by the World Convention, the International Disaster Emergency Services organization and the Christian Restoration Association. “That means he is a man of integrity.  He uses the funds wisely and his covenant accountability with Christian Churches in the United States is above reproach,” said the Rev. Ike Nicholson, Senior Minister of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). 

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) became involved with the ministry of Dr. Massey after one of the own members, Dr. Greg Widener, professor of preaching at Kentucky Christian University, returned from a preaching tour of the Christian Churches in Pakistan.  “I remember when Greg started growing a rather rough beard over a year ago,” Nicholson said, “I asked him about it and he told me he was headed to Pakistan to preach the Gospel.  I believed that he had either lost his ever loving mind or he truly was called by God to embark on this endeavor.”  This was during the time that attacks on American convoys had increased in Pakistan. “When he returned from his trip, I could tell he had been profoundly moved by the experience,” Nicholson said.  According to Widener, over 150 new Christians were baptized.  The church at Hussain Khan Wala was meeting outside of the village under a tree when Dr. Massey decided that a church building needed to be constructed.  Widener approached the Outreach Department of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and plans were laid to begin a campaign during Lent.  “The 40 day period of prayer and repentance seemed like a perfect time to raise the $20,000 to build the church building,” Nicholson said, “to date we are only $3,000 away from our goal.”

 The land of Pakistan has been ruled by many different nations, including the Persians, the Greeks and the Moguls of Asia.  It was during this time that Buddhism became the prominent religion.  Ironically, there is also evidence that Christianity had come to the area during the second and third centuries.  Tradition taught that Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples, took the Gospel to the subcontinent of what is today India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.  In the 8^th century, Muslim traders came to the region and many were converted while the area east of Pakistan became solidly Hindu.  When the British arrived in the 1600’s, the area was unified and generally referred to as India. Anglican Christianity became prominent and the effort of Protestant missionaries soon took hold in India.  The region that is now Pakistan remained decidedly Muslim.  In 1940, the region won its independence from the British and divided into three sovereign nations based on religion.  India remained Hindu, while Pakistan and Bangladesh were Muslim. 

“As is the case in many predominantly Islamic countries, other religions, including Christianity, are often the target of discrimination and attack,” said Nicholson, “Most recently, a Christian woman was arrested for allegedly blaspheming the name of Mohammed, and Shehbaz Bhatti, a Christian government official, was gunned down by Al-Queda militants for supporting her cause. Our congregation’s Lenten theme this year was “Lift High the Cross.” I remembered Dr. Widener telling me that each church would mount a cross at the top of the Church building, a rare sight in Pakistan.  It hit me: these people are lifting high the cross in a place that could cost them their very lives.  The least we can do, with our safe homes, padded pews and SUVs was to raise the money for them to build their church.”

If you would like to learn more about the ministry or how you can help, go to the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) website at www.fcc-ashland.org.

Resurrection Sunday

Do you remember where you were on 9/11?  That is all I really have to say, isn’t it?  You know what that means.  It is a central part of our modern identity as Americans, just like the memories our parents and grandparents have when they remember the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. 

I was flying back from Jordan on my first trip as a member of the newly formed Friends of Jordan, an organization of Christian clergy in North America created to encourage support of Middle Eastern Christians and conversation with Middle Eastern Muslims.  We were coming back to the United States encouraged by a new sense of brotherhood/sisterhood with Orthodox and Roman Christians and a commitment to learn more about the Islamic culture.  In the coming sunrise of that new relationship, the ruins of the Twin Towers tried to block out the light. As you can imagine, my emotions were a wreck.

I was particularly interested in the heroism of the passengers on Flight 93 and the leadership of Todd Beamer.  As a husband and father, he greeted his two sons each morning with the phrase, “Let’s roll guys!”  Todd tried to reach his wife while in flight over Pennsylvania, but could not get his credit card to work.  He asked the operator to pray with him the Lord’s Prayer and spoke of his faith in Jesus Christ.  Then he dropped the telephone and the operator heard him issue the order as St. Michael, the captain of the Lord’s angels, “Are you ready guys? Let’s roll!”  The plane went down outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and most likely spared another target in Washington D.C.  I believe it was Todd’s conviction in the power of the Resurrection that gave him the strength.  Death has no power, fear is helpless.  It was a story that encouraged a nation. 

There were other stories, too.  These stories were not as popular or as covered but they too witnessed to the weakness of the hosts of darkness.  They were stories of anonymous donors providing food and water to rescue personnel in New York City and Washington D.C.  Trinity Church on Wall Street was right around the corner from the Trade Center when the earth shuttered as the towers fell.  The Church miraculously avoided destruction and their pews served as beds for weary rescue workers.  The pews were scratched and gouged by their boots and equipment.  You can still see these marks today; the church decided not to refinish the pews so that they would serve as an ongoing reminder of the sacrifices of so many.  There were stories of Christians who escorted Muslims to the supermarket so they would not be harassed or attacked.  It was the power of the Resurrection that enlightened our fellow believers to know when to resist evil through force as well as the courage to stand beside those whom the world identified as Christ’s enemies in the parking lots of grocery stores.  These were peculiar acts to a world that has not believed in the power of the Resurrection.  It was not other members of the human race that were enemies of the cross.  It was the shadowy demons of hate, greed and revenge that were being opposed by the hosts of God’s people.  In that moment, the Church of Jesus Christ was unconquerable.  Why?  The Resurrection!  In Christ’s Resurrection, there is victory.  Sin and death have been defeated.  The world may not understand.  The secular forces of our society make shake their heads in confusion and disbelief, but you understand, don’t you?  You too have known the power of the Resurrection.  Celebrate with the hosts of God’s people again this week.  We will remember the one dramatic moment in human history that unleashed God’s final victory.  Death cannot hold the God of life and creation.  Neither can it hold the children of God. 

Palm Sunday

I am a Patriot.  The Flag of the United States is flown on the appointed days at our house.  My respect for the men and women who serve in the United States military is certain.  I believe our nation is a blessed nation.  I also believe that the pride that straightens my back at the sound of our National Anthem is not particular to me or citizens of the United States of America.  The primary reason I am a patriot is because I firmly believe in the ideals of a Democratic Republic.  It is, in my estimation, the best form of government thus far.  I am, I would propose, a citizen of two kingdoms, the United States and the Kingdom of God.  Thankfully, as an adherent to the principles of a Democratic Republic, I can maintain my loyalty to my understanding of God’s law while working for change in the halls of human government. The only form of government I would submit to beyond the country of my birth is the benevolent monarchy of Christ when he comes to establish a Kingdom of true peace and justice.  I am, however, very uncomfortable, when we wrap the Bible with an American flag. I get nervous when people equate God’s will with the proposed will of the United States.  The symbols of my patriotism are subservient to the symbols of Christ.  My Scriptural proofs will be the focus of this Sunday’s celebration.  For a moment in time, we will reenact a patriotic celebration specific to the City of David, Jerusalem.  We will wave the symbols of Davidic pride and sovereignty as we welcome Christ into the ancient city of Jerusalem. 

Palm Sunday is, at its core, a blatant example of a gross misunderstanding of Christ’s sovereignty apart from any human constructs.  The centuries that have gone by have allowed the symbols of patriotic pride of an ancient nation to be forgotten.  As in modern times, ancient cities and nations had symbols that were used to express devotion and commitment to that indescribable sentiment of patriotic pride.  The Palm branch was the political symbol of Jerusalem. It was and remains a prominent symbol on that city’s crest.  It was their American flag, their bald eagle, that told the world that although the Empire of Rome may rule by force, their loyalty was to the ancient city of Davidic authority.  It was a patriotic parade that was being thrown for this itinerant preacher riding on a donkey into the city.  Their memories of a similar parade were being recreated that day in Jerusalem.  The stories of King David and King Solomon were being reenacted, for they too rode through Jerusalem on a donkey as a sign of their monarchal authority.  The Palm branches are not just a sign of our welcoming Christ, but a symbol that reminds us that Christ did not come to establish a temporal realm.  The Palms function as a warning.  They are a sign of our human propensity to force the reign of God into but one facet of our lives. Christ is not only a giver of good gifts when we so desire.  Christ is not allied with but one nation. Christ does not baptize the will of one people or lift one nation over another. Christ promises a New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2).  And who is this New Jerusalem?  It is none other than the bride of Christ (Revelation 21:9).  And who is this bride? The Church of Jesus Christ (John 3:28-29, 2 Cor. 11:2, Eph. 5:25-27, 31-21).  It is this reason that the Palms are burned the following year for Ash Wednesday and become the mark of our sin of rebellion on our foreheads.  As we become spectators of this ancient patriotic rally this Sunday, consider in your own hearts and minds: to whom is your loyalty given?  Are you looking for your vision of Christ? Or, are you willing to become Christ’s vision of a loyal disciple?