The Works of God

One of my great joys at Bethlehem is getting to do almost anything with Pastor David Michael, the pastoral overseer of the disability ministry in his role as the Pastor for Parenting and Family Discipleship.  He’s a wonderful, God-honoring, wise, thoughtful, persistent leader who loves our children with disabilities and has worked very hard on behalf of this ministry BECAUSE he loves the Bible and its clear articulation of the sovereignty of God in all things.  God is very kind to give us men like David Michael!

He has asked me to join him on Monday, November 8, as he brings his vision of family discipleship to the first-year seminary students at The Bethlehem Seminary.  He wants me to talk about the sovereignty of God and disability.

Would you pray for both of us as we prepare?

My goal is not to convince them that they should care about disability through statistics or specific examples.

But in loving God and soaking in God’s word they would love God’s sovereignty over all things and cling to all his promises for them SO THAT when disability enters their lives – in their churches, their mission agencies, their seminaries or their own families – they will boldly and confidently and lovingly, with great anticipation and ‘as sorrowful yet always rejoicing’ rush to welcome families like ours, to serve these precious families he has given as gifts to them with the strength God provides with the wisdom he provides with the resources he provides.

And not just to serve those with disabilities, but to be served by those the world and the culture considers expendable, weak, and worthless.  To actually long for and seek out fellowship with those who are daily being destroyed and discounted because of disability.  To understand and enjoy and soak in the reality of God’s purposes: On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable (1 Corinthians 12:22).

I have about 30 minutes with them, and want to use the time well.  Your prayers are greatly appreciated!