Evidence of God’s Grace

The following is an article by Rev. Mark Stephenson.  Mark visited New Life on September 15; he preached an amazing sermon in the prison gym entitled: "Our weakness, God's strength."  Below are Mark's reflections after spending a long weekend in Central Iowa.

Evidence of God’s Grace

By Mark Stephenson When I served in parish ministry, I returned regularly to a section of Eugene Peterson's book, The Contemplative Pastor. I needed to be refreshed by his wisdom when I lost perspective. In that section, Peterson described a common frustration among pastors—people who don’t do what they should do or say they will do. That frustration can lead the pastor to cajoling, brow beating, and guilt-tripping her flock in feeble attempts to get people to comply. Not helpful! Peterson argues that pastors should not be surprised that people fall short. That’s what people do; we’re sinners in need of a Savior. Instead, Peterson argues, pastors should be surprised when people DO keep commitments, show care to others, reach out with the gospel, and behave as true Christians. These are evidences of God’s grace and power. I thought of Peterson’s wisdom after a recent trip to Pella, Iowa. While there, I met a number of people who showed me that God’s grace and power continues to have their way.  When Rick Admiraal began church planting work at the Newton Correctional Facility this past February, Classis Central Plains was very supportive and many volunteers came forward to spend time, some of them weekly, at the prison.  Ivan and Ruth Mulder along with several others have recently started a support group in Pella for people with physical disabilities. They already have a consistent attendance of about 12 to 15 each month.  I had Sunday dinner with the Van Kooten family, and learned that Mrs. Van Kooten, Andi, has recently been elected to the board of Calvin College. Although Andi uses a wheelchair, her disability did not lead the people involved in board member selection to write her off.  Classis Central Plains devotes money, time, and effort to for an education time for classis delegates at every classis meeting. I was privileged to be the speaker at their most recent meeting.  Jodi Tucker, a supervisor at the Christian Opportunity Center (COC) in Pella, gave me a tour of the sheltered workshop and two of the group homes that are part of the COC. Donations came in to allow extensive renovations to one of the homes I visited, which provides very pleasant accommodations to the four women with intellectual disabilities who lived there.  God’s grace and power moves among people in Pella, as well as Portland, Port Alberni, Tegucigalpa, and Jos. People don’t always do what they should or what they promise, including me. I thank God that he works through us anyway!  (Mark Stephenson is director of Disability Concerns of the Christian Reformed Church)