This update is just to clarify a small change that is coming to this blog and to our future updates. For a while now, I have referred to our ministry as the O.K. Ginn Corral, an attempted play on the shootout at the OK Corral. It was fun. Olivia never got it, but I nerded out over it and giggled. However, given our current transition into full-time ministry, I think it's time to retire the Old West word play and start using something a little more ministry-focused.
For this reason, I am changing the title of our letters and blog updates to "The Leaven and the Mustard Seed". I take the title from Matthew 13:
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."
Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."
My reason for choosing this title is that I think it fits well with our ministry focus. Jesus tells a number of parables about God's kingdom, but these two particularly focus on how God's kingdom will grow: both in the world and in the believer's heart.
He says that God's kingdom is like a mustard seed: small and apparently insignificant when compared with other seeds. But when it is sown and grows, it becomes the greatest of all the trees, and the birds come and nest in its branches. The kingdom of God had small beginnings; about 120 disciples hiding in an upper room, afraid for their lives (Acts 1:15). But its destiny is to grow and grow until Christ's dominion stretches from one end of the earth to another; until every little speck of an island is filled with voices praising Jesus (Psalm 72:8). So, too, the ministry we will be working in will not be flashy. It will have small beginnings. It may not appear to be significant at all. But we trust that God will care for it, watering the seed with His Spirit, and will use us to grow His kingdom in East Charlotte.
Jesus says that God's kingdom is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour until it was all leavened. Leaven works silently. It also works totally: once it's in, there's no getting it out. This is how the gospel works in the Christian's heart. Most Christians do not have an immediate turn-around in every area of their life when God makes them born again. Rather, He puts the leaven in their soul and it slowly works to make the believer more like Christ, giving them an ever-increasing desire for God's presence and word. So, too, our ministry will have much work done that is unseen. But we trust that God will work through us, causing behind-the-scenes changes in peoples' lives and in our East Charlotte community.
As stated, future updates and letters will carry this new title. We are grateful for your continued prayers as we transition into this new ministry. We love y'all!
+ Blessings in Christ +
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