Its been a while since my last entree.
Last week we attended the WRU conference. It was a great blessing to us and a good opportunity to chat with many leaders about their own church situations.

Conversation on the Work of God (Phil Hearson)
"Battering down the hatches?"
This was one of the many highlights of the conference and a real challenge.
Phil looked at the opposition Christianity is facing. Direct from atheists, and indirect such as debt & gambling, family breakup, moral decline etc. These last ones might not (but can) effect Christian themselves, but we certainly feel the effect as we pick up the pieces, counsel the broken hearted, and witness loved ones hurting.
A verse I would quote at this point is..........
Php 3:10 "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

Someone else in the conversation spoke about a ship going into battle, "Battering down the hatches" and with all guns blazing sped into the middle of the battle.

Phil's message was that this is our calling, not to shy away or hide, but to proactivly roll up our sleeves and get involved. With our eyes on Jesus and the love of Jesus in our hearts

Another speaker on the conference spoke of getting right into the situation, and experiencing/sharing the plight of those we are ministering to.

I'll leave the final word with William Booth, which sums up what it all means

While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight;
while little children go hungry, as they do now, I'll fight;
while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight;
while there is a drunkard left,
while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets,
while there remains one dark soul without the light of God,
I'll fight-I'll fight to the very end!