Hello From the Czech!
At the time I am writing this, it is Sunday night, and I’m staying in a monastery that dates back to A.D. 993. It’s the oldest standing monastery in the Czech Republic. Cana and I were blessed by a ministry called Josaiah Venture that does youth ministry in central and eastern Europe to be able to attend their fall conference. The conference consists of staff and ministry partners from 18 different countries who join together to encourage and equip one another in their various youth ministry roles. I am eager to grow and be challenged by them this week as I return to serve our youth in Vancouver!
Even after only one day, being in a place with so much church history helps put life into perspective in some helpful ways. Someone jokingly told me today that the difference between Europeans and Americans is that Europeans think 100 miles is a long distance and Americans think 100 years is a long time. You can walk into most churches in the United States where people either know or have a memory of each pastor who has served there. In Europe, there are many churches where that is not the case. However, you can still step into a church and get a sense of whether the good news and truth of Jesus has been faithfully taught. This morning, we stepped foot into a church where 600 years ago John Hus attempted to bring reform to the church by pointing people back to the pages of scripture. There are other churches that have not done so faithfully and as a result have glorified man rather than God and led many people astray. While we might not be able to remember all the men and women in these churches, what they did mattered, and the effects are still being felt today.
I feel like I’m wrestling with 100 different thoughts in my jet-legged brain right now, so perhaps what I’m trying to say can be helped by some words from Psalm 39:4-5,
“O Lord, make know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath.”
We are finite beings. If God were to bless our church to faithfully make more and better disciples for the next 100 years, it will be like a passing shadow through the time of history. However, with the Lord’s help, its eternal value will be immeasurable. What we do matters because Christ has made it possible!
Jacob Abrahamson
Youth Pastor