Blog https://www.aabcdallas.org Tue, 19 Mar 2024 06:51:00 -0500 http://churchplantmedia.com/ Leaders Training https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/leaders-training https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/leaders-training#comments Fri, 16 Jul 2021 20:00:00 -0500 https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/leaders-training And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

–2 Timothy 2:2

 

When I was in high school, I asked one of the wise ladies in our church, “What is the goal of your life?” Without hesitation, she answered, “When I die, I want to hear Jesus say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’” (c.f. Matthew 25). She did not focus on being rich or having a happy life or a picture-perfect family. She wanted to be faithful to Jesus. I’ve carried her message with me throughout my life. 

If you’ve been at AABC for any length of time, hopefully it’s been clear that what Jesus wants is for us to be disciple-makers (c.f. Matthew 28:19–20). We believe intentional relationships that are pursued in Connect and Multiply Groups are key to becoming and being disciple-makers. We need Pauls in our lives building into us like this wise lady did for me. We need Barnabases in our lives encouraging and walking alongside us. We need Timothys in our lives to entrust Jesus and His teachings to.

I’ve been blessed to have many Pauls build into me, Barnabases to encourage me and Timothys to entrust the wisdom entrusted to me. I am forever thankful that the Lord has blessed me with these relationships. They have brought me so much joy, and I pray that you too can experience a similar joy.

AABC family, we want you to be Pauls and to have Barnabases and Timothys. Leading your own Connect or Multiply Group is a great way to pursue these relationships. We have an upcoming Connect and Multiply Leaders Training to guide you on the joyful journey of disciple-making: to be a Paul and to find a Barnabas and a Timothy.

For more info and to register for the upcoming Connect and Multiply Leaders Training, please click here.

AABC family, my prayer for you (and for myself) is that at the end of your life, you will hear Jesus say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

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And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

–2 Timothy 2:2

 

When I was in high school, I asked one of the wise ladies in our church, “What is the goal of your life?” Without hesitation, she answered, “When I die, I want to hear Jesus say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’” (c.f. Matthew 25). She did not focus on being rich or having a happy life or a picture-perfect family. She wanted to be faithful to Jesus. I’ve carried her message with me throughout my life. 

If you’ve been at AABC for any length of time, hopefully it’s been clear that what Jesus wants is for us to be disciple-makers (c.f. Matthew 28:19–20). We believe intentional relationships that are pursued in Connect and Multiply Groups are key to becoming and being disciple-makers. We need Pauls in our lives building into us like this wise lady did for me. We need Barnabases in our lives encouraging and walking alongside us. We need Timothys in our lives to entrust Jesus and His teachings to.

I’ve been blessed to have many Pauls build into me, Barnabases to encourage me and Timothys to entrust the wisdom entrusted to me. I am forever thankful that the Lord has blessed me with these relationships. They have brought me so much joy, and I pray that you too can experience a similar joy.

AABC family, we want you to be Pauls and to have Barnabases and Timothys. Leading your own Connect or Multiply Group is a great way to pursue these relationships. We have an upcoming Connect and Multiply Leaders Training to guide you on the joyful journey of disciple-making: to be a Paul and to find a Barnabas and a Timothy.

For more info and to register for the upcoming Connect and Multiply Leaders Training, please click here.

AABC family, my prayer for you (and for myself) is that at the end of your life, you will hear Jesus say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

]]>
Student Leaders https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/student-leaders https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/student-leaders#comments Thu, 01 Oct 2020 08:00:00 -0500 https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/student-leaders Over the past few weeks, my responsibilities as Youth Ministry Intern have shifted in order to place me in an area that allows me to continue to sharpen my giftings as well as serve in an aspect of our student ministry that I am passionate about. After much discussion and prayer with Pastor Jason, I took a bigger role in developing our student leaders. Since this change, I have had the privilege, along with the TUFF counselors, to plan and execute a leadership retreat for our new student leaders. This retreat has been crucial in terms of casting the direction for the new school year and laying down the foundational groundwork for leading others. The students enjoyed being able to reconnect with one another, as well as share feedback regarding the current health of TUFF, our youth ministry. Although many activities were mentally exhausting, it was evident by the students' endurance that they love their fellow peers and friends. I am excited to see how the groundwork that we set that weekend will come into fruition in the next few months.

Great leaders don't just randomly show up at your doorstep. Oftentimes leaders spend many years training, learning, failing, failing some more and then finally growing before they ever step into a position of leadership. It is these unseen years in which God cultivates the character of these future leaders. And then, when the time is right, they will be able to step into positions that allow them to create change for the sake of the Gospel. Leaders don't just appear overnight—instead, they are developed over time.

So when we start thinking about training and developing future church leaders, what is a better place to start than the young teenagers who sit among you every Sunday morning? These students are some of the most passionate, teachable and available people at our church. They are ready to be invested in, and when believed upon, they rise up to the challenge of leading their fellow students. Over the past few weeks, I've seen these students spend many hours figuring out the best way to meet the needs of others. They think through the different challenges that their fellow teenagers might face and brainstorm solutions so that TUFF will continue to grow in the likeness of Christ. They produce thoughtful and creative content in order to engage students through online platforms. It is amazing to see these students step up to the challenges that this pandemic brings and overcome them in order for others to feel welcomed and accepted into a biblical community.

I firmly believe in the leadership potential of each student on the team and can’t wait to see how they will grow deeply in their relationship with God. During the next few months, we will be taking a look at how Jesus led others. It is my prayer that as these students learn from His model of leadership that they would fall deeper in love with their Lord and Savior.

]]>
Over the past few weeks, my responsibilities as Youth Ministry Intern have shifted in order to place me in an area that allows me to continue to sharpen my giftings as well as serve in an aspect of our student ministry that I am passionate about. After much discussion and prayer with Pastor Jason, I took a bigger role in developing our student leaders. Since this change, I have had the privilege, along with the TUFF counselors, to plan and execute a leadership retreat for our new student leaders. This retreat has been crucial in terms of casting the direction for the new school year and laying down the foundational groundwork for leading others. The students enjoyed being able to reconnect with one another, as well as share feedback regarding the current health of TUFF, our youth ministry. Although many activities were mentally exhausting, it was evident by the students' endurance that they love their fellow peers and friends. I am excited to see how the groundwork that we set that weekend will come into fruition in the next few months.

Great leaders don't just randomly show up at your doorstep. Oftentimes leaders spend many years training, learning, failing, failing some more and then finally growing before they ever step into a position of leadership. It is these unseen years in which God cultivates the character of these future leaders. And then, when the time is right, they will be able to step into positions that allow them to create change for the sake of the Gospel. Leaders don't just appear overnight—instead, they are developed over time.

So when we start thinking about training and developing future church leaders, what is a better place to start than the young teenagers who sit among you every Sunday morning? These students are some of the most passionate, teachable and available people at our church. They are ready to be invested in, and when believed upon, they rise up to the challenge of leading their fellow students. Over the past few weeks, I've seen these students spend many hours figuring out the best way to meet the needs of others. They think through the different challenges that their fellow teenagers might face and brainstorm solutions so that TUFF will continue to grow in the likeness of Christ. They produce thoughtful and creative content in order to engage students through online platforms. It is amazing to see these students step up to the challenges that this pandemic brings and overcome them in order for others to feel welcomed and accepted into a biblical community.

I firmly believe in the leadership potential of each student on the team and can’t wait to see how they will grow deeply in their relationship with God. During the next few months, we will be taking a look at how Jesus led others. It is my prayer that as these students learn from His model of leadership that they would fall deeper in love with their Lord and Savior.

]]>
Multiply Group Experience https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/multiply-group-experience https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/multiply-group-experience#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2020 17:00:00 -0500 https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/multiply-group-experience What was one of the most enjoyable times of your life? For me, the answer is easy: college.

When I ask others this question, many times they too respond with college. Why? What makes the college experience so enjoyable? Although there is a variety of reasons, the one consistent answer I hear is COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS. College is a unique time when people have the desire and time to be in intentional community with one another. 

The pandemic has reminded me repeatedly that we are created to be in community. The triunal God (Father-Son-Spirit) is a God of community. We are made in His image, so we too are designed to be communal—with God and with one another. But the pandemic has made this extremely difficult. 

We want to give you an opportunity to intentionally be in community with others who are also intentionally seeking the same. On Sunday, Sept. 27, we will start our 7-week Multiply Group Experience.  

At AABC, we desire to make disciples to the fourth generation, and one of the ways we aim to do so is through our Multiply Groups. These groups provide intimate friendships and accountability and cultivate a life deeply rooted in God’s Word and mission with the purpose of spiritual transformation and replication.

This 7-week experience will give you a taste of Multiply Groups. Each week, we'll watch a video that overviews the Discipleship Pathway and have breakout discussions and sharing because we want you to UNDERSTAND, EXPERIENCE and, hopefully, EMBRACE multigenerational discipleship. We want you to be in community, and we want you to help others be in community. 

We may never relive the college experience again, but we can always pursue discipleship and intentional community, even in a pandemic. We hope to see you there! 

Sign up for the Multiply Group Experience here.

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What was one of the most enjoyable times of your life? For me, the answer is easy: college.

When I ask others this question, many times they too respond with college. Why? What makes the college experience so enjoyable? Although there is a variety of reasons, the one consistent answer I hear is COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS. College is a unique time when people have the desire and time to be in intentional community with one another. 

The pandemic has reminded me repeatedly that we are created to be in community. The triunal God (Father-Son-Spirit) is a God of community. We are made in His image, so we too are designed to be communal—with God and with one another. But the pandemic has made this extremely difficult. 

We want to give you an opportunity to intentionally be in community with others who are also intentionally seeking the same. On Sunday, Sept. 27, we will start our 7-week Multiply Group Experience.  

At AABC, we desire to make disciples to the fourth generation, and one of the ways we aim to do so is through our Multiply Groups. These groups provide intimate friendships and accountability and cultivate a life deeply rooted in God’s Word and mission with the purpose of spiritual transformation and replication.

This 7-week experience will give you a taste of Multiply Groups. Each week, we'll watch a video that overviews the Discipleship Pathway and have breakout discussions and sharing because we want you to UNDERSTAND, EXPERIENCE and, hopefully, EMBRACE multigenerational discipleship. We want you to be in community, and we want you to help others be in community. 

We may never relive the college experience again, but we can always pursue discipleship and intentional community, even in a pandemic. We hope to see you there! 

Sign up for the Multiply Group Experience here.

]]>
Responding to Racial Injustice https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/responding-to-racial-injustice https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/responding-to-racial-injustice#comments Wed, 03 Jun 2020 15:00:00 -0500 https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/responding-to-racial-injustice During this time in our country where there is so much unrest, division and cries for justice, we as the Church condemn the systemic oppression of our African American brothers and sisters that has been going on for centuries. Regardless of our ethnicity, these brothers and sisters are still part of the greater family that we are called to love and to draw close to as God does for all the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18).

You might be asking yourself, “How am I to process all that I’m hearing and seeing in the news?” and “How can I position myself to bring reconciliation to the people He brings before me?” These are important questions to keep before us as we live out our identity as the children of light in these turbulent times and terrible darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:5).

To help our church through this, we are taking a break from our current series on “Hope Has a Name” this Sunday to have Kyle Brown share his insights and experiences and how the Gospel hope informs his outlook and actions. Kyle is a member of the AABC family and has shared his testimony with us before.

We have another resource to share with you as well. Threaded is an organization that we have partnered with for several years and whose goal is to inspire relationships, reconciliation and collaborative action between the diverse Body of Christ. For 21 days (June 1–21), Threaded will help you take your next step in the Christian fight against racial prejudice and division. In this period, we're going to:

  • Call to prayer and lament at 8:00 AM (call in to 214.301.0536)
    • For 21 days, we are going to take a short moment to humble ourselves as we lament all the racial injustice that has occurred in our land and pray for God to bring restoration and healing.
  • Seek God’s Word together through video devotionals (on facebook.com/wearethreaded)
    • Amid all the racial unrest in our land, it may be hard to see how the Gospel can help. For 21 days, pastors who are passionate about racial unity and justice will share from the Scriptures ways to understand what is happening and how the Church can confidently engage.
  • Talk with each other through Colored Commentary Unplugged (on facebook.com/wearethreaded)
    • Are you curious about how to understand the racial unrest in our country? Do you want to know what you can do or how to respond? For 21 days, join Markus Lloyd and Antwuan Malone weekdays at 12:30 PM for the Facebook Live show Colored Commentary Unplugged. During the show, the hosts will talk about the events of the day and answer your questions.

To find out more about the 21 Days campaign, click here.

Do not give up hope! With Jesus as our Bread of Life, the Light of the World and the Door of the sheep, we will ultimately “not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

Peace,
Ben

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During this time in our country where there is so much unrest, division and cries for justice, we as the Church condemn the systemic oppression of our African American brothers and sisters that has been going on for centuries. Regardless of our ethnicity, these brothers and sisters are still part of the greater family that we are called to love and to draw close to as God does for all the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18).

You might be asking yourself, “How am I to process all that I’m hearing and seeing in the news?” and “How can I position myself to bring reconciliation to the people He brings before me?” These are important questions to keep before us as we live out our identity as the children of light in these turbulent times and terrible darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:5).

To help our church through this, we are taking a break from our current series on “Hope Has a Name” this Sunday to have Kyle Brown share his insights and experiences and how the Gospel hope informs his outlook and actions. Kyle is a member of the AABC family and has shared his testimony with us before.

We have another resource to share with you as well. Threaded is an organization that we have partnered with for several years and whose goal is to inspire relationships, reconciliation and collaborative action between the diverse Body of Christ. For 21 days (June 1–21), Threaded will help you take your next step in the Christian fight against racial prejudice and division. In this period, we're going to:

  • Call to prayer and lament at 8:00 AM (call in to 214.301.0536)
    • For 21 days, we are going to take a short moment to humble ourselves as we lament all the racial injustice that has occurred in our land and pray for God to bring restoration and healing.
  • Seek God’s Word together through video devotionals (on facebook.com/wearethreaded)
    • Amid all the racial unrest in our land, it may be hard to see how the Gospel can help. For 21 days, pastors who are passionate about racial unity and justice will share from the Scriptures ways to understand what is happening and how the Church can confidently engage.
  • Talk with each other through Colored Commentary Unplugged (on facebook.com/wearethreaded)
    • Are you curious about how to understand the racial unrest in our country? Do you want to know what you can do or how to respond? For 21 days, join Markus Lloyd and Antwuan Malone weekdays at 12:30 PM for the Facebook Live show Colored Commentary Unplugged. During the show, the hosts will talk about the events of the day and answer your questions.

To find out more about the 21 Days campaign, click here.

Do not give up hope! With Jesus as our Bread of Life, the Light of the World and the Door of the sheep, we will ultimately “not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

Peace,
Ben

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Surviving Our Failed Expectations https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/surviving-our-failed-expectations https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/surviving-our-failed-expectations#comments Mon, 01 Jun 2020 08:00:00 -0500 https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/surviving-our-failed-expectations In Houston, I had the privilege of serving at Fort Bend Community Church as a youth ministry intern. During my three years there, I had plenty of opportunities to sharpen my ministry and leadership skills. One of the more daunting and challenging responsibilities that I had was teaching.

Back then, I would spend Friday nights teaching Bible lessons to about a hundred middle schoolers. Sometimes those nights felt like it was all about surviving the 30 minutes of judgmental glares, disinterested looks and distracted faces from the students. However, oftentimes the most discouraging part happened after. The 15 minutes when I would drive home alone were some of my darkest moments in ministry. As I would start to recall the events of that night, it quickly evolved to something else. I would dissect, examine and criticize every single part of my presentation. With each attack, I became more disappointed, shameful and insecure. Once my car came to a stop, the attacks would stop; however, I would continue to wrestle with the reality that I could actually be a failure.

You may not be in charge of a bunch of middle schoolers, but I think we can all testify to the moments of trying to survive the onslaught of our own thoughts. When we are ministering to others, we are constantly being hounded by these questions: Am I doing enough? Am I good enough? Am I making an impact?

A lot of these questions stem from the root issue of wanting to feel like our lives have value. That the work we do actually matters and brings change to the world. No one wants to find out that their work and efforts had no effect at all. We want AABC to thrive. We want our co-workers, our family members and our friends to come to know the Lord when we evangelize to them. We want our small groups to have deep and intimate conversations every time. We want the whole room to be raising their hands and singing at the top of their lungs when we lead worship. However, when these measurements of "success" don't happen, it becomes very easy to blame ourselves. Suddenly, all our insecurities come up and we wonder if we are the problem.

Psalms 139:13–14 says:

“For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.”

This passage reminds us that it is God who made and crafted us. He is the one responsible for the mind, the face, the mouth, the eyes and everything else that we have. He—in His wisdom, love and imagination—designed and intricately wove each one of us. DNA strand by DNA strand, God created each one of us for His purpose. The reality is yes, you might be awkward. Yes, you might actually be incoherent when you talk. Those things are not bad at all, even if societal pressures and expectations tell us otherwise. When we believe that the only way we have value is if we are effective communicators or have natural charisma, then we may be discrediting who God made us to be.

We are all uniquely gifted in different areas. Some of you are wired to see the deepness beyond the surface and bring out that beauty in others. Some of you are wired to see the needs and pains of others and will sacrificially pour yourselves out until those needs are met. Regardless of who you are, God made you a certain way for a specific purpose. We should learn to accept all parts of ourselves—because God made them all.

It's a hard and long process to begin to accept the things we've hated about ourselves for so long. But self-confidence doesn't come from working harder or developing skills that we envy in others. It comes from laying down our insecurities before Him and trusting that our good God created us. Joy comes when we take God at His word and start to embrace every single part of ourselves and let our lives be firmly rooted in Him. Then we would have the freedom to be faithful in our respective ministry circles, instead of chasing someone we aren't supposed to be.

“What if who I hoped to be was always me?” –Jon Bellion

 

Image credit: Carlo Pignataro

]]>
In Houston, I had the privilege of serving at Fort Bend Community Church as a youth ministry intern. During my three years there, I had plenty of opportunities to sharpen my ministry and leadership skills. One of the more daunting and challenging responsibilities that I had was teaching.

Back then, I would spend Friday nights teaching Bible lessons to about a hundred middle schoolers. Sometimes those nights felt like it was all about surviving the 30 minutes of judgmental glares, disinterested looks and distracted faces from the students. However, oftentimes the most discouraging part happened after. The 15 minutes when I would drive home alone were some of my darkest moments in ministry. As I would start to recall the events of that night, it quickly evolved to something else. I would dissect, examine and criticize every single part of my presentation. With each attack, I became more disappointed, shameful and insecure. Once my car came to a stop, the attacks would stop; however, I would continue to wrestle with the reality that I could actually be a failure.

You may not be in charge of a bunch of middle schoolers, but I think we can all testify to the moments of trying to survive the onslaught of our own thoughts. When we are ministering to others, we are constantly being hounded by these questions: Am I doing enough? Am I good enough? Am I making an impact?

A lot of these questions stem from the root issue of wanting to feel like our lives have value. That the work we do actually matters and brings change to the world. No one wants to find out that their work and efforts had no effect at all. We want AABC to thrive. We want our co-workers, our family members and our friends to come to know the Lord when we evangelize to them. We want our small groups to have deep and intimate conversations every time. We want the whole room to be raising their hands and singing at the top of their lungs when we lead worship. However, when these measurements of "success" don't happen, it becomes very easy to blame ourselves. Suddenly, all our insecurities come up and we wonder if we are the problem.

Psalms 139:13–14 says:

“For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.”

This passage reminds us that it is God who made and crafted us. He is the one responsible for the mind, the face, the mouth, the eyes and everything else that we have. He—in His wisdom, love and imagination—designed and intricately wove each one of us. DNA strand by DNA strand, God created each one of us for His purpose. The reality is yes, you might be awkward. Yes, you might actually be incoherent when you talk. Those things are not bad at all, even if societal pressures and expectations tell us otherwise. When we believe that the only way we have value is if we are effective communicators or have natural charisma, then we may be discrediting who God made us to be.

We are all uniquely gifted in different areas. Some of you are wired to see the deepness beyond the surface and bring out that beauty in others. Some of you are wired to see the needs and pains of others and will sacrificially pour yourselves out until those needs are met. Regardless of who you are, God made you a certain way for a specific purpose. We should learn to accept all parts of ourselves—because God made them all.

It's a hard and long process to begin to accept the things we've hated about ourselves for so long. But self-confidence doesn't come from working harder or developing skills that we envy in others. It comes from laying down our insecurities before Him and trusting that our good God created us. Joy comes when we take God at His word and start to embrace every single part of ourselves and let our lives be firmly rooted in Him. Then we would have the freedom to be faithful in our respective ministry circles, instead of chasing someone we aren't supposed to be.

“What if who I hoped to be was always me?” –Jon Bellion

 

Image credit: Carlo Pignataro

]]>
Re-Entry Plan: Phase 1 Begins May 30 https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/re-entry-plan-phase-1 https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/re-entry-plan-phase-1#comments Fri, 29 May 2020 19:00:00 -0500 https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/re-entry-plan-phase-1 Dear AABC Family,

Do you remember what happened on March 13 of this year? It was the day we moved to Stage 4 of our Emergency Response Plan due to the widespread community transmission of COVID-19, the day we migrated all of our ministries to online platforms and no longer used the church campus. It seems like a long time ago, doesn’t it? And of course, a lot has happened to our church campus since then (with damage to our Main Building and the Children’s Ministry Center). 

In this season of unprecedented change, it’s given all of us an opportunity to vitally connect with God, one another and our neighbors in deeper and more creative ways. We are praying, learning, grieving and celebrating together in this challenging season. And I am confident that we will emerge from this testing of our faith with greater maturity and strength by our desperate reliance on Him.

At the last Quarterly Business Meeting, we presented our Re-Entry Plan (click here to see the full version), which is based upon these principles:

  • We never closed for we are the Church.
  • We are fearless but not reckless (Luke 12:4-5; Proverbs 14:16).
  • We are listening to you and longing for us to gather in person again (Hebrews 10:25).

With much prayer and consideration of our gating criteria, the Council leadership and I are excited to announce that on Saturday, May 30, we will move into Phase 1 of our Re-Entry Plan. Although our campus remains closed, our Nurture Groups have the opportunity to meet in-person as long as group sizes are less than or equal to 10. Specific protocols for Nurture Groups will be shared by the Nurture Committee.

In the meantime, we ask for prayers for our Nurture Committee and our Nurture Group Leaders as they prepare their hearts and create the best environments for community connection and sharpening of one another toward Christ-likeness.

We also ask that you pray for yourself and one another. In these times in which many perspectives abound about COVID-19, it’s easy to look down upon those who disagree with us. Mask or no mask? Meet in person or stay at home? 

The world loves to slap derogatory labels on each other and elevate personal interests above others'. Of course, the Bible tells us to not do that and instead follow the example of Jesus: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3-5).

So please don’t let Satan gain a foothold in our church family by dividing us through criticisms and complaints. Instead, stay united in the love Jesus has for you and His Body by supporting and encouraging one another.  

We will continue to offer digital and physical options for people throughout all phases of our Re-Entry Plan so we can reach as many people as possible with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After all, Jesus gave us His mission to make disciples that is to take place every day He gives us, everywhere He places us, with every one He allows us to befriend and on every platform (physical and digital) He makes available to us!

Peace,

Ben

]]>
Dear AABC Family,

Do you remember what happened on March 13 of this year? It was the day we moved to Stage 4 of our Emergency Response Plan due to the widespread community transmission of COVID-19, the day we migrated all of our ministries to online platforms and no longer used the church campus. It seems like a long time ago, doesn’t it? And of course, a lot has happened to our church campus since then (with damage to our Main Building and the Children’s Ministry Center). 

In this season of unprecedented change, it’s given all of us an opportunity to vitally connect with God, one another and our neighbors in deeper and more creative ways. We are praying, learning, grieving and celebrating together in this challenging season. And I am confident that we will emerge from this testing of our faith with greater maturity and strength by our desperate reliance on Him.

At the last Quarterly Business Meeting, we presented our Re-Entry Plan (click here to see the full version), which is based upon these principles:

  • We never closed for we are the Church.
  • We are fearless but not reckless (Luke 12:4-5; Proverbs 14:16).
  • We are listening to you and longing for us to gather in person again (Hebrews 10:25).

With much prayer and consideration of our gating criteria, the Council leadership and I are excited to announce that on Saturday, May 30, we will move into Phase 1 of our Re-Entry Plan. Although our campus remains closed, our Nurture Groups have the opportunity to meet in-person as long as group sizes are less than or equal to 10. Specific protocols for Nurture Groups will be shared by the Nurture Committee.

In the meantime, we ask for prayers for our Nurture Committee and our Nurture Group Leaders as they prepare their hearts and create the best environments for community connection and sharpening of one another toward Christ-likeness.

We also ask that you pray for yourself and one another. In these times in which many perspectives abound about COVID-19, it’s easy to look down upon those who disagree with us. Mask or no mask? Meet in person or stay at home? 

The world loves to slap derogatory labels on each other and elevate personal interests above others'. Of course, the Bible tells us to not do that and instead follow the example of Jesus: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3-5).

So please don’t let Satan gain a foothold in our church family by dividing us through criticisms and complaints. Instead, stay united in the love Jesus has for you and His Body by supporting and encouraging one another.  

We will continue to offer digital and physical options for people throughout all phases of our Re-Entry Plan so we can reach as many people as possible with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After all, Jesus gave us His mission to make disciples that is to take place every day He gives us, everywhere He places us, with every one He allows us to befriend and on every platform (physical and digital) He makes available to us!

Peace,

Ben

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How Christian Hope Speaks to COVID-19 https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/how-christian-hope-speaks-to-covid-19 https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/how-christian-hope-speaks-to-covid-19#comments Mon, 20 Apr 2020 08:00:00 -0500 https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/how-christian-hope-speaks-to-covid-19 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” –1 Peter 1:3

It’s quite impossible these days to talk about anything but the coronavirus and the chaos that has overtaken our world. The landscape of human life has been overwhelmingly disrupted by the invisible battle against the coronavirus. Uncertainty grips everyone in one way or another, often growing into a monster of fear, anxiety and isolation. I don’t know about you, but our family walked into this year’s Easter laden with a truckload of raw and heart-wrenching emotions—disruption, fear of the unknown, exhaustion, anxiety, brokenness, agony, defeat… The list goes on and on.

I needed this year’s Easter like never before. Easter has always been a sweet and celebratory time where I love to pause and think more deeply about Jesus’s defeat of sin and death. It reminds me to thank God for the sacrifice of Jesus that made salvation available to all who believe in His name. It reminds me that the resurrected hope should breathe life into all aspects of my life, especially during this tumultuous time. It reminds me to pray and rest from all my racing thoughts and to anchor my soul in the assurance of the living hope. This year, the Spirit again reminded me of His timeless truths coupled with a very timely comfort. Yes, our whole world is covered by the news of COVID-19, but in 2,000 years, I doubt many people will even remember it. And yet here we are, 2000 years after the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and we are still very much talking about it.

Some of you are championing alongside me for our resurrected hope, but others of you might be scratching your head with questions like what does that mean? What does the Bible actually say about hope? How does Christian hope speak to COVID-19?

Worldly hope vs. biblical hope

More often than not, hope is defined as a wealth of wishful and tentative thinking: “I hope to get an A in this class,” “I hope I can get into the Big 4,” “I hope the Cowboys win the Super Bowl this year” or “I hope the cure of the coronavirus will be developed soon so everything will be back to normal.” People find themselves baffled or panicked in securing their hope in false sources, such as human methods of success (Ps. 33:17), personal strength (Prov. 11:7), riches (1 Tim. 6:17) or false vision (Ezek. 13:6). This is certainly not what the Bible means by hope because the outcome is not guaranteed. Hope is not a feeling, a wish, an emotion or waiting aimlessly to see whether things will turn out well.

Christian author J.I. Packer once said, “Optimism is a wish without warrant; Christian hope is a certainty, guaranteed by God himself. Optimism reflects ignorance as to whether good things will ever actually come. Christian hope expresses knowledge that every day of his life, and every moment beyond it, the believer can say with truth, on the basis of God’s own commitment, that the best is yet to come.”

Unlike the false hope defined by the world, the definition of biblical hope is “confident expectation on what is certain.” Christian faith roots its hope deeply and solely in Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:3). The resurrected hope is the recognition of Christ to be fulfilled in the Old Testament promise (Matt. 12:21; 1 Pet. 1:3). Hope is a firm assurance through the indwelling of the Spirit even when things are unclear and unknown (Rom. 8:23-25; Heb.11:1). Biblical hope assures a solid and concrete evidence because it is grounded in the true source—the Word of God that entails the content of hope in the promise of the resurrection (1 Thes. 4:13), the kingdom (Acts 28:20-31), righteousness (Gal 5:5), glory (Col 1:27), eternal life (Tit. 1:2) and the promise of Christ’s return (Tit. 2:13). Biblical hope is expecting a sure thing, purchased on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, accomplished and promised by an all-knowing God.

What biblical hope means for us

The resurrection of Jesus certainly and unfortunately does not make our afflictions just go away. As a matter of fact, we don’t know when COVID-19 will pass or when things will return to normal—if ever. But fortunately, the resurrection puts our sufferings into perspective to drive us to a deeper conviction that this world needs a Savior who brings the true hope to wake us from our false contentment with the perishing hope of this world, refocus our eyes on the glorious eternal life in Jesus Christ, and believe with enduring faith that He died and rose from the dead 2,000 years ago and that He will come back again (Rev. 3:11, 22:20).

In the midst of COVID-19, let us respond to this ever-changing and trying time by holding fast to the unchanging hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. May the resurrected hope of Jesus fuel our action to remember to pray, reach out to others, restore our hope in affliction and return to the heart of God.

 

Photo by Ron Smith on Unsplash.

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"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” –1 Peter 1:3

It’s quite impossible these days to talk about anything but the coronavirus and the chaos that has overtaken our world. The landscape of human life has been overwhelmingly disrupted by the invisible battle against the coronavirus. Uncertainty grips everyone in one way or another, often growing into a monster of fear, anxiety and isolation. I don’t know about you, but our family walked into this year’s Easter laden with a truckload of raw and heart-wrenching emotions—disruption, fear of the unknown, exhaustion, anxiety, brokenness, agony, defeat… The list goes on and on.

I needed this year’s Easter like never before. Easter has always been a sweet and celebratory time where I love to pause and think more deeply about Jesus’s defeat of sin and death. It reminds me to thank God for the sacrifice of Jesus that made salvation available to all who believe in His name. It reminds me that the resurrected hope should breathe life into all aspects of my life, especially during this tumultuous time. It reminds me to pray and rest from all my racing thoughts and to anchor my soul in the assurance of the living hope. This year, the Spirit again reminded me of His timeless truths coupled with a very timely comfort. Yes, our whole world is covered by the news of COVID-19, but in 2,000 years, I doubt many people will even remember it. And yet here we are, 2000 years after the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and we are still very much talking about it.

Some of you are championing alongside me for our resurrected hope, but others of you might be scratching your head with questions like what does that mean? What does the Bible actually say about hope? How does Christian hope speak to COVID-19?

Worldly hope vs. biblical hope

More often than not, hope is defined as a wealth of wishful and tentative thinking: “I hope to get an A in this class,” “I hope I can get into the Big 4,” “I hope the Cowboys win the Super Bowl this year” or “I hope the cure of the coronavirus will be developed soon so everything will be back to normal.” People find themselves baffled or panicked in securing their hope in false sources, such as human methods of success (Ps. 33:17), personal strength (Prov. 11:7), riches (1 Tim. 6:17) or false vision (Ezek. 13:6). This is certainly not what the Bible means by hope because the outcome is not guaranteed. Hope is not a feeling, a wish, an emotion or waiting aimlessly to see whether things will turn out well.

Christian author J.I. Packer once said, “Optimism is a wish without warrant; Christian hope is a certainty, guaranteed by God himself. Optimism reflects ignorance as to whether good things will ever actually come. Christian hope expresses knowledge that every day of his life, and every moment beyond it, the believer can say with truth, on the basis of God’s own commitment, that the best is yet to come.”

Unlike the false hope defined by the world, the definition of biblical hope is “confident expectation on what is certain.” Christian faith roots its hope deeply and solely in Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:3). The resurrected hope is the recognition of Christ to be fulfilled in the Old Testament promise (Matt. 12:21; 1 Pet. 1:3). Hope is a firm assurance through the indwelling of the Spirit even when things are unclear and unknown (Rom. 8:23-25; Heb.11:1). Biblical hope assures a solid and concrete evidence because it is grounded in the true source—the Word of God that entails the content of hope in the promise of the resurrection (1 Thes. 4:13), the kingdom (Acts 28:20-31), righteousness (Gal 5:5), glory (Col 1:27), eternal life (Tit. 1:2) and the promise of Christ’s return (Tit. 2:13). Biblical hope is expecting a sure thing, purchased on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, accomplished and promised by an all-knowing God.

What biblical hope means for us

The resurrection of Jesus certainly and unfortunately does not make our afflictions just go away. As a matter of fact, we don’t know when COVID-19 will pass or when things will return to normal—if ever. But fortunately, the resurrection puts our sufferings into perspective to drive us to a deeper conviction that this world needs a Savior who brings the true hope to wake us from our false contentment with the perishing hope of this world, refocus our eyes on the glorious eternal life in Jesus Christ, and believe with enduring faith that He died and rose from the dead 2,000 years ago and that He will come back again (Rev. 3:11, 22:20).

In the midst of COVID-19, let us respond to this ever-changing and trying time by holding fast to the unchanging hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. May the resurrected hope of Jesus fuel our action to remember to pray, reach out to others, restore our hope in affliction and return to the heart of God.

 

Photo by Ron Smith on Unsplash.

]]>
School Is at Home Now... https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/school-at-home https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/school-at-home#comments Fri, 17 Apr 2020 10:00:00 -0500 https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/school-at-home A lot of our AABC families are schooling at home now. Although this can be a lot of fun, it can also be stressful and disheartening, especially when added to work, volunteering and other parenting responsibilities. I don’t know if you can relate, but Julia and I have had some really good days with the kids and some not so good days with the kids.

Sometimes there's laughing, sometimes there's yelling

The good days with the kids are filled with laughing, smiling, everybody playing well together, baking, etc. The not so good days with the kids are filled with yelling, crying, miscommunication, hurt, feet stomping, door slamming, etc. The bad days are understandable for a lot of reasons, but to name a few:

  • We’ve never done school at home before.
  • It’s a transition for our children who usually see us as parents to now see us as teachers as well. There’s a dynamic shift in roles, and everyone is still adjusting to it.
  • My eldest has said, “School isn’t as fun anymore because I don’t get to see my friends.” Compassionately, I know it must be hard for him to see the same four people. Every. Single. Day.

We go to bed every night—exhausted

Like I said, we have both good days and bad days, but what’s really consistent as we’re 35 days into social distancing and four days into week four of school at home is that we're exhausted. In my nightly prayers, I’m often tear-filled because I feel like I have nothing left to give. It goes something like this: “Thank you, Lord, for a good day with my family, with TUFF and with AAABC.” And then I confess my sins, lately unrighteous anger and losing my temper with my kids.

I don’t think I can make it on my own

I usually end my prayers by thanking the Lord for His forgiveness in Jesus and ask Him for His grace to sanctify me more. After I pray, I watch Netflix or play video games for an hour, then I go to sleep. And in the morning, I think to myself, “I love my kids, but man, school at home is difficult. I’m not sure how I’m going to get through today with my sanity, let alone this morning. I don’t want to do this. This stinks. I don’t think I can make it on my own.”

And the Biblical truth is I can’t. I need God.

Even before the coronavirus pandemic and all its implications, I needed God. And especially during this season, I need God. This is a constant theme in the Bible for everyone: We need God.

I need God for strength to school at home, courage to do what is right, patience to love and to teach my kids right, and heavenly wisdom to balance work, home, family, school, etc. Here are some Bible verses that have helped me:

  • “As for me, I am poor and needy, let the Lord be mindful of me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.” –Psalm 40:17 
  • “He gives power to the faint, and to Him who has no might, He increases strength.” –Isaiah 40:29
  • “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” –Lamentations 3:22-23 

"Lord, I come, I confess. Bowing here I find my rest."

I really love the song, “Lord, I Need You,” by Matt Maher. The lyrics say:

“Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without you, I fall apart
You’re the one that guides my heart

"Lord, I need you, oh, I need you.
Every hour I need you.”

I also like the old-school hymn from the 1800s. The lyrics say:

“I need Thee every hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.

I need Thee, Oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior!
I come to Thee.”

The school at home days can be super exhausting and long. I need God. We all need God. May each of us run to Him today and forevermore. Today, I’m praising God for all our children because they are amazing. But I’m also praying for all the parents too <3

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A lot of our AABC families are schooling at home now. Although this can be a lot of fun, it can also be stressful and disheartening, especially when added to work, volunteering and other parenting responsibilities. I don’t know if you can relate, but Julia and I have had some really good days with the kids and some not so good days with the kids.

Sometimes there's laughing, sometimes there's yelling

The good days with the kids are filled with laughing, smiling, everybody playing well together, baking, etc. The not so good days with the kids are filled with yelling, crying, miscommunication, hurt, feet stomping, door slamming, etc. The bad days are understandable for a lot of reasons, but to name a few:

  • We’ve never done school at home before.
  • It’s a transition for our children who usually see us as parents to now see us as teachers as well. There’s a dynamic shift in roles, and everyone is still adjusting to it.
  • My eldest has said, “School isn’t as fun anymore because I don’t get to see my friends.” Compassionately, I know it must be hard for him to see the same four people. Every. Single. Day.

We go to bed every night—exhausted

Like I said, we have both good days and bad days, but what’s really consistent as we’re 35 days into social distancing and four days into week four of school at home is that we're exhausted. In my nightly prayers, I’m often tear-filled because I feel like I have nothing left to give. It goes something like this: “Thank you, Lord, for a good day with my family, with TUFF and with AAABC.” And then I confess my sins, lately unrighteous anger and losing my temper with my kids.

I don’t think I can make it on my own

I usually end my prayers by thanking the Lord for His forgiveness in Jesus and ask Him for His grace to sanctify me more. After I pray, I watch Netflix or play video games for an hour, then I go to sleep. And in the morning, I think to myself, “I love my kids, but man, school at home is difficult. I’m not sure how I’m going to get through today with my sanity, let alone this morning. I don’t want to do this. This stinks. I don’t think I can make it on my own.”

And the Biblical truth is I can’t. I need God.

Even before the coronavirus pandemic and all its implications, I needed God. And especially during this season, I need God. This is a constant theme in the Bible for everyone: We need God.

I need God for strength to school at home, courage to do what is right, patience to love and to teach my kids right, and heavenly wisdom to balance work, home, family, school, etc. Here are some Bible verses that have helped me:

  • “As for me, I am poor and needy, let the Lord be mindful of me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.” –Psalm 40:17 
  • “He gives power to the faint, and to Him who has no might, He increases strength.” –Isaiah 40:29
  • “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” –Lamentations 3:22-23 

"Lord, I come, I confess. Bowing here I find my rest."

I really love the song, “Lord, I Need You,” by Matt Maher. The lyrics say:

“Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without you, I fall apart
You’re the one that guides my heart

"Lord, I need you, oh, I need you.
Every hour I need you.”

I also like the old-school hymn from the 1800s. The lyrics say:

“I need Thee every hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.

I need Thee, Oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior!
I come to Thee.”

The school at home days can be super exhausting and long. I need God. We all need God. May each of us run to Him today and forevermore. Today, I’m praising God for all our children because they are amazing. But I’m also praying for all the parents too <3

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Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/dark-clouds-deep-mercy https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/dark-clouds-deep-mercy#comments Wed, 01 Apr 2020 10:00:00 -0500 https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/dark-clouds-deep-mercy Good morning!

Like many of you, I read the news yesterday that Governor Greg Abbott extended social distancing guidelines through April 30 and announced schools will remain closed until May 4 (and may be extended at a later date). And grief entered my heart for a number of reasons:

  • People will continue to get sick and pass away.

  • Medical staff will continue to work extra hard and sacrifice a lot.

  • We won’t be at church for a little while longer.

  • I love having three young kids at home. It’s amazing and fun, but it’s also exhausting and crazy.

  • I miss my friends. I miss eating with my friends, balling with my friends and simply being with my friends.

  • My children miss their friends too.

  • Working from home isn’t ideal. The boundaries of work and family have been stripped away. For me, it’s been difficult to set boundaries.

  • My wife is doing an amazing job teaching the kids at home, but home schooling is stressful.

  • Events and activities are up in the air. We don’t know what’s going to happen with graduations, summer mission trips, weddings, etc.

Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy

The list of things that cause my heart to grieve can go on and on, but the Lord led me to a Christian book over my sabbatical called Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, by Mark Vroegop. The book taught me two things: (1) how to lament well and (2) what to do when grief enters my heart. Here are some of my favorite excerpts. I hope and pray that this brings you encouragement whenever you’re going through hard times.

“Learning to lament began on my knees. No, Lord! I pleaded. Please not this! It was 2004, and my wife, Sarah, awakened me…”

“…biblical lament was new for me.”

“I battled fears, disappointments, and sorrow. And in my journey, I discovered the grace of lament, a song I never wanted to sing.”

“Lament helped us navigate the wilderness of our grief”

“I came to see lament as a helpful gift from the Lord. Through this journey, I came to love Psalm 13.”

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; 
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, 'I have prevailed over him,' lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me. (vv. 1–6)”

“To lament is Christian”

”Lament is how you live between the poles of a hard life and trusting in God’s sovereignty.”

“Lament is how we bring our sorrow to God.”

“Without lament, we won’t know how to process pain.”

“Without lament, we won’t know how to help people walking through sorrow.”

“Lament is how Christians grieve”

“Lament is how we learn important truths about God and our world.”

“Belief in God’s mercy, redemption, and sovereignty creates lament.”

“Without hope in God’s deliverance and the conviction that he is all-powerful, there would be no reason to lament when pain invaded our lives.” 

Christians are people of good news

Even though you and I might have grief in our hearts, I want to remind you: Christians are people of good news. Christians know Jesus, and Jesus is kind, compassionate, all-powerful, gracious, loving and sovereign. We find hope, healing and comfort in Him alone. May we run to Him in times of grief. May we lament well.

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Good morning!

Like many of you, I read the news yesterday that Governor Greg Abbott extended social distancing guidelines through April 30 and announced schools will remain closed until May 4 (and may be extended at a later date). And grief entered my heart for a number of reasons:

  • People will continue to get sick and pass away.

  • Medical staff will continue to work extra hard and sacrifice a lot.

  • We won’t be at church for a little while longer.

  • I love having three young kids at home. It’s amazing and fun, but it’s also exhausting and crazy.

  • I miss my friends. I miss eating with my friends, balling with my friends and simply being with my friends.

  • My children miss their friends too.

  • Working from home isn’t ideal. The boundaries of work and family have been stripped away. For me, it’s been difficult to set boundaries.

  • My wife is doing an amazing job teaching the kids at home, but home schooling is stressful.

  • Events and activities are up in the air. We don’t know what’s going to happen with graduations, summer mission trips, weddings, etc.

Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy

The list of things that cause my heart to grieve can go on and on, but the Lord led me to a Christian book over my sabbatical called Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, by Mark Vroegop. The book taught me two things: (1) how to lament well and (2) what to do when grief enters my heart. Here are some of my favorite excerpts. I hope and pray that this brings you encouragement whenever you’re going through hard times.

“Learning to lament began on my knees. No, Lord! I pleaded. Please not this! It was 2004, and my wife, Sarah, awakened me…”

“…biblical lament was new for me.”

“I battled fears, disappointments, and sorrow. And in my journey, I discovered the grace of lament, a song I never wanted to sing.”

“Lament helped us navigate the wilderness of our grief”

“I came to see lament as a helpful gift from the Lord. Through this journey, I came to love Psalm 13.”

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; 
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, 'I have prevailed over him,' lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me. (vv. 1–6)”

“To lament is Christian”

”Lament is how you live between the poles of a hard life and trusting in God’s sovereignty.”

“Lament is how we bring our sorrow to God.”

“Without lament, we won’t know how to process pain.”

“Without lament, we won’t know how to help people walking through sorrow.”

“Lament is how Christians grieve”

“Lament is how we learn important truths about God and our world.”

“Belief in God’s mercy, redemption, and sovereignty creates lament.”

“Without hope in God’s deliverance and the conviction that he is all-powerful, there would be no reason to lament when pain invaded our lives.” 

Christians are people of good news

Even though you and I might have grief in our hearts, I want to remind you: Christians are people of good news. Christians know Jesus, and Jesus is kind, compassionate, all-powerful, gracious, loving and sovereign. We find hope, healing and comfort in Him alone. May we run to Him in times of grief. May we lament well.

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Stage 4 Continuation https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/stage-4-continuation https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/stage-4-continuation#comments Sun, 29 Mar 2020 20:00:00 -0500 https://www.aabcdallas.org/blog/post/stage-4-continuation Dear AABC Family,

It’s been a little more than two weeks since our campus closure and the online migration of all ministries (Stage 4 of our Emergency Response Plan), and it hasn't felt easier with each passing day. I’m sure all of you, like me, are yearning for the return to normalcy. We are all praying for the curve of this pandemic to be flattened, but we should also prepare ourselves for a new normal to be established in the weeks and months ahead.

Based upon what we see with the federal, stage and county guidelines, AABC will remain in our Stage 4 response until further notice. The Health Response Team (HRT) is daily monitoring the situation, and I am meeting with them regularly for any changes that will affect our church family and communities.

In the meantime, please do your best to care for those around with you with the love of Jesus. There are those who are elderly and/or have underlying health conditions; those who are lonely and don’t have a steady family or friends to connect with; those who are dealing with serious concerns over their jobs, businesses, or mental and spiritual health; and of course, those who are on the front lines of caring for those who are sick.

It may seem like there is a mountain of needs to tackle, and it’s natural to feel paralyzed or inept to do anything for anyone. I urge you to fight that feeling of paralysis and ineptness. We are not people left to our own devices and wits. We are His Church. We have His Spirit who empowers; His Gospel that saves; His Son Jesus who leads us to the brokenhearted and grants peace to those afraid. Pastor Andy Stanley once shared, “Do for one what you wish you could do for many.” Who is one person you can be Jesus to today?

The AABC leadership is praying for all of you and the impact you have for His Kingdom at this unprecedented time. If you have a need OR if you are able to help someone with a need, please do not hesitate to let us know. Our desire is for our church body to unite and help meet each other’s emotional, physical and spiritual needs as we are able. We are all in this together.

A great touchpoint for you to share your needs, or volunteer your help for those in need, are your Nurture Group leaders. You may also reach out to Betsy Wong, the Deacons or Pastors. The HRT members are also available to answer your medical questions. We are all available to talk, pray and journey with you during this challenging time.

Peace,
Ben

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Dear AABC Family,

It’s been a little more than two weeks since our campus closure and the online migration of all ministries (Stage 4 of our Emergency Response Plan), and it hasn't felt easier with each passing day. I’m sure all of you, like me, are yearning for the return to normalcy. We are all praying for the curve of this pandemic to be flattened, but we should also prepare ourselves for a new normal to be established in the weeks and months ahead.

Based upon what we see with the federal, stage and county guidelines, AABC will remain in our Stage 4 response until further notice. The Health Response Team (HRT) is daily monitoring the situation, and I am meeting with them regularly for any changes that will affect our church family and communities.

In the meantime, please do your best to care for those around with you with the love of Jesus. There are those who are elderly and/or have underlying health conditions; those who are lonely and don’t have a steady family or friends to connect with; those who are dealing with serious concerns over their jobs, businesses, or mental and spiritual health; and of course, those who are on the front lines of caring for those who are sick.

It may seem like there is a mountain of needs to tackle, and it’s natural to feel paralyzed or inept to do anything for anyone. I urge you to fight that feeling of paralysis and ineptness. We are not people left to our own devices and wits. We are His Church. We have His Spirit who empowers; His Gospel that saves; His Son Jesus who leads us to the brokenhearted and grants peace to those afraid. Pastor Andy Stanley once shared, “Do for one what you wish you could do for many.” Who is one person you can be Jesus to today?

The AABC leadership is praying for all of you and the impact you have for His Kingdom at this unprecedented time. If you have a need OR if you are able to help someone with a need, please do not hesitate to let us know. Our desire is for our church body to unite and help meet each other’s emotional, physical and spiritual needs as we are able. We are all in this together.

A great touchpoint for you to share your needs, or volunteer your help for those in need, are your Nurture Group leaders. You may also reach out to Betsy Wong, the Deacons or Pastors. The HRT members are also available to answer your medical questions. We are all available to talk, pray and journey with you during this challenging time.

Peace,
Ben

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