March 4, 2020
Dear Allen Temple Family and Friends,
Our Lenten Series continues this week with the theme of Tearing Down Barriers/Our Mission with Reverend Theophous Reagans, Allen Temple Minister of Global Missions.
Forward Together by Faith,
Dr. Jacqueline A. Thompson
Senior Pastor
John 4:28-30
28 Then the woman left her water jar and went away to the town. And began telling the people, 29 Come, see a Man Who has told me everything that I did! Can this be the Christ? —Must not this be the Messiah, the Anointed One? 30 So the people left the town and set out to go to Him.
Tearing Down Barriers/Our Mission
Here, much to the surprise of His disciples, Jesus evangelized through a woman, a Samaritan (mixed race), and called her from her wandering into the power of a new way of life. She immediately went back to her village with excitement and wonder and told them: “Come, see a Man…” The rabbis said, “It is better that the words of the Law be burned than delivered by a woman!” But Jesus did not agree with that narrow point of view and He, and the woman, tore down racial and gender barriers by this encounter.
We are not just here. We have been claimed and commissioned. God used the simple testimony of this woman, and many people came out to the well to meet Jesus. All of us were called out of something to God’s goodness. And many of us, like this woman, were not likely prospects, at least in the eyes of the world and maybe in the eyes of many in the church. Yet, we were called to put our lives down in the power and wonder of the Creator and to share the gift of our faith with others.
Jesus called fishermen and repurposed their lives to become fishers of men. He called a hated tax collector who left all of his tax-collecting behind. In this season of Lent, I encourage you to remember the time of your own calling to God’s goodness and purpose. You were called to mission, just like the fishermen, the tax collector, and the woman at the well. Remember your own unique story and how God has called you not in spite of, but because of your unique circumstances—to tear down barriers and to reach others and bring them to Jesus. Go back to your village with excitement and wonder.
During this season of Lent consider how your place in society, that is, your race, cultural heritage, economic status, gender, generational identity, sexual orientation, or social status, can enable you to continue God’s incarnation (mission). Live your true existence in response to the faithful gift of God. Carry Jesus to others from your own experiences.
This is important because mission is not merely an aspect of ministry of the church, but rather, it is the central theme or purpose of the Church. From a missional theology perspective, mission matters because God is a missional God. The Father sent His son, the Father and Son send the Holy Spirit, and the Trinity sends the Church into the world to fulfill God’s purpose.1
During this season of Lent, let us ponder how God can use our testimonies so others, especially those on the margins, will come to meet Jesus. Go back to your village with excitement and wonder.
Deliver us from the shackles of “Yes, but” and free us to sing of miracles. Open our hearts and minds to your creative word, that brings life that is extraordinary and new. Amen.2
1 Guder, Darrell. Missional Church, A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998), 4.
2 Brueggeman, Walter. A Way Other Than Our Own (Louisville, Westminster John Knox Press, 2017) 38.
Further reading:
- 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
- 1 Corinthians 1:27-29
- Mark 8:34-36
- Luke 24:35
- 2 Corinthians 3:18
- John 15:16
Reverend Theophous Reagans, Esq. is the Allen Temple Minister of Global Missions. In addition to coordinating and leading several mission trips to South Africa providing needed support to children, youth and adults through the giving of time, talent and treasure, Rev. Reagans serves as Co-Chairperson of the Community Care Cluster and as a Worship Leader. He has also served as Chaplain to the Allen Temple Manor, as a member of the Prison Ministry, and as a member of the New Members Ministry.
