death is NOT the end of the story...

Yesterday was quite a full on day. We had a funeral at 614 of one of our community members, who died from an overdose the other week. It's the fourth community member this year who has died from a drug and alcohol related death. And we've had enough. We've had enough of death and destruction. We're sick of losing people, and we know that this isn't Gods plan for our community.

Last week at ACC (Aggressive Christianity Conference) I heard Russ Rook speak. It was one of the most amazing and powerful messages that i've heard in a while. He spoke about the resurrection, and the fact that Jesus' death wasn't the end of the story- resurrection was! Hallejuah! The sane can be said about Gods plan for our communities. His ideal is not to leave our communities to suffer from death and destruction. Death has NO hold on our communities. His plan is to bring life, to resurrect our communities. To bring hope where there is no hope. He does not want his people to suffer in death (both physically, spiritually etc.) no longer. Jesus died so that we may have life, and have it in abundance (John 10:10)

I don't know about you, but to be reminded of this message just makes me want to jump around with my fists triumphantly in the air yelling DEATH IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY!!!!!!!!!!! ..... Hallejuah! God wants us to partner with Him in breathing life into our broken, hurting, marginalised communities. He wants to break through and bring healing and love to communities that have never felt it before. He doesn't want them to die.......

It encourages me to keep going, especially on the days when all seems hopeless. On those days, when things seem to be going wrong, when community members seem to take five steps back after taking one step forward, I remind myself that the death and despair doesn't have to be the end. There's always hope, and I have to cling onto the fact. Jesus' resurrection is proof that there's always hope and life eternal.

For Him Alone
Ness :-)