JESUS AT JUNALUSKA

Jesus blessed us with His presence at Lake Junaluska last week. He was definitely there, and O what sheer joy it is to be where Jesus is. It was the annual gathering of the United Methodist Volunteers In Mission (UMVIM) of the Southeastern Jurisdiction meeting at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. It was a week of worship and praise, of learning and networking with the wonderful folk who go all over the world in Jesus’ name doing short-term mission work. UMVIM missioners are not “professional” missionaries, they just love the Lord and have heard and responded to His call to service. We were gathered in His name and He honored His promise to be there.

Jesus took command of the event and the theme, “Connect,” and the sub-themes, “Passion” and “Purpose,” as He inspired the speakers, Bishops Will Willimon, of the North Alabama Conference, Hope Morgan-Ward, of the Mississippi Conference, and Dr. Wilson Bonfim, the physician Director of EvangeMed as they challenged us to connect our passion with purpose in our service in the world. Our Lord also honored His word in a workshop, led by Dr. Evelyn Laycock, which was a study of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) entitled, “The Words of Jesus When He Taught Servant Leadership.” (A peak experience.) It was great to be reminded that in our Lord, Jesus Christ, passion and purpose connect.

Jesus’ passion and purpose are abundantly evident throughout the Gospels in everything He says and does. As you read the Gospels you feel His passion and the urgency of His purpose as He enters Galilee calling for repentance, preaching, “The time has come. The Kingdom has come near. Turn around, change, and believe this good news.”(Mark 1:14-15) With passion He literally barks orders to demons and refuses to let them speak. (Mark 1:25) Hard hearts anger Him (Mark 3:1-ff) as does the abuse and commercialization of the Temple. (Mark 11:15-ff) The lack of faith of the hometown folk and relatives amazes Him. (Mark 6:1-6) He is incensed by, and with passion confronts, the religious leaders who mislead people with their teaching. (Mark 7:1-ff) With His passion motivating His purpose Jesus deeply loves the lost and desperately seeks them out in order to save them. (Luke 19:10) The passion of Christ is most evident as it unites with His ultimate purpose in His suffering death upon the cross and His glorious resurrection. (Matthew 27:33-28:7)

Jesus calls us to join Him in His passion and purpose. His passion and purpose are perpetuated by the enabling and empowering gift of His Holy Spirit to all who respond to His call. (Acts 1:4-8)

Jesus was at Junaluska restirring our passion, renewing our purpose and connecting them for service to His honor and glory.