By Steve Horn
ALEXANDRIA, (LBM)–You might be tired of hearing that we are living in unprecedented days, and, of listening to endless reports about the crisis, quarantine, social distancing, stay-at-home orders, and flattening the curve. I know I am.
So, how about some good news?
Our churches are responding to the challenge with online worship, online giving, online Sunday school, and online prayer meetings. [I haven’t heard of an online dinner on the grounds, but I’m ready when someone tries that!] Others are doing drive-in church.
We are at our best when our motto is: “Whatever it takes!”
And you know what?
You are doing great Louisiana Baptists! Louisiana Baptists also are providing real solutions to real problems in other ways:
— Louisiana College’s Pre-Engineering Department is making protective face shields and masks for hospitals.
— Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief has established a prayer line, distributed at least 24,000 N-95 respirators, and are participating in food distribution.
— Our Business Office, in cooperation with our Office of Public Policy and Communications Team, is helping associations and churches interpret the CARES Act which provides financial assistance for churches.
You are doing great Louisiana Baptists!
This week our State Missions Offering Committee, the group tasked with setting goals for all mission offerings and disbursing our convention’s Georgia Barnette State Missions offering, granted $305,000 from Georgia Barnette gifts to our 38 associations. The amount of each grant was based on the size of the association and each association will be able to use those funds in a way that is most needed in their area. We were able to do this because of the faithful giving of Louisiana Baptists through the years.
You are doing great Louisiana Baptists!
Since February of last year, Louisiana Baptists have been going to the highways and hedges of people’s homes across the state via our “Here for You” media strategy. Using broadcast and cable TV, billboards, social media and streaming services, you have seeded God’s word in literally tens of thousands of hearts and homes.
Last year, who knew we’d be facing a pandemic that would force most of Louisiana’s residents to stay and work from home thus increasing the opportunity to impact our neighbors with these Scripturebased commercials? God knew!
You are doing great Louisiana Baptists!
We are more engaged in prayer than any time in my memory. We’ve had countless calls to prayer, but crisis moves us to prayer as nothing else can.
Churches are calling for fasts.
Our Governor has called us to fast and pray
every Tuesday during lunch.
I know many are asking the same question I’m asking: “Is God using this crisis to bring about revival and spiritual awakening?”
This would be the best news of our lifetimes! Keep praying.
You are doing great Louisiana Baptists!
Habakkuk ended his prophecy like this:
Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will triumph in Yahweh; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!
Yahweh my Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights! (Habakkuk 3:17-19)
Habakkuk was not always in a posture of praise. In fact, if you read the whole biblical account about his ministry, he was often far from it.
Habakkuk most likely prophesied just before the beginning of the exile when the sin of Judah was at its peak.
He questioned God as to how long He would allow sin to reign in Judah (1:1-4)? God answered that He was preparing the Babylonians to deal with Judah’s sin (1:5-11).
His second question concerned God’s use the Babylonians, who were wicked, to be the instrument of judgment against Judah (1:12-2:1). God’s answer helps us to learn some important truths:
- God is always at work even if we do not see how He is at work.
- God will speak at the right time.
And so, we must learn to walk by faith.
Habakkuk’s name in Hebrew means “one who embraces” or “one who clings.” That’s what we must do—cling to or embrace our faith in God. In fact, sometimes, that’s all we can do.
Maybe today your prayer sounds like Habakkuk’s words of his praise. Maybe your prayer goes like this:
Though talk of a disease called COVID-19 has overtaken every conversation, and has changed all we know to be normal. Even though the economic uncertainty is more than I can comprehend, yet, I will rejoice in the Lord! Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord! He is my salvation and hope!
You only get to those last words by faith! Keep looking up, Louisiana Baptists!
Keep looking up to THE ONE who is the author and finisher of our faith! Keep looking up because our redemption draws near!
Either way, we win!
Steve Horn is executive director for Louisiana Baptists.
