Dear Family & Friends:
My beloved grandmother was a woman of many quips. One that comes immediately to mind is "All good things must come to an end." So it is for Monday Missives (this is my last), and my time of service at Campus Hill Church. On November 28, 2009, I will bid farewell to my family, friends, congregation and community to take on the responsibilities of Professor of Homiletics at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary in Berrien Springs, Michigan.
After more than thirteen years of service at Campus Hill Church, it had to be a clear call from God to move me. The problem is that when God calls us, it's usually implicit and He seldom if ever tells us what to expect. He gives us orders to a vast venture of faith. However, this does not mean that a life of faith is a life of fate. Oswald Chambers defines fate as "stoical resignation to an unknown force" while "faith is commitment to One whose character we know because it has been revealed to us in Jesus Christ." Faith never knows where it is being led, but it believes and loves the One who is leading. It also offers the possibility of refusal on our part, and I considered not going until God sent explicit messages, urging me to obey, such as Jeremiah1:17-19.
My new role will be to join an awesome faculty in preparing a new generation of preachers. As I considered the challenges and opportunities the following words of Jesus came to mind: "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14).
Jesus didn't say "a gospel," but "this gospel" because it is that which He created and preached. It incorporates, among many other aspects, the fact that (a) the Word became flesh, in the person of Jesus, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth (John 1:14); (b) God was in Jesus Christ reconciling the world unto Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19); (c) to reconcile us to God, Jesus became sin for us and died the second death on the cross so we will not have to face it or the judgment (Matthew 26:45-46, John 19:28-30 & John 5:24); (d) the Second Coming of Christ is as certain as night becomes day and is closer than when we first believed.
This Gospel shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations. Contrary to conventional thinking, preaching is not just by ministers who show up on the day of worship to razzle-dazzle the congregation. The essential characteristic of a preacher is not merely to interpret the past, foretell the future or dissect the present, but be a hearer and doer of the Word who leaves behind all shivering human wisdom to surrender unconditionally to the will of God. S/he functions as:
A prophet - nabi - mouthpiece for God - Jeremiah 1:5-10. S/he will be a divinely anointed/appointed spokesperson to challenge the church, underscore the opportunities of grace and minister creatively in our violent, hedonistic, narcissistic culture. The prophetic gift is given by the Holy Spirit and is manifested in two forms: a) foretelling (the message is derived directly from God as an original revelation that does not contradict or compromise His Word) and (b) forth-telling (preaching with passion as a herald and ambassador of Christ who possesses the prophetic fire so urgently needed these days).
A preacher/teacher - 2 Timothy 4:1-5. S/he will be an inspired, relevant, resourceful messenger, confidently forth-telling the Good News of God's grace and targeting real issues with certainty that God has the answers/solutions.
A steward - 1 Corinthians 4:1-2. Although all of God's people are stewards, the Christian ministry is a sacred stewardship of which the pastor is a special trustee, overseer, caretaker of God's spiritual and material resources, especially His pearl of great price, the people whom He loved so much He gave His only begotten Son to save them. The servants of Christ are to be regarded, not just as stewards of time, talent, and tithe, but especially of the mysteries of God.
A witness - Acts 20:24. Jesus said repeatedly, "You shall be my witnesses " adding in His last instructions before ascension, "even to the remotest part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). To bear witness, one must first be an eyewitness with a personal experience about which she or he will testify. To be a witness, therefore, refers most importantly to the testimony of one's life more than their lips for, as Ellen White so wisely recommended, the best sermon is a life lived consistently for Christ. Those who are called by God will always seize opportunities to practice what they preach keeping in mind three H's - honesty, humility and humor.
We are all members of the holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5) and therefore preachers (2 Timothy 4:2) who sometimes use words. We also represent "all the nations" to whom we must give this gospel and then the end will come. May we all confidently "preach the word" and be ready when Jesus comes. See you in heaven if time should not allow us to meet again on earth.
Blessings forever and ever, amen,
Pastor Hyveth
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PLEASE SAVE THESE SABBATH DATES AND PLAN TO ATTEND
1. October 31, 2009 - Vespers featuring violin protégé Miclen LaiPang in a farewell to Pastor Williams - 5 pm in Campus Hill Sanctuary.
2. November 14, 2009 - Gala Fundraising Concert featuring Awilda Verdejo, internationally reknown opera singer, Riverside Lyric Opera Chorus and Friends with Manuel Alberto Aybar, Artistic Director - 5 pm in the Sanctuary followed by a reception in Linda Hall. Formal dress please. An offering will be taken for the benefit of Campus Hill Church.
3. November 21, 2009, 5pm. Farewell vespers for Pastor Williams presented by Dr. Angelica Prodan, organist, featuring Cristina Picardi, Pianist from Michigan. An offering will be taken for the Church.
4. November 28, 2009 Pastor Williams' final sermon.
5. December 5, 2009, Master's Call Choir Christmas Concert, 5 pm. in the Sanctuary.
6. December 12, 2009 - Concert featuring James & Anna Cameron, 6 p.m., in the Sanctuary.
7. December 19, 2009, 3-5 pm., Just For Kids Christmas Party, Linda Hall - please donate a gift for needy children.