Oddly enough, the emphasis on local is growing as well. A restaurant in our area just reopened as a place that specializes in food that was produced less than fifty miles away.The idea is that our food has a smaller “carbon footprint” (causes less carbon dioxide) than if we ship it from the west coast. It also supports local agriculture and thus the local economy. Less pollution is good. I’m not an economist, but it seems like this “going local” trend should be a good thing.

This weekend, we have the joy of welcoming our own Kris to share about her work in a locale far away from from home. Kris has been working in Northeastern Thailand for the last eight years. She’s been building relationships, teaching English, sharing her love for Christ, establishing new points of ministry among the Issan people of that region. Most recently, she’s taken on the role as team leader in that field with Brethren in Christ World Missions.

Christians believe that Jesus isn’t just for us, in our town, country, culture and language. He’s not culture bound. At the same time, we realize that Jesus himself entered into the world in a particular culture and time. He looked, dressed, ate, and spoke like a first century resident of Palestine. Yet, his culture didn’t define him. His connection with his Father and His mission did.
He would take on the cultural role of rabbi (teacher). Then, he would do something completely out of character for such a highly esteemed leader—take on the role of a servant and wash his followers’ feet.

This is always the challenge that affects those who are trying to follow Jesus; authentically connecting with the locality we live in, yet taking our identity from a reality that transcends it. Loving the people around us enough to understand them deeply and to care about them practically—yet building our lives around our First Love. This is the hard work of living in mission. Every group of Christians, from the Bucksmont area to Ubon Rachthatani is charged with this; Embracing a culture while challenging it at its core.

In the seventh chapter of Revelation we see a picture of the church in all its glory.
I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.    

Think about this; how would someone know that they were from every nation, tribe, people and language? It’s pretty obvious. They spoke in different languages, had different colors of skin—they were diverse.
And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

A term you hear a lot these days is “Glocal.” The kingdom of God is like that. God intended it that way (see Ephesians 3:10).

All this to say, I’m looking forward to hearing Kris’s stories and her challenge to us. Where she is doing her ministry may seem very far away. But in this “glocal” world, what she and the team are doing there is exactly what God is calling us to do here. To embrace a people with the love of Christ, find the places where His message connects with that culture, and then challenging it to its core and creating a new community with Jesus at the center. Can’t wait.

See you Sunday.

Pastor Tom