During the week Southern Cross hosted the first Northern Rivers Presbytery (NRP) meeting of 2024. What a brilliant bunch they are! We started our time together in Jeremiah 1, seeing the critical need Jeremiah had to be a witness to the greatness of God to a world and a people that would want to disregard him. Jeremiah was not going to have an easy ministry. It was going to require firmness, tenacity, long suffering and endurance.
It was not an easy meeting; stories of real heartache, leadership teams faced with significant opposition and future decisions required that cause us all to want to shrink back due to fear. When the need arose for members of the Presbytery to volunteer for roles and the room feel silent, I confess I may have yelled out “Let’s send Jeremiah”!
I don’t know if you have read the book of Jeremiah lately but it is a very confronting read. At times it feels too much to bear to read of the trials of Jeremiah. Yet, as you continue reading in the book, he will later utter “the word of God is in my bones”! I understand that he is saying that as hard as this is, he is compelled to speak God’s powerful words – it’s in him and he must speak it!
Could I ask you to pray for our Presbytery and the churches it seeks to serve (from Tweed Heads in the north, to Grafton in the South). Pray for the members of Presbytery, that when we feel afraid, anxious and overwhelmed (which can feel like every meeting!) we would understand the call to be witnesses to God’s living word, be prepared for trials and allow our Father to meet us in our fears.
Finally, would you also consider to pray for me personally. In 2024, I continue to serve as the Interim Moderator at Crossroads Presbyterian Church in Wollongbar while they remain vacant (following the retirement of their pastor at the end of 2022). I will be preaching there this weekend from James 1. We have a heart for this area and are eager to see a strong gospel voice continue to develop in this growth corridor. Please pray also for Jill as she works a half day each week as the Administrative clerk for the NRP, that she would quickly adjust to this position and bring her fantastic gifts to bear in this critical role.
Let me finish with this powerful word from the prophet Jeremiah:
4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
6 “Alas, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”
7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.
9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy
and overthrow, to build and to plant.”
Jeremiah 1:4-10
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