7 Days to Pentecost
Remember Jerusalem
Rylan Johnson
Children & Youth Co-Ordinator
Faith Welland Outreach
Growing up in the church, this particular piece of scripture was quite familiar to me. So many
times I heard, “and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to
the ends of the earth.” This was often the scripture used to send people into the mission field in
far off countries – Jesus had called people to go to the “ends of the earth”.
But what I love about this scripture is that Jesus doesn’t just call us to “the ends of the earth”. He
starts off by stating that we (through the power of the Holy Spirit) will be witnesses in Jerusalem.
You can probably see where I’m going with this.
Some of us may be called to go to far away countries – and that’s ok! The purpose of this
devotion is certainly not to discourage that.
Simply put, my message for you today is this – remember Jerusalem.
Working with children and youth in our community, I see first-hand the struggles that so many
of them experience - mental health challenges, bullying, estranged family members, just to name
a few.
But it is not just these individuals who are struggling – family members, neighbours, friends, and
even us individually experience many of these same challenges.
But it’s not all “doom and gloom”.
As much as I see these struggles, I also see the way in which people come together to love and
support each other.
We currently have a student who attends our community programs who is struggling. They often
just ‘pop-in’ to chat with our leaders or just to hang out. I love that the Community House can be
a space for this.
Application
Today’s application is to pray for our missionaries - but can I challenge you to pray for two
things specifically?
Firstly, I challenge you to pray for the work that Faith Welland Outreach is doing in our
community. Specifically, to pray that there will continue to be opportunities to meet needs and to
meet people where they are at, just like with that student who is struggling.
Secondly, I challenge you to ask God to show you opportunities to love to those in our
community. God didn’t just call others, He also called you.
Today, and everyday, let’s remember Jerusalem.
Rylan Johnson
Children & Youth Co-Ordinator
Faith Welland Outreach
Growing up in the church, this particular piece of scripture was quite familiar to me. So many
times I heard, “and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to
the ends of the earth.” This was often the scripture used to send people into the mission field in
far off countries – Jesus had called people to go to the “ends of the earth”.
But what I love about this scripture is that Jesus doesn’t just call us to “the ends of the earth”. He
starts off by stating that we (through the power of the Holy Spirit) will be witnesses in Jerusalem.
You can probably see where I’m going with this.
Some of us may be called to go to far away countries – and that’s ok! The purpose of this
devotion is certainly not to discourage that.
Simply put, my message for you today is this – remember Jerusalem.
Working with children and youth in our community, I see first-hand the struggles that so many
of them experience - mental health challenges, bullying, estranged family members, just to name
a few.
But it is not just these individuals who are struggling – family members, neighbours, friends, and
even us individually experience many of these same challenges.
But it’s not all “doom and gloom”.
As much as I see these struggles, I also see the way in which people come together to love and
support each other.
We currently have a student who attends our community programs who is struggling. They often
just ‘pop-in’ to chat with our leaders or just to hang out. I love that the Community House can be
a space for this.
Application
Today’s application is to pray for our missionaries - but can I challenge you to pray for two
things specifically?
Firstly, I challenge you to pray for the work that Faith Welland Outreach is doing in our
community. Specifically, to pray that there will continue to be opportunities to meet needs and to
meet people where they are at, just like with that student who is struggling.
Secondly, I challenge you to ask God to show you opportunities to love to those in our
community. God didn’t just call others, He also called you.
Today, and everyday, let’s remember Jerusalem.
Posted in 10 Days To Pentecost