We are One Body
By Steve Dickman
God has called us to be a part of His family, a part of His body, a part of His church. Being a part of something means that we are joined together by common bonds. In the case of a family it means we have the same “blood lines.” In the case of the body, it means that we are nourished by the same blood. In addition, we are controlled by the same brain. Should it not be similar? As we consider the meaning of being a part of His church.
As families, we are bound by tender ties of love. When there is joy or pain in the family, we come together. We come together for comfort, fellowship, encouragement, remembrances, and for reliving. Weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and funerals tend to bring family members from near and far. We listen, laugh, cry, and tell our stories. We also remember our past as we contemplate the future. If your body has one member in pain the remainder of the body is sympathetic. The toothache or the smashed finger brings tears to the eyes. We recognize the value of knowing where our feet or hands are at all times. Even the smell of good food causes the stomach to begin “thinking”.
ASI meetings are a time when the family can connect and the body can fellowship. Members have opportunity to share, testify, network, and just be together. This strengthens the bonds of love and encourages the work of sharing the gospel.
Paul begins his discourse on the topic in 1 Corinthians 12:12 “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also [is] Christ.” He describes the interaction of the members of the body with emphasis on each member doing his or her part and yet benefiting by being a member of the body. Paul concludes by saying in verse 27, “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” This counsel comes just before the amazing chapter 13, where Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, counsels on the topic of love. Not just any kind of love but the love of God, Which bind the family together.
If you have not experienced the ASI family connection, we would like to extend a special invitation and encourage you to join us. Being a member of the family is special. Please allow us the joy of your fellowship. 1 Corinthians 3:9 says “For we are labourers together with God."
Compelled To Act
By Cheryl Torres
January 12, 2010, will go down in history as the day of the great earthquake in Haiti. But January 23 is the day that Shawn Wray will remember most clearly. That is the day he saw the devastation for himself.
With a heavy burden for the less fortunate, Wray founded Think on These Things Ministries International (3.T.M.) in 2005. His greatest focus is on helping the needy in Atlanta, GA. But his ministry has a broader range, and when he saw images of the destruction and desperation in Haiti, he was compelled to act.
One of Wray’s volunteers, Lano Gabriel, was from Haiti and travels there often with medical supplies. Together with another friend, they organized a trip to the devastated country. A petition to Emory University armed them with medical supplies, and to Haiti they flew.
They arrived in Haiti at 5:00 a.m. on January 23, and after a brief session of prayer and planning, the small team set out into the rubble of Port-au-Prince, delivering supplies to three different hospitals. As they walked, a small sign which read “We need food. We have little children,” caught their attention. They turned up the street and shared the food they had brought with 20 families who had banded together for survival.
Wray says “I came from Jamaica, so I’ve seen poverty. But the level of need [in Haiti] is something that I’ve never seen—so much misery and hopelessness on people’s faces.”
The three men feel like their work in Haiti has just begun. Wray has created a new branch of his ministry, naming Gabriel as the 3.T.M.-Haiti director. They plan to return this May for three weeks with doctors and more supplies. His long-term plan includes starting an orphanage to help the many children who have lost their homes, their families, and what little hope they had in this tragic earthquake.
3.T.M. is a member of Outpost Centers International and ASI. Find out how you can support their work in Haiti at www.3tm.org
A New Way of Communication
Dear ASI Southern Union Family and Friends,
We welcome you to our brand new quarterly e-newsletter. This newsletter will provide a way to communicate what’s going on among our members here in the Southern Union, as well as things of interest to ASI members in general. You will see updates and news on ministries, events, distinctive personal stories, and businesses. I hope you like it.
This year, our focus is on education; both in our upcoming conferences, and in Train Them Now individual evangelism preparation sessions, which use the New Beginnings DVD Bible Study Series for small groups. ASI’s roots have always been in education. Since its beginning at Madison College in 1947 to today, many schools, academies, and specific training centers swell our ranks—most of them in the Southern Union. These self-supporting institutions have ongoing needs, and ASI members have always been ready to help by providing manpower, funds, and prayers. This year, our spring and fall conferences will showcase our most prominent educational institutions and their projects. In addition, since our ASI National Convention is in Orlando this year, we plan to target the Florida Conference geographical area with the New Beginnings DVD Bible Study training. Our goal is to train at least 1,000 church members in 2010.
We have not forgotten that the General Conference will be held in the Southern Union, and ASI members are working in Atlanta to help soften the ground in preparation for this summer’s gathering.Health presentations and evangelistic work are a small part of activities being planned. We will all have a chance to help with our prayers and support, but if you have an idea in this area, please talk to us.
Again, welcome, and thanks for supporting ASI Southern Union Chapter.
Blessings,
Calvin Thrash
President
© 2006