Spirit Alive is a twice a month blog that looks at different aspects of mission and ministry throughout the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference and beyond.

November 22, 2016

Signs of Life:

How Do You Find Hope While Living in a World of Pain?

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1: 5

From time-to-time we find ourselves confronted by the following question:

What am I called to do in the face of violence, fear, suffering, and discouragement?

As Advent approaches,

and darkness gathers around us,

I invite you to watch this powerful video story about what one church in our annual conference did when they were confronted by the darkness of a nearby tragedy. Learn how they found a positive way to shine the light of love...and be a sign of life to a world that is waiting and watching to see if indeed we have anything to offer when we are confronted by darkness.

Watch the video

Faith in action....our public voice....signs of hope....are powerful spiritual tools that can change the world.

We often quote the words of Mohandas Gandhi: "Be the change that you wish to see in the world," but then go about doing our business as usual. As this story demonstrates, the youth at Eugene First United Methodist Church confronted a nearby tragedy and acted in a powerful way to respond to the suffering they saw in their midst. In the process, they became agents of love, hope, and light.

During this Advent Season, I pray that each of us...and all of our congregations...will find ways to "be the change we wish to see in the world" within our own communities.

Galatians 5: 22-23

Let us walk in the light of God's love,

Lowell

Spirit Alive is a twice a month blog and email by Rev. Lowell Greathouse, Mission and Ministry Coordinator for the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference. It seeks out where the spirit is alive in our congregations and communities.