With Christmas quickly approaching, our minds are focused on this Advent season. The word 'Advent' means 'coming' or 'arrival', as I'm sure you know, but it's also about 'preparation' too.
The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in his First Advent (Isaiah 9:6), and the anticipation of the return of Christ in his Second Advent (Acts 1:11; Matthew 16:27).
Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000-year-old event in history. It is celebrating the truth about God, or the revelation of God in His Son Jesus Christ, whereby all might be reconciled to God through repentance and faith (Isaiah 9:6; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9). That is a process in which we now participate, and the consummation of which we anticipate.
My reason for bringing this up today is simple and it has to do with far more than just timing and dates on a calendar. The Ministry Team here at Pioneer Camp & Retreat Center is also anticipating another 'advent' of sorts -- the start of our 2012 season of ministering to and serving the community.
As always, we ask for your prayers and generous support. After careful prayerful consideration on our end, several key projects are already underway at this time like the creation of a new website, the development of new Camps, new Events, new Programs, and new Retreats, and even some minor improvements to the facilities/grounds.
We truly believe the Lord is at work through us, His humble and willing servants of the Body of Christ, and that He will use us (and anything new here at Pioneer) to fulfill His perfect plans and purposes.
However, and most importantly, let's never forget that it's not the 'new' that we are most concerned with. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." It's not about 'How many new 'things' can we offer you here at Pioneer?', but about 'How many ways can we point you to Jesus Christ here at Pioneer?'.
With that in mind, please know that our primary task in whatever we do to help disciple you, to help you mature in the faith through various means, it's all being done so that we may bring glory, honor, and praise to Him and to Him alone.
Please pray that we will always market to your spirit and never to your flesh. From my family to yours, and from all of us here at Pioneer Camp & Retreat Center, grace and peace unto you this Christmas.
In Christ,
Jeffrey K. Radt
Director of Retreat Services
Share|
The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in his First Advent (Isaiah 9:6), and the anticipation of the return of Christ in his Second Advent (Acts 1:11; Matthew 16:27).
Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000-year-old event in history. It is celebrating the truth about God, or the revelation of God in His Son Jesus Christ, whereby all might be reconciled to God through repentance and faith (Isaiah 9:6; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9). That is a process in which we now participate, and the consummation of which we anticipate.
My reason for bringing this up today is simple and it has to do with far more than just timing and dates on a calendar. The Ministry Team here at Pioneer Camp & Retreat Center is also anticipating another 'advent' of sorts -- the start of our 2012 season of ministering to and serving the community.
As always, we ask for your prayers and generous support. After careful prayerful consideration on our end, several key projects are already underway at this time like the creation of a new website, the development of new Camps, new Events, new Programs, and new Retreats, and even some minor improvements to the facilities/grounds.
We truly believe the Lord is at work through us, His humble and willing servants of the Body of Christ, and that He will use us (and anything new here at Pioneer) to fulfill His perfect plans and purposes.
However, and most importantly, let's never forget that it's not the 'new' that we are most concerned with. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." It's not about 'How many new 'things' can we offer you here at Pioneer?', but about 'How many ways can we point you to Jesus Christ here at Pioneer?'.
With that in mind, please know that our primary task in whatever we do to help disciple you, to help you mature in the faith through various means, it's all being done so that we may bring glory, honor, and praise to Him and to Him alone.
Please pray that we will always market to your spirit and never to your flesh. From my family to yours, and from all of us here at Pioneer Camp & Retreat Center, grace and peace unto you this Christmas.
In Christ,
Jeffrey K. Radt
Director of Retreat Services
Share|
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