Roberto's Reflections - December 2014 of the Multicultural Ministries of The Global Church of the Nazarene in Lenexa, Kansas, United States

ROBERTO'S REFLECTIONS Immigrants in the Bible: For such a time as this! Esther as Immigrant:“Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!" (Esther 4:16) In my last e-news I reflected on Mordecai as the immigrant that introduced the classic expression “For such a time as this” when the Jews were facing an evil decree and he asked Queen Esther for help.  God, in his providence, had placed Esther, a young Jewish immigrant woman in the position of queen of the Persian Empire.  Queen Esther was instructed by her Jewish teaching to fear and depend on a sovereign all- powerful God who answers prayer and grants favor to deliver His people when they seek his help.  Prayer and fasting is a spiritual discipline that has been practiced many times by the people of God as they cry out for God’s mercy and intervention.  God answered Esther’s fasting and prayers and the king issued a decree to save the Jews.  The Jews declared “according to the written instructions and according to the prescribed time, that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, that these days of Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews, and that the memory of them should not perish among their descendants”. (Esther 9:27-28) Practical lessons from this reflection: In the most difficult situation, trust God Pray and fast to seek God’s favor and intervention Ask for corporate fasting and prayer Celebrate God’s deliverance and blessings Note: I have enjoyed the journey for the last 15 months, reflecting on “Immigrants in the Bible”. I hope that these reflections have been an inspiration to your life and ministry in the light of the biblical immigrant characters’ example of serving and trusting a powerful, merciful and loving God. Starting in January, 2015 the reflections will be written by one of the Ethnic facilitators, in alphabetical order according to their particular people group. "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." Matthew 1:23.    Best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and a Blessed New Year.    December and January Ethnic Facilitator Birthdays Rev. Jad Ghrayyeb, Arab Ministries Facilitator - Birthday - December 24 Rev. Anong Nhim, Laotian Ministries Facilitator - Birthday - January 4 Dr. Paul Doctorian, Armenian Ministries Facilitator - Birthday - January 10 Multicultural Ministries vision is to encourage the development of strategy and initiative to reach the USA/Canada mission field through the visionary leadership of the ethnic facilitators, and their strategy committees.