In the Mar Thoma Church, we are greatly blessed with ministers that are handpicked by God. These are individuals that strive to be used as an instrument by God to touch the hearts of many, so that the many may experience Christ’s unfailing love and turn to Him. Within the new generation, many of us believe that these Achens probably do not understand us or cannot relate with us. We seemingly put them on a pedestal, but in reality, they are like us. They have gone through struggles, just like us. They have grown, just like us. They have dealt with temptation, just like us. Where their ministry and their life are right now is because that is where God has guided them to be a transformative mark upon the lives that they come across. That is why I believe that our Achens care so much. That is why every time an Achen leaves our church after spending approximately three years with us, we cannot help but shed a tear or wish they never had to leave. I often think of Christ’s ministry when an Achen is being transferred. Christ spent approximately three and a half years ministering here. After those three and a half years, were all the blind granted vision? Were all the deaf able to hear? Did all the dead rise up? No, but Christ led such an impactful ministry that changed the lives of His Apostles, and they in turn continued that ministry. Now, more than two thousand years later, the Gospel is still being spread. Similarly, an Achen’s ministry cannot simply flourish in one area, but rather be given an opportunity to be experienced elsewhere. That way, they can continue to spread the Gospel to every place that they are sent. Just as the Israelites were led by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, so too are these ministers led until they can enter the Promised Land, which is Heaven.
As
Achens come to a church, some have high aspirations for the new generation.
They will fully support them and push them for great goals. Then, there are
some Achens that come unsure of how to interact with the upcoming generation,
but are too comfortable with the parents and elders of the church. Before their
ministry finishes though, every Achen will have a deep fire for the youths, and
they push us to great heights. They strive to get us involved, so that we can
bring fresh ideas to the table. They realize that we are not simply the future
of the church, but rather, the present. They pray for us unceasingly, so that
we may take the reins of what our forefathers have built thus far. Ministry is
not simply something that an Achen takes on, but rather, it is something that
we as the people of God work together to achieve. As youths, we are not called
to be passive but to be proactive under the direction of our Achens, thereby
making a transformation in our lives, families, church, and community for the
glory of God.
Hope you liked what you read. I encourage everyone to step up in any and every available facet with the resources given to you to bring a change within the church. We as parishioners are called to work with our ministers to bring the expansion of the Kingdom of God. We aren't called to keep Christ confined within the walls of the church, but the church is meant to go out into the world. I will leave you with a verse.
Hope you liked what you read. I encourage everyone to step up in any and every available facet with the resources given to you to bring a change within the church. We as parishioners are called to work with our ministers to bring the expansion of the Kingdom of God. We aren't called to keep Christ confined within the walls of the church, but the church is meant to go out into the world. I will leave you with a verse.
"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
-Mark 10:45 (ESV)
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