Jesus brings us all together

Jesus is the source of unity among believers. He was that fifty years ago in the Jesus Movement and He is that today as the next generations peers into a new frontier. When divisions and denominations exist in the church, it’s because we have made something else more important than Jesus. We have allowed some doctrine or some practice or some particular belief to become a barrier to unity. So we hunker down in our partisan group and cut ourselves off to the Jesus that exists in the lives of those believers who don’t hold to our particular bent.

Suddenly Jesus isn’t enough; everyone has to think alike. But that won’t do because we’re all so different. Jesus is the unifying factor. In Ephesians 1:10, Paul explains the universal will of God as “the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.” This unity in Christ is more important now than it ever has been because division and polarization have become the norm in our current society. But faith must never take sides.

Our current situation is actually an incredible opportunity for the truth because Jesus brings together people with differing views, and that will bring glory to God. Is there anything that can bring Republicans and Democrats together today? Yes. Jesus. Unless your political party loyalty is more important to you than the family of God, you will put aside the differences that are splitting this country apart and embrace your brother or sister in Christ regardless of their political affiliations. I would hold that this characteristic of the Jesus Movement is more important today than it was fifty years ago.

We have been instructed by Paul in his letter to the Ephesian church that we are to do everything in our power to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. It’s that important. Otherwise, the gospel becomes subservient to political agendas and social issues and fades away into partisan camps. Jesus Saves is far more important than any candidate and any legislation.

It’s all about Jesus and it’s all about the unity of believers in the bond of peace. Keep your eye on the bigger picture. Jesus is the bigger picture from the heart of all who believe.

******

Dear Members of the Catch Community

(This letter of mine is a bit lengthy but I am asking you to honor me by reading it to the end. PS You can thank John for his editing skills. Before he got his red pen out, this writing was twice as long.). – Marti

It’s a Simple Matter of Multiplication

Swallowing Bleach

Some people find fund-raising to be a lot like swallowing bleach, like an unpleasant activity to support spiritual things. Others believe that fund-raising reflects a failure to plan well. A dear friend of mine sees fund-raising as a lack of trust that God will provide for all our needs. Until lately, John approached fund-raising as a response to a crisis; a form of begging.

The Opposite of Begging

Fund-raising is precisely the opposite of begging. Rather, we are declaring, “We have a vision that is amazing and exciting. We are inviting you to invest yourself through the resources that God has given you— your energy, your spiritual gifts, prayers, and your money—in this work to which God has called us.”

From a Biblical perspective, fund-raising is not a response to a crisis. Fund-raising is, first and foremost, a form of ministry. It is a way of announcing the Catch Ministry’s vision and inviting other people into its purpose. Vision and purpose are so central to the life of God’s people that without vision we perish and without purpose we lose our way (Proverbs 29:18; 2 Kings 21:1-9). Through fund-raising, we are inviting you, our Catch community, into the Ministry’s purpose to develop disciples worldwide so that together, we might make real our vision, which is to introduce the Gospel of Welcome — Grace Turned Outward — to everyone, everywhere. And with over 5.03 billion people active in the virtual internet world and 4.7 billion social media users, as a cyber church, “everyone everywhere” is reasonable.

Examples of our expanding territory: the Catch Ministry addresses over 2,274 individuals daily from the cyber church community; with Sunday’s Church at the Catch attendees numbering 600 people or six generations sitting side by side; weekly bible studies, social media, podcasts with an array of prominent guests; our MemberPartner interaction; a 24/7 interactive prayer and counseling ministry; a discipleship ministry providing thousands times ten “boots on the ground” each year to over 143 countries the Ministry presently serves, and a personal ‘triage’ that connects members to its national network of local ministries.

Because the purpose of our ministry is to develop disciples, who in turn, make disciples, who make disciples …, it is a matter of simple multiplication. A local Christian community could never really reach the whole world. But because of you, the Catch can.

A Call for a Change of Heart

Fund-raising is a call for a change of heart. And this call comes to both those who seek funds and those who have funds. Whether we are asking for money or giving money, we are drawn together by God, who is doing a new thing through our collaboration (see Isaiah 43:19).

A Gift is only Good if it is Good for the Giver

Fund-raising invites us to look at our resources from a different perspective. Fund-raising from the point of view of the Bible says the Ministry will accept your financial gift and invest it in its Grace Turned Outward vision only if it is good for your spiritual journey. We confidently declare with the Apostle Paul: “You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity…” (2 Corinthians 9:11).

We Belong Together in Our Work

When those with money and those who need money share a passion for the purpose and vision, there is renewed life in the Spirit of Christ. We belong together in our work because Jesus has brought us together, and our fruitfulness depends on staying connected with him. Jesus tells us: “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). With him, we can do anything because we know that God surrounds us with a profusion of blessings. Therefore, those who need money and those who can give money meet on the common ground of God’s love. “And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

It’s a Matter of Simple Multiplication

When Jesus fed five thousand people with only five loaves of bread and two fish, he was showing us how God’s love multiplies the effects of our generosity (Matthew 14:13-21). God’s Kingdom is the place of abundance where every generous act overflows its original bounds and becomes part of the unbounded grace of God at work in the world (2 Corinthians. 9:10-15).

It’s simply a matter of multiplication — to make visible the Kingdom that is made manifest in the world.

The Catch Ministry’s Annual Campaign

The Catch Ministry is looking to complete its $20,000 goal. On behalf of the Board of Directors, John, and the many workers, without apology and with a pure heart, I ask each of you to join your brothers and sisters who have brought us three-fourths to the Ministry’s Go Live goal, to contribute now. Together, let’s continue to develop disciples so that we can make real our mutual vision to introduce the Gospel of Welcome — Grace Turned Outward — to Everyone, Everywhere.

Yours for thus journey,

Marti