Recognizing the urgent need for the Gospel of Welcome in our communities worldwide, we’re launching the “Rebuilding Together” initiative today. Our primary goal is to stabilize and revitalize The Catch Ministry, ensuring its sustainability and continued growth in the digital age.

We’re inviting you to join our sustaining monthly MemberPartners who support our purpose: to develop disciples toward making real our vision to introduce the Gospel of Welcome — Grace Turned Outward — to everyone, everywhere.

To inspire this initiative, we have chosen the story of Nehemiah, known for his leadership, vision, and determination in leading the Jews to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem that were torn down when they were led away into captivity.

Nehemiah was a Jew born into exile and served in the court of Artaxerxes, King of Persia. He was the king’s cupbearer, and like Joseph before him, he had earned the king’s favor even though he was in exile from his own country.

Nehemiah was not a prophet, priest, or king. He was an ordinary man. Think of him as an average businessman with a heavy burden to do something for his people. Is there a group of people, someone, or something that burdens your heart — hurts your heart?

Now Cyrus, the previous King of Persia, had relaxed the hold on Jews and let those who wished to return home do so. Subsequently, Nehemiah had heard that some Jews who had returned to Jerusalem had come back with a bad report about how things were there. “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire” (Nehemiah 1:3).

This news devastated Nehemiah. He wept, fasted, and prayed for days. Nehemiah wanted to do something about this, but the situation was too big for him. What do you do in such a case? Do you do what Nehemiah did: pray on your face before God and pour your heart into Him?

What did Nehemiah’s prayers consist of? Confession. He knew why they were in exile: they had disobeyed the Lord, and true to His promise, God had sent them away into captivity. Nehemiah’s confession included himself and his family. He knew he was part of why they had been carried away, but he also knew that God had promised that if they turned back to Him and gave themselves wholly to living by His commands, He would bring them back home from wherever they had been in exile even as far as the ends of the earth. So Nehemiah wept, fasted, prayed, and confessed for himself and on behalf of his people.

Nehemiah humbly yet boldly reminded God of His promise to restore His people. God heard him, though Nehemiah didn’t know that for a few months, for that was how long it took before he began to see God working in his life.

I am facing something too big for me to handle. I am before the Lord, pouring out my heart, confessing my sins, and making my request known to Him based on a promise God has already given me in His word. I must leave it to Him to act.

Nehemiah was just a regular man, but he stepped up, much like you or me, and did something needful for the times. Like me, I believe that God has placed a burden on your heart. Bring it to Him. Leave it to Him to act. Keep your eyes wide open to recognize God working in your life as His power leads you.

Get ready. This is our time.