MADE IN HIS IMAGE
By DJ Hill
There she was, sitting in the third row at the center of the sanctuary, overwhelmed by a sense of betrayal. Her friend had invited her to a youth event, promising an experience of God’s presence like she’d never felt before. Despite her mixed feelings, rooted in mistrust due to past experiences with the church, she decided to attend.
I can’t mention her name or the state where the event took place, but I can share what happened that day. I began by reading a passage from the Bible and immediately conveyed what I felt God wanted me to teach and preach about. I felt compelled to dedicate a significant portion of time to discussing the principles and essential truths I had been studying for months. With great intentionality, I passionately and lovingly declared that God created man and woman in His image. I wanted to be clear from the start, so I announced, “Today, I feel that God wants me to teach on gender and He is calling us to give ourselves wholly to Him.” My goal was for the youth and young adults to understand and live out that our loving God made us unique and with purpose. I proceeded to explain the biblical and biological differences between men and women. After addressing gender, I made an appeal for everyone to devote themselves fully to God. There was a witness of His Spirit!
You might not feel betrayed by my decision to start with reading the Bible and spending 40 minutes preaching about our God-given identity and gender, but this young lady did. She struggled with homosexual behavior and had recently begun to consider living in a covenant relationship with God. She believed her friend knew what I would be teaching and had invited her to the service to try and convert her. The friend felt awkward as I began discussing gender, fearing the outcome. I had only a few minutes to help them realize that this service would be positive and different.
While everyone was spending time with God at the altar, the young lady said, “I was so angry when you started talking about gender because I felt I was tricked into coming to hear you tell me how bad of a person I was. That’s what I expected, but after listening for a few minutes, I realized I was wrong. What you were saying made complete sense. I tried to argue internally with the biblical principles and scientific facts, but what you were saying didn’t just make sense in my mind; it also felt right. Not only that, but I also felt so loved while you were talking. You were handling the subject with care and compassion. I want to grow in my relationship with God after sitting through that!” Like this young lady, the Ethiopian Eunuch received essential truth gracefully, and his life was forever changed. In my book, “A Celebration of Creation,” I include notes that impacted that young lady and insights from my study of gender over the past two years. I take an apostolic approach to scripture and incorporate history and science to gracefully convey the essential truth that God made men and women IN HIS IMAGE.
He is a graduate of Urshan College, earned his Master of Theological Studies from Urshan Graduate School of Theology. In 2023, he was elected as the General Youth President of UPCI Youth Ministries, after serving three years as Director of Promotions. He previously spent five years with Georgia District Youth Ministries and was part of the pastoral team at Atlanta West Pentecostal Church under the leadership of Pastor Darrell Johns.
UNSEEN BUT ETERNAL
The Power Of Quiet Service | by Kasey-Michelle Suarez
Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
To serve as a general term means to perform duties or services for another person or an organization. To provide, assist, support, deliver, and help are ways one can serve. As a biblical term, it means to obey, to worship, and to live with a mindset of selflessness and humility both in the church and in one’s daily life to reflect who Jesus is. To serve is also a form of worship to express your love and commitment towards God and others.
Jesus places such a high value on serving because it is other-centered rather than self-centered, which is a key factor to follow in order to live an effective Christian life. He truly values those who faithfully and authentically serve Him. Servants have the mindset of desiring to increasingly be extensions and channels for God’s work in the world. They are humble, obedient to God, and are willing to be a reflection of who Jesus is through their lifestyle. Regardless of their state or status in life, a servant ministers to others. No matter the role that they play in the church and in their life, servants have the willingness to serve those following them and those they’re following. A servant doesn’t wait to be asked because it’s a voluntary act, and they don’t expect to receive anything in return. Even if they do or will, it isn’t what they’re serving for.
Servanthood is a lifestyle of deliberate availability to the Lord and to others. It isn’t a list of things to do, but it’s a way of being for others. Jesus has proven that true greatness lies in being a servant. In a generation that is constantly being attacked by the enemy, affected by generational curses, and full of distractions, it has become unusually difficult to serve our enemies.
Matthew 5:43-44 (KJV) 43 “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.” 44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
Serving is unconditional. Jesus never chose to not serve someone who treated Him wrongly. In fact, He still chose to die for the people who hated Him most.
Galatians 1:10 (KJV) “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”
It’s not where you’re comfortable that you’re effective. When this verse says “I seek to please men,” it doesn’t just mean to please others, but also to please yourself. You will never be an effective servant if you are satisfied with only serving yourself.
Servants don’t seek other people’s opinions or approval, but they are willing to simply set an example reflecting who Jesus is to lead others to Him. As servants of God, we must have loyalty towards God even in the face of worldly distractions and priorities.
A servant understands that serving isn’t about them. It’s not about their reputation, their good works, and their glory, but it’s the result of a willingness to please God and to lead souls to Him.
Serving requires full surrender, a right spirit, hunger, and humility. A true servant gives their ALL to God and to others. Though it isn’t easy, a servant desires to do everything it takes to please God. They are committed and don’t give up easily because they are aware that the main goal is to make it to heaven someday and to bring many souls with them.
In conclusion, the way you serve others should reflect how you serve God. Great examples of serving are church ministry, volunteering to help at church, simple acts of kindness, and much more. Let us never forget who we’re serving and who we’re doing it for. Let us continue to faithfully serve God and others.
Here are the key principles to follow to maintain a strong relationship with the Lord:
- Reading God’s Word and studying it daily
- Praying every day
- Going to church
