"A Call To Arms"Sermon Transcript for May 28, 2000
By Revs. Keith and Marilynn Hamilton
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:10-19
Marriage and family are God’s plan. Since the beginning, it has been God’s perfect plan and intent to create a family of love, which would include all persons. He promised Abraham: "In you all the families of the earth will be blessed" (Gen. 12:3; 28:14). His Son declared: "Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." (Matt: 12:50). The apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians: "So then you are...members of the household of God." (2:19).
In the vision of the Lamb of the Revelation of John, the living creatures and the elders sing a new song to the Lamb who by His blood had ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation (5:9) to reunite them at the marriage feast of the Lamb (19:7,9). A family of love which would include all persons and every family has been and is the vision, the plan, the desire of God. Only with healthy marriages and healthy relationships on every level can there be healthy families. We have made this vision our own.
This morning we want to say "thank you" for your partnership with us in mission. We were commissioned by you...prayed for by you...enabled by you...received scholarships from you, which were used to make the workshops and books available to the people we trained. This ministry is a part of the stewardship of Grace United Methodist Church. So here is our report to you. We want to begin by reading some "thank you’s" written by participants. Actually, we mailed these to you months ago, but you never received them for some reason. We are going to read just a few, but there are many thank you’s here. The first one is this:
"Dear Grace United Methodist, We do appreciate your support and prayers and the investment you all make through Keith & Marilynn to our lives. My name is Winterford and I am from Papua New Guinea and my wife’s name is Lone and she is from Denmark. We did enjoy our Enrichment Workshop on marriage with Keith and Marilynn. Thank you so much. In Jesus, Winterford and Lone."
And then from Samoa, "Dear Friends, Thank you for the exceptional weekend. It has totally made some awesome dynamics to our marriage. We love you so much we want to share with others. Sandie and Talofatele"
And here’s one from Trinidad, "Thank you so much for helping to enrich our lives. We were greatly blessed by the teachings we received. Our relationship will never be the same. Randath & Carofaus"
And from Palau, a single person, "Principles I have learned from the seminar is life changing and I really appreciate the opportunity I have been afforded to be a part of it. I pray also that I could be able to share them to others as I apply them to my own life. Thank you so much for a life changing experience. In God’s love, Fuana"
And this from Japan, "Thank you so much for making it available to us to take this course. I believe that this will help my life a lot and also to many in Japan. I’d like to share this to Japanese. Kyoko" And I say, Kyoko is already sharing workshops.
And then from New Zealand, "Your commitment to the ministry of the Hamilton’s and through them to the strengthening of marriages and in particular our marriage is a total blessing to us. Thank you so much for your generous support and may God bless you beyond measure. Kevin & Chris"
This from Uganda, "We are so grateful to know that you are committed to the strength of families. God bless you for all the efforts. Thanks. James & Dorcas"
"Thanks so much for the wonderful, enriching time we had last weekend. Our lives have been blessed through your lives and the things you shared. May God continue to grant you health, strength, and energy. You are in our prayers. With heaps of love, Veti and Judy" Veti’s from Fiji and Judy’s from Canada.
And this from a medical couple, a doctor in South Africa, "As a couple we have attended other marriage workshops, but none has been so practical or given us the tools we got here. We will definitely continue on to the next levels and take this into the world. Thank you for your generous sponsorship making this for us as missionaries attainable. Your prayers have been instrumental in blessing us. May your congregation and the marriages in your congregation be generously blessed as a result of your sowing into us. Johan and Grika"
Just a few. Jesus is Lord of the workshops. In order to include some newcomers and those who might be visiting with us this morning, we want to describe what the workshops are all about. Level 1: (for both couples and singles) is a 20-hour experience. We share preventive principles, which are immediately applied through doing exercises. The principles are biblical and transcultural. They include: effective communication, the creative use of conflict, and a new model for understanding our sexuality. This is a positive and safe experience. Participants receive tools, skills for all of life. It is both a practical and inspiring experience. On Level 2: (for both couples and singles) we have another 24 hours in which participants receive training to share the workshops with others.
By God’s grace, we have been able to give 245 workshops since November, 1991. What is even more important are the workshops given by the wonderful couples we have the privilege of training. This year, for the first time, we gave workshops for both couples and singles--Marriage Enrichment and Relationship Enrichment Workshops.
There were nine workshops during weekends the three months that we were in New Zealand serving Youth With A Mission in their Leadership Training School. They had a very busy schedule, and it was a sacrifice to come, but they came. Six workshops during the month we were in India and seven workshops during about a month we were in Bangladesh
A total of 22 workshops, with persons from 22 nations involved. These persons were from or represented Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand, England, Germany, Denmark, United States, India, Trinidad, Japan, Korea, China, Uganda, Canada, Hungary, Barbados, South Africa, Bangladesh, Mexico, and Argentina.
Everywhere we go, young people are longing for models of a Christian marriage which will give them hope. Many are first generation Christians. There are those who come from a polygamous background (particularly in Africa). For example, one gifted and committed couple, leaders from Uganda. The husband’s mother had been one of many wives --- he wasn’t sure how many wives his father had or how many brothers and sisters he had. He rarely saw his father and that from only a distance, and he only talked with him twice in all of his life, and that was when his father was very old and sick. Others in the family were now trying to steal all the property they could from the old man, and they mistreated him. James had been rejected by his father because he had become a Christian. So when the old man became sick, James went to talk with him, to share his faith, and to serve him in anyway he could. He showed Christ’s love for him, and though his father died and did not become a Christian as far as we know, he did ask James to pray for him.
Just a month after this young man married the strong, beautiful and talented Dorcas, they came to the Leadership Training School. At first, one could never have guessed that they were husband and wife, for they were never together. James left her far behind and did his own thing, ate with his friends, met with his friends, talked with his friends. That’s all he knew about being a husband. However, they not only took the Marriage Enrichment Workshop, but were captivated by the course, and also participated in the Basic Training Workshop also to learn how to give the workshop to others. We saw their behavior begin to change. How exciting it was for us to watch them begin to relate to one another in caring and affectionate ways, and to hear that yes, they were committed to spending at least twenty minutes a day in intimate conversation with one another to know each other better.
In the Leadership Training School in New Zealand there were lots of cross-cultural marriages, some second marriages, and many young marrieds who themselves had come from broken homes. Very few had anything close to a healthy modeling of what it means to be husband and wife. We’ll never forget the exuberant joy with which one young man from India, after we had an open conversation about our sexuality, shouted "Today I am free from guilt and confusion! Praise God!"
In both India and Bangladesh we had the fun of working in Discipleship Training Schools. These are the first training schools, the entrance into the mission, as these young people prepare to become missionaries. In Pune, India, half the group, twelve of them singles, were Korean. So we taught in English and it was translated into Korean. The other half, the Indian students, came primarily from Hindu backgrounds, with all of the corresponding expectations. These young Christians were delightful and very creative, and excited about what they were receiving. The communication skills they were learning would be beneficial for their entire missionary experience.
In both Indian and Bangladesh marriages are still primarily arranged, though some of the couples we had in the workshops stated that they had chosen one another from a distance, and then the parents consented to make the proper arrangements. On the whole, women are very abused. In both Africa and Asia, leaders of the Youth With A Mission suggested that we not only say that "physical and emotional abuse are unacceptable in marriage", but that we speak specifically against wife beating, because in so many countries, wife beating is so common that it is not considered to be abuse!
In the Calcutta airport, while waiting for a delayed flight, I talked with an attractive young Muslim woman who was holding a new baby in her arms. Her husband holds a high position with a multi-national corporation in Burma. Theirs had been an arranged marriage. Although she has a Master’s degree in botany and taught before they were married, she told me quietly that she had been treated like a slave in her mother-in-law’s home and that her husband was not kind to her.
Our Bangladesh hostess described a Muslim wedding for us in these terms. It begins with a huge banquet. Then the priest says some words to the couple who are seated apart, and then the two feed one another. That’s it. No vows are exchanged, no promises made. The bride must not smile or look up, and all of the women cry profusely at the wedding. The bride’s family must pay the groom for marrying their daughter, and if he decides later to put her aside and take another wife, he just becomes richer, but the woman and her children are cast out without support. No one wants a "used" woman, so the children are likely to be raised in great poverty.
Do you know that it is Jesus, and JESUS alone, who values every person, regardless of their sex, status or race? We wish you could see the transformation that takes place in both the men and the women when we share how valuable, how precious every person is in God’s sight.
One of the beautiful and healthy cross-cultural couples in the Leadership Training School comes from Denmark and Papua New Guinea. They wanted an extra copy of the materials. Lone (the wife) said, "My brother is a pastor in Denmark. When I show him the material, I think he’ll want to translate I into Danish. Is that OK?"
We also had the joy of being warmly received on the spur of the moment by Methodist Bishop Minrod Christian, of Delhi. On hearing about the material, he immediately offered, "Please send me a copy and I shall have a professional translate it into Hindi and we shall publish it through the Lucknow Publishing Company." Others have offered to have the books translated into Marhati, another of the Indian languages. One young man from Nepal asked for the books so he could have them translated into Nepali. It is really exciting to see the doors that God continues to open. We give Father and our Lord Jesus all of the glory.
Our goal is to train couples and singles who will multiply the workshops. Some of the other translations now completed or nearly complete are: Spanish, German, Portuguese, Afrikaans (S. Africa), Malagasi (Madagascar), French, Arabic, Korean, Bangla (Bangladesh) --- and several more have been promised.
Let us tell you about the last workshops we gave in Bangladesh, and which we did not have time to report to you. Some of the couples were artists in Christian radio, workers with university students, pastors, and World Vision team members. They took a critical look at the Bangla translation and said, "This is high Bangla, not the way most of the people speak. If you wish, we shall form a committee and polish it together." They are doing that.
We also had a wonderful group of singles who trained on both levels. Four of these accompanied us to help lead the final workshop for singles and to do their first practice toward certification. We were a team of six. The group we were training were Discipleship Training School students, just starting their school — 17 single young men and two couples. So there were 27 of us in the workshop. A big group! Moreover, everything had to be translated into Bangla. Many of the students were new Christians, and what a joy it was to work with them and see the changes that began to show in their faces!
Each one told his personal story. Three shared that they had been in prison (for whatever reason). When we were going to close with Holy Communion at the end of the Relationship Enrichment Workshop, the director of the school said, "Please explain to them what the Lord’s Supper is all about. They all come from a Muslim background. One just received Christ a week ago. Others became Christians about two months ago. They are so new that they haven’t heard about Holy Communion yet." So we did explain, and you should have seen them come to the table, kneel, and commune with the Lord! It was awesome! That’s our report. Now let’s talk about the need.
The spiritual battle in every workshop is real! But the good news is that Jesus has defeated the enemy! The need is everywhere, in every nation.
I think that we are all aware that family life is changing in our own nation. One study shows that American households made up of married couples with children dropped from 45% in the early 1970's to just 26% in 1998. Almost 20% of all children live with single parents. Recent figures state that 50% of all first marriages in America end in divorce.
On the international scene, the WHO says that 33.6 million people, including 1.2 million children, carry the HIV virus. The number of infections keeps climbing. This year alone will see 2.6 million deaths from AIDS. More than 16 million people have already died of the disease, mainly due to the use of infected needles to inject drugs and sexual promiscuity...and of course, the innocent children.
We must choose between
(1) trying to pick up the scattered pieces of broken lives (which is never fully possible), or
(2) teaching preventive principles as Jesus taught! As we do in the workshop!
Last year when we were in South Africa we visited a Zulu village. There we learned that when a woman marries, she must put on a hat that’s kind of like a large flat plate, with a round part that fits down over her head. The hat is put on with mud and remains on her head as long as she lives. It never comes off. It is worn night and day. She sleeps with her head on a block of wood so that the big hat can hang over the block. It comes off only when she dies. I’ve thought a lot about that hat and the suffering it causes the wearer. It is like sin. We can be free of guilt and shame and wounding one another and broken relationships only when we die to sin and are raised to new life in Christ, only when we learn how to communicate with one another effectively and with love, only when we learn to use conflict (a normal part of life) creatively, so that rather than dividing us, we can actually draw nearer to one another, know one another better, cherish one another more.
In the couples workshops not only are good marriages made better, but (and this is also the experience of the facilitating couples we have trained):
- those who have never met Jesus often experience rebirth, baptism, and new life in Christ.
- those ready to separate or divorce discover new and accessible tools for living, and rediscover on another.
- "live in" couples choose to seek God’s plan for marriage and His blessing.
- all couples receive preventive principles and tools to share and practice with their children.
- singles discover how precious they are, and receive the same principles and skills.
In view of the enormous need here and throughout the world, we want to share a vision first expressed by the prophet Isaiah. We read from chapters 60, 61, 62. We believe that this is God’s word to us at Grace United Methodist Church this morning.
Arise, shine; for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.
Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever.
They are the shoot that I planted, the work of my hands, so that I might be glorified.
The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me;
He has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor...
And you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give..
You shall be called "My Delight Is in Her", and your land "Married"...
And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you...
(Isaiah 60:1-3, 21; 61:1-2a; 62:2b, 4b, 5b)
As we were praying about this message, the Lord gave us this scripture and a vision which we checked out with Reverend Mike. It is this:
That Grace United Methodist Church might become a Marriage Enrichment and Relationship Enrichment Center for this city and for the world. Sound crazy?? NO!!
We believe that God is calling us as a congregation of couples and singles:
(1) to experience enrichment in our own lives. Yes, Jesus is so great, that it will take all of this life and the next to become like Him, but that is our goal, isn’t it? So Jesus is calling all of us, without exception, to grow into His likeness...
(2) to share what we learn and experience with others, to become a center from which wholeness and healing will radiate to the ends of the earth. This doesn’t just happen. Growth must be intentional.
YOU have the training, the experience, the resources, the love. Everyone may become involved: some as teachers, some as part of support teams, all praying, ALL as intercessors. God has an investment here. We stand before you as witness that God gives health and strength to do His will - far beyond our own potential - when we trust Him. God wants healthy families, and the Almighty will Himself be fulfilling His plan through us. Young Robert Schuller said recently, "We don’t need great faith...only a little faith in a great God." God has proven to us time and time again that "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Next week, June 1-6, we are going to hold two levels of workshops at the Franklin United Methodist Community. Dewey and Kay Findley and Jerry and Martha Hyde will be among those being trained to give the workshops to others. Just as important is our support team: Marian Steedman, Joy Campbell, Marjorie Angerer, Marjorie Deale, Pat Burton, Caryl Robbins, and Betsy Dalton.
This is a call to arms! We believe that this is God’s plan. Will we make it our own? For such a challenge we need to put on the whole armor of Christ:
the belt of truth...the breastplate of righteousness...on our feet the gospel of peace...
in one hand the shield of faith...on our heads the helmet of salvation...
in the other hand the sword of the Spirit, the word of God
We need to pray in the Spirit at all times.
This is a real battle. It will take all we can give. But Father’s promise to us is "You shall be called Married...the Bride of the Lamb of God." Will you embrace the vision and lean on the everlasting arms?
This is a call to arms! A call to put on the whole armor of God. And a call to trust in His everlasting arms... What could be better? Will you be a part of it?
E-mail Comments to: Reverend Dan Sinkhorn