Easter Service

Hi Family and Supporters,

Yesterday we had our Easter Service at the church John Perkins attends, New Horizon Church International. I wished I had gotten to hear Pastor Steve speak now having been there for a year, but the service was a really good change. We began with worship reminded me of our worship at Calvin during the Symposium because everyone wanted to be there and were humbled to praise the One who is deserving of it. It felt like a real celebration. After worship we saw a few different videos, one being a clip from The Passion of the Christ which was touching. The sermon was about acceptance and how that was a huge part of Easter and its message. I had never thought about Easter as nothing more than a day that celebrated Jesus' victory over Satan and where our sins were completely forgiven. The service showed me how Jesus's ministry was made complete and He, along with God the Father, accepted us. Jesus accepted us before we were forgiven of our wrongs, because of His indescribable love and God's plan. He knew He had to accept everyone because it was in God's plan, so in the same way we should too.

The pastor also mentioned 1 John 4, which is about God and love, and one passage in particular which says "we love because He first loved us". I had thought it refered to God's love coming when we were created and then forgiven by Christ's sacrifice. The pastor taught how it actually means in all circumstances, when we need to love and accept others the love we need will come from God. The pastor also showed how the phrase "when you take one step towards God, He takes two towards you" is realistically switched. God takes the first step out of our relationship and we only need to do all we can; He'll do whatever we can't. It was a very joyful message to hear on the day of Redemption.

In Love,
Noah