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         Theodore (Theo): Good morning, Susie, how are you doing?

         Susie (Su): Do you really want to know, or are you just giving the standard polite greeting?

         Theo: Both. Politeness is always important, but it’s only real politeness if it’s backed by genuine concern for the other person. You don’t look happy today.

         Su: I’m not. To tell you the truth, Theodore, I’ve been feeling very shaky in my faith lately. I’ve been hearing so much on the news about all the tragedies and disasters going on all over the world, and all my atheist friends keep asking me, “If God is so good, why is there so much evil in the world? Why does He allow it?” until I’m almost ready to disbelieve myself. I don’t have any answers for them.

         Theo: I know how you feel. That question seems to be the most popular one brought up against the Christian faith lately, and consequently, it’s one of the most important to have some responses for. However, the question of evil is not quite as problematic as it is often made out to be. It makes a lot of sense when you consider how much we influence each other as humans.

         Su: What has that got to do with it?

         Theo: Everybody can remember someone who has been unkind to them, and a time when they have been unkind to somebody else, for no good reason. Then there’s a ripple effect — people think that because someone else has been unkind to them, they are now entitled to be unkind to everybody else. The wrongs done by previous generations can also result in consequences to us. These kinds of things just keep building — every huge instance of evil can be traced back to a number of little cruelties, twisted “white” lies and greedy grasping of which any one of us is capable. But when you put it all together and let it grow, it becomes unmanageable and unbelievably horrible. That’s sin, and that’s what is behind all the misery in the world. It’s what sinful people do to each other, to themselves and even to the natural world.

         Su: Yes, I get all this, Theo, but why does God allow us to go on acting like this, hurting each other and His Creation? Why didn’t He create the world so that it would be impossible for bad things to ever happen, or for anyone to choose to do wrong?

         Theo: Because God is love (I John 4:8). If God had created us so that we couldn’t help doing everything just the way He wanted it, we would be mere robots, unable to trust Him or return His love, and God doesn’t want that for us. It’s the fact that we can reject Him, can be sinners and wreck the world, as we have done, that also enables us to return to Him, to love Him in faith and trust that the final outcome will far outweigh all the evil we have done and seen done. As C.S. Lewis put it in Mere Christianity, “Of course God knew what would happen if they used their freedom the wrong way. Apparently, He thought it worth the risk… If God thinks this state of war in the universe a price worth paying… for making a live world in which creatures can do real good or harm and something of real importance can happen… then we may take it it is worth paying.” Remember, He paid all the price of that risk Himself, for our sakes, as it says in Isa. 53:4-5 (ESV): “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows… He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace….” We have no right to criticize God for taking a risk for which He bore all the pain, and which offered us the only possible opportunity for love and fellowship with Him.

         Su: But it certainly seems that human beings still suffer as well.

         Theo: When we and others sin, there are consequences that cause suffering, revealing to us that we have been wrong. Hopefully, that will lead us to repent and turn to a new life in Christ.

         Su: And what about those who don’t?

         Theo: Their rejection of God’s love leaves them in sin and suffering, which is why there is still so much suffering in the world, even after Christ’s sacrifice for us. Christians often suffer because we still live in a world impacted by the choices of evildoers, as well as by our own mistakes and wrong decisions. But when God destroys all the evil in the world, after everyone has had a chance to choose whether or not to love Him, then there will never be any more suffering.

         Su: So, it’s better to live in a world where suffering can happen, because that gives us the opportunity to choose to love?

         Theo: It’s not just better; it’s the only world God could have made that would fulfill His purposes for us. The end.

      We humans place for more importance on this life of a few years at best than what God has in store for us in the life to come. The apostles Paul stated, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18).

From Our Missionaries

We have also challenged church families to commit to contributing and raising funds in their social circle to obtain the necessary funds.

      “In our meetings, we have been praying for God to provide for us. We have spread the word among friends, fellow servants and the means we have available like the Baptist Trumpet. God has been good and a brother we don’t know from a church outside our association has given $25,000.

      “We believe this is one more confirmation from God that He oversees this work, and He has opened a door for us in this city so we can continue sharing the gospel. We must continue to work hard, be simple and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s voice. This work is not due to human effort but rather to the power of God, who convinces and produces the desires in the hearts of human beings.

      “We are looking forward to what God will do in this city, and how He will use us for His glory.”

      “Last Sunday, the attendance at Ebenezer was very low because of many sick people. I was sick from Wednesday afternoon until Friday with fever and a lot of discomfort in my body. The rest, soup and medicine helped a lot in my recovery. Although I am not 100%, I thank God that we were able to serve the Lord on Sunday.

      “It is exciting to teach. At Ebenezer we try to go deeper into biblical truths and give each brother a basic knowledge of the gospel and an overview of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. I see with enthusiasm when I ask questions and they begin to answer. It has been a work that has taken time.

      “Keep praying for Neymar. Pray for the weather changes that affect health. Thank you for your prayers and support to continue in the gospel. To God be the glory!”

      “We are talking to a neighbor with a large family that the Lord put in our path this week. They are not saved and do not attend church, but we have planted a seed. Please join us in prayer that he will return for us to water that seed and that the Holy Spirit will make it grow and that the whole family will be saved and serve the Lord with us!

      “Well, praise God, I finally get to tell you something different this week — the sheetrock has been stocked in the new building! They will begin hanging it soon, maybe this week. Please pray for that, too. After waiting for so long for that to happen, it seems now that things are going to start happening very fast again, but that’s okay, too.  Praise God, I love to watch Him work!

      “Thank you all again for your support that is making this building and this ministry possible — especially for your prayers for us, this building, this community and for those God is using this mission to reach. I am humbled by your faithfulness, and I can’t thank you enough!”

      “Also, this week, I got the opportunity to go to another For King and Kingdom retreat for several days. This time I was a servant for new participants and was able to be there to help meet their needs as they were strengthening their relationships with the other men and ultimately their relationship with Christ. It was a humbling and rewarding experience for all the men involved as we watched them take on this journey. As always, when you want to be a blessing to others, you end up being the one blessed by them. Please pray for these men as they follow the path toward becoming the men God has appointed them to be in their families, their churches and their communities.”

      “This week, we received a gift from the Lord. My daughter, her husband and my three grandchildren came from our country to live in the Northwest. It was eight years without seeing them and we did not know our youngest granddaughter, Renata, who is four years old. The brothers of our church helped us in the organization of the welcome of our family.

      “In our Sunday service, we were able to introduce our family to the congregation and, although we had many absences, we were able to worship and exalt the Lord together.”

Six of our eight coaches made it, and we had three come to explore coaching. One of those exploring committed to be a coach and the others are planning to do so.

      “This is the most important part of what we’re doing in Pea Ridge. When someone commits to be a coach, they are committing to be a missionary in their neighborhood and network, as well as leading or assisting with a Connection Group in that missionary context. One of our Connection Groups has met for two years and has seen over 60 people come through their home while launching 2 other connection groups and 6 coaches. The second Connection Group has met for 1 year and has seen over 25 come through their house and have now launched another coach. Each coach represents this type of potential! This week, we have our monthly Collective Gathering!”