I LOVE our church! I LOVE God's church and BHCC is definitely God's CHURCH!
I feel so incredibly honored and BLESSED to be a servant at this church! I am so amazed at the wonderful people God has brought to our church to be a part of His incredible work here! We are truly a family of God in this church and it's so beyond what words can describe to watch God working as the Master Weaver through it all!
On Sunday afternoon, I led our BHCC 101 Membership Class and those classes are always such a huge encouragement to ME! To hear how God has been working in each person's life and to hear how our church has been such a wonderful blessing and tremendous impact on their lives ~ Well, that's what it's all about - Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!
I confess, there are days when I (in the flesh) feel jealous of other, bigger churches in our area. I often wish we were able to offer more of the 'bells and whistles' that many of them are able to offer. But then God reminds me how precious and beautiful our church is just the way it is. We are incredibly special and unique - just the way He has created us to be! There is an awesome atmosphere of love, transparency and grace in our church that I think very few churches in our area have. We are healthy and we are growing and we are seeing many lives saved and changed as a result. I am so grateful to be a part of God's redeeming work here at BHCC!
It grieves my heart to see so many churches in our area that do not believe God calls women as pastors and leaders in His Church! It just makes no sense at all to me! If we are truly submitted to the Headship of Christ, then of course God calls men and women to work together - side by side in mutual submission to Christ! It feels so oppressive and demeaning to women! This is an area I feel God is calling me more and more to be His voice in the world! I am currently writing a book to encourage women and believe God has great plans for me to mentor and train women as well!
It's not about women leading men - it's about magnifying Jesus - it's about men and women following and leading
together in mutual submission to Christ! Women are made in the image of God as much as men. And women have the Spirit of the Living Christ in them as well so if we are led by the Spirit - it makes total sense that we are called as His servant-leaders!
God is doing an amazing work in this church and I know His plans for the church's future are bigger than I can even dream!
Our Upcoming Easter series is called "Come As You Are!" (Based on
David Crowder's song with same title.) There are so many unchurched people who think they have to wait until they get it all together, and
then they will come to church but that is not how God intended it to work. The Church is not a place for Saints, it's a family of sinners who are continually learning how much they need a Savior!
The lyrics in Crowder's song speaks volumes about the vision of our church:
Come out of sadness
From wherever you’ve been
Come broken hearted
Let rescue begin
Come find your mercy
Oh sinner come kneel
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal
So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You’re not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are
There’s hope for the hopeless
And all those who’ve strayed
Come sit at the table
Come taste the grace
There’s rest for the weary
Rest that endures
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t cure
So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You’re not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are
Come as you are
Fall in his arms
Come as you are
There’s joy for the morning
Oh sinner be still
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal
So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You’re not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are
Come as you are
Come as you are
BHCC is the place for wanderer's to come HOME! Come as you are! You will feel welcome and wanted!
Because He Lives,
Pastor Lin :-)