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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Greetings in the healing, hope, and joy of Jesus! Those powerful words not only serve as a greeting for my reflection, but are held high as the banner proclamation of our Diocese of Duluth!
Bishop Daniel Felton Believe in the Good News |
Six months ago, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I promulgated a pastoral letter to all our beloved brothers and sisters living in the ten counties of northeastern Minnesota. The title of the pastoral letter is “The Dawn from on High Shall Break Upon Us: Healing, Hope, and Joy in Jesus.” Since that time, as a first step (and the Holy Spirit only gives us one step at a time), we are emphasizing and bringing the healing of Jesus to all those who are hurting.
As put forth in the pastoral letter, I am called as a missionary disciple to bring the healing of Jesus to the person standing in front of me at any given time, through our parishes to the people in the communities where I live, and to all peoples and nations as mandated by Jesus in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).
On the occasion of this six-month marker, how are you doing at bringing the healing of Jesus to the hurting person standing in front of you? Can you name the times when the Holy Spirit used you as an instrument of the Lord’s healing? In the last six months, how has your parish been a source of the healing power of Jesus to you? How have you as a member of the Body of Christ reached out with the healing of Jesus to the community where you live? Are the neighborhoods around your parish healthier and more healed because of the presence of your parish in their midst?
Finally, how can I ever bring the healing of Jesus to all peoples and nations? Currently, a family from our diocese is holding high the banner of the healing, hope, and joy of Jesus to the people of Cambodia. Nic and Jaclyn Davidson, along with their family and volunteers, are full-time missionary disciples from our diocese who are bringing the healing of Jesus to the Cambodian people who are hurting and in need of the healing that we can only find in Jesus.
As missionary disciples of Jesus, you and I may not able to be in Cambodia (although guests and volunteers are welcomed). However, through the Davidson family and their Freely Given ministry, we can stand one with them in Jesus, who calls us to pray and support their (our) missionary call to heal, thus lifting high the banner of the healing, hope, and joy of Jesus to the person standing in front of me, the people in the community where I live, and to all peoples and nations as mandated by our Lord to his disciples.
There are many ways that we can support our diocesan missionary activities — personally, locally, and globally. One important way is through Freely Given’s work in Cambodia. As their response to the pastoral letter, Nic and Jacelyn Davidson, along with their family and volunteers, have decided to live out the call of the Holy Spirit in this given manner and mission.
Please communicate to me the incredible ways that you or your parish or your neighborhood community are living the spirit of the pastoral letter six months later. Let us hold high the banner proclamation that together we are bringing the healing, hope, and joy of Jesus to all who are hurting and in need of the healing that only Jesus can give.
May the blessings of God be upon you in these August dog days of summer (which by the way has nothing to do with dogs)!
Bishop Daniel Felton is the tenth bishop of Duluth.
From a recent publication of Freely Given Inc.: “Our family of seven is called to serve as full-time missionaries and built a team of volunteers in the small, southeast Asian country of Cambodia. In this land of palm trees, rice paddies, and water buffalo, 98% of the population is Buddhist. The spiritual, economic, and medical needs are vast, making the words of Jesus keenly felt: ’Freely you have received, freely give’ (Matthew 10:8). We are truly honored to serve the Lord among the warm-hearted and joyful people of Cambodia.”
How to be involved with Freely Given, Inc.
Pray with us: For an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Cambodia, opening hearts to their need of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
For the supply of our financial needs, which enables us to remain in Cambodia and keeps our ministries functioning.
Donate to our ministry: www.freelygiveninc.org or checks can be mailed to Nic Davidson, 308 Bowdoin Lane, Adairsville, GA 30103
Sign up for email updates at www.freelygiveninc.org.