So great a Cloud of Witnesses

"You Will Be Discouraged..."

After we were commissioned Tuesday evening, Bob Edwards told us the above quote. But after telling us that we will be discouraged, he said this, "And when you are, remember this night, and remember this cloud of witnesses."

Of course he was talking about the men and women who comprised the 1000+ member audience.

Of course he was also talking about the famous passage of Hebrews 11.

Hebrews 11 lists the "hall of fame of the faith," as it's been called,  telling the stories of many men and women of (biblical) antiquity who lived and died as martyrs, that is, witnesses.

The various heroes listed have one thing in common: They lived their lives having Faith in God, and being faithful to God's calling upon their lives, no matter the outcome.

Similarly, the audience was comprised of many great men and women. Granted, I don't know who everyone was, but I do know who many of them were.

There were many of my personal heroes in that crowd, individuals who've faithfully given YEARS to ministerial service; individuals who've faithfully given YEARS to faithful worship and obedience to Christ; not to mention couples who've demonstrated how to faithfully love and honour one another for YEARS.

I am not naive or inexperienced enough to think that we will never be discouraged. I know that Bob shared wisdom when he promised that discouragement will come.

But Christy and I will never forget the night in June 2012 when we were Commissioned to serve as Missionaries. And when we think of that night, we will remember our friends and family who sacrificed to invest in our lives and afford us the opportunities we've had; and we will remember our friends and family who sacrificed their time to celebrate with us, to pray for us, and to send us out in Faith.

Thank you for being in our cloud!