The Easter season is a time of somber reflection, and sorrow,
as well as profound joy and celebration. It is a time that we revel in the
greatest comeback story in all of history – the resurrection of Jesus, which gives
us the hope of our very own comeback stories.
This past Palm Sunday, Louie Giglio walked us through Jesus’
own comeback story: the triumphal entry on Palm Sunday, the betrayal that led
to the Crucifixion on Good Friday, the death and burial of Jesus. All hope
seemed lost. Darkness closed in as the story seemed to have ended in terrible tragedy.
After all, there is no comeback from death, right? But then – the resurrection!!
What a comeback! Death defeated, hope restored, the possibility of a comeback
for each of us now a reality!
Louie also shared from his book, Comeback, some of his own journey into and back out of the dark;
his own personal comeback story. Another
comeback story he tells of in his book is that of Rachel, who is lured into the
club scene when her home life disintegrates.
The “love” and “acceptance” she believes to have found, turns out to be
an illusion and she finds herself in a dark place, wanting to end her life.
But, it is in those darkest places that God’s light shines brightest:
“As Rachel was preparing to leave, a group of ladies from
the nearby church came in. one of those ladies, noticing Rachel was very upset
and emotional, approached her to see if she could help. The woman had come
before, with permission from the club manager, and shared gifts with the girls,
looked after their needs, and prayed for them. But Rachel was furious. First
the failure to end her life, and now the ladies from the church!
“You’re from the church, right?” she blurted.
“Yes, I am,” the woman responded, stating the obvious.
“Well,” Rachel started in, “Let me tell you about my life.”
For the next few minutes, Rachel unloaded. Her hurt and pain
spilled out without restraint. Her anger uncorked, she recounted all the abuse
and darkness and abandonment and darkness. Finally, her story was laid bare and
she locked eyes with the woman.
Through tears mixed with cutting sarcasm, she asked, “So,
what do you and your God have to say about all that?”
The woman looked back at Rachel with tears welling in her
eyes. She could see the toll the years had taken on her heart and she gently
replied, “Rachel, thank you so much for trusting me with your story. I’m so, so
sorry that happened to you.”
No sermon. No pious reply. No high horse. No bumper sticker
quote. Just compassion.
The woman’s words, drenched in God’s grace, broke Rachel’s
hardened approach and they began to talk. They talked about Jesus. But Rachel
felt ashamed, like Jesus could never love her. She was an exotic dancer. She
was a drug addict. She was an alcoholic. And she was a self-admitted horrible
mother. Her questions sounded hug: “How could Jesus ever love me? How could
Jesus ever be proud of me? How could Jesus call me his daughter when I feel so
unworthy?”
Jesus meets people exactly where they are. Have you ever
thought about that? I mean, Jesus meets people anywhere!
Let that one word sink in. ANYWHERE.
That same night, Jesus scooped Rachel up out of the darkness
and gave her light and hope and a future. Today, Rachel’s life looks very different
than it did a couple of years ago. She’s no longer working as an exotic dancer.
Drugs and alcohol no longer rule her life. Jesus is healing her wounds
day-by-day. She has completed a long-term rebuilding program and moved to a new
city where she lives with a family who loves her and her son, and is modeling
the fullness of Jesus’ love for her.
It’s not an easy road. Rachel has a lot to learn and unlearn
from years of brokenness. But Rachel is sober, sane, and alive. She’s a symbol
of hope for other women stranded in her former situation. She’s on her way to
becoming a better parent. God has given her a fresh start. Recently her son
said to her, “Mom, I just love the new you, and I’m so glad you’re better.”
Rachel’s story is more than an illustration in a book. She
is a real person who matters to God. I will never, ever forget the day she was
baptized in our church and shared her story with us all. Rachel has a second
chance and is on a new path by the power of God’s Spirit in her.
That’s all because of Jesus.”
-- Comeback, Louie Giglio
This is why we do what we do. It is why we never give up on
or forget those who have found themselves trapped in “the life”. In some way or
another, each of us is Rachel. We have each taken a wrong turn and have found
ourselves in a place we never intended, in desperate need of God’s grace, mercy
and forgiveness; in desperate need of redemption, of a comeback.
The good news – the really outstanding news – is that Jesus
has indeed paved the way for a comeback for all of us!
⌘⌘⌘
“Do not gloat over
me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise.
Though I sit in
darkness, the Lord will be my light.”
Micah 7:8
“I am the
resurrection and the life.
Whoever believes in
me, though he die, yet shall he live.”
John 11:25
⌘⌘⌘
Get Connected:
Upcoming Events:
Global Seed Packing
Challenge
Invite your friends and family to join the One Million Seed
Pack Challenge with the Human Trafficking Team on Saturday, April 16th,
from 9-11:00 am. Hungry and poverty can increase the “at-risk” factor for
trafficking (labor and/or sexual exploitation). Please join us in helping to
reduce that risk, as we work to alleviate hungry and poverty globally by
providing communities the opportunity to grow vegetable gardens that will
provide nourishment as well as sustainable income for families in El Salvador,
Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe! Sign up for our 110 slots by
clicking here!
Care Center Seed
Packing Connection
We also have the opportunity to serve with Care Center
Guests. The Care Center will be preparing the Seed Packing envelopes by having
guests stamp them. If you can stamp with us please sign up!
Care Center Stamping Schedule:
New Name Call Center:
Pray for women as we offer resources and outreach over the
phone to women posted on online ads. Wednesday,
April 6th, 7:30 pm at Willow Creek Community Church in the Link (F Lot
Parking). For more information, contact Cheryl Csiky at:
ccsiky@willowcreek.org.
Book Discussion:
Scarves for Outreach:
Do you knit or crochet? We are asking for donations of
hand-made scarves for our outreach gift bags once again! No pattern
requirements, (“girly” is great!) but we do ask the scarves are prayed over as
they are made. Scarves are needed by: September 1st. Please contact,
Holly at hkoehler@wcservingvolunteer.org
for details.
Human Trafficking Discussion
for Parents:
Tom Hampson, founder and president of Truth Alliance
Foundation will be speaking to parents on the important topic of sexual
predators and trafficking on Wednesday, May
18th, 7:30-8:30 pm.
Mr. Hampson is the former Chief Investigator of the Illinois
Legislative Investigating Commission and later the head of his own
investigation agency where he specialized in complex international
investigations. He has had extensive experience investigating networks of child
sexual predators. He helped design the model for building criminal cases
against child sexual predators without the need to have a child victim testify.
That model is used by law enforcement agencies throughout the world today. He
helped draft the first child pornography statute in Illinois and the first law
in Illinois that led to the establishment of Child Advocacy Centers.
Mr. Hampson also investigated predator priests is Illinois,
on behalf of the State of Illinois, following the church scandal that was
exposed by the Boston Globe in the early 2000’s. he is an expert in managing
and directing complex international investigations, identifying child
predators, and in developing information on hidden criminal networks.
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