Delivered at the Lakeshore Pregnancy Center Fall Banquet: Christ Memorial Church, Holland, Michigan. Thursday, October 16, 2008
"Somewhere in the far away Persian capital of Susa stood a Jewess, out of place and time, and desperate to save a people whose annihilation loomed certain and complete. This world was their home, though defeat and captivity had left them disillusioned and devoid of hope. But on this night a banquet was offered and a plea shared.
Some 2500 years later, we live in a free society but find ourselves imprisoned by the consequences of our sin and the false delusion of permanence; at times losing sight of our own heritage and birthright as children of God.
Many of our clients know this feeling of despair—not beyond the possibility that you do as well.
LPC meets men and women in the midst of the crisis of an unwanted pregnancy and offers them the hope of new life in Jesus Christ, and the encouragement necessary to overcome the despair and insurmountable hurdles that accompany these pregnancies. We counsel under high standards of practice, offer women objective information about their pregnancy and sexual behavior; and the opportunity to see an ultrasound image of their baby.
This is nothing less than pastoral work: admonishing the unprepared, encouraging the fainthearted, and helping the weak... Work that I have been pursuing for over 20 years of my professional life...and giftedness practiced every day in our centers. Such pastoral work as this is as valuable to you as it is to our clients, for the prayer, guidance, and discipleship that we offer are not unique to the needs of our clients: We have something to offer you!
We benefit greatly from a host of volunteers, faithful staff, and gifted board leadership who share a vision for this ministry.
Now then, when it came to Esther's plight, good, godly cousin Mordecai commended to her 3 principles that seem to be timeless:
1. Principle: We cannot escape the realities or our own selfishness. No one gets a free pass; we all share in the consequences of a world that seeks to annihilate its most innocent of the race. We are accountable.
2. Principle: God has not turned his back on us as a people. Even in our depravity, God has not left us, nor abandoned us. We are redeemable.
3. Principle: We have a part to play! “Who knows,” pleads Mordecai, “ if you have not arrived at the Kingdom, for such a time as this?” We are responsible.
This world is not our final home; we exist in exile, as pilgrims, in route to the City whose builder and sustainer, is God, yet finding that powers foreign to God, control much of our free movement. But what if, God has brought us to this moment in time, and what if for the cause of righteousness and Justice He has designed this hour as yours alone to declare the pursuit of life a sacred trust.
Almost every day we are able to offer the gospel as the first and best solution to the burdens facing families. We boldly call mothers back to their babies; men back to a real manhood, and parents back to their families.
Great scene in Apollo 13... Several in the Mission Control team are seen contemplating the magnitude of the destruction facing the program as they await the capsule's return to earth. One flight engineer is heard to say, "this could turn out to be the worst disaster in NASA's history." What lives forever in my mind is the reply of Mission control manager Gene Krantz. Without "batting an eye," and with a great amount of fortitude and optimism, he utters, " On the contrary sir, I believe this will be our finest hour. "
We await God best blessings yet to come as we pursue our finest hour.
Thank you very much.
From the Vicar
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