Several years ago there was a movie entitled, “Pay It
Forward”. The plot of this movie was
built on the theme that we can make the world a better place by doing good to
others when we have experienced a good deed ourselves.
Now, that
is not an original concept by any means.
The Bible teaches us to “go the second mile” and to love others in the
name of Jesus and to pass it on!
This
did get me to thinking of a rich tradition First Reformed has had in hiring
interns for the summer. In fact this
practice goes back almost fifty years.
Looking
back at church record, the first summer student was first introduced to the
ministry of First Reformed in 1966.
Over
the years at least 13 student pastors from Western Theological Seminary served
summer assignments at Sully Reformed! (Tammy and I served in this capacity at
Sully Reformed in 1979!)
First
Reformed continued to build on this ministry by employing summer interns from
its congregational body. Over the years,
many young people from this church have developed their spiritual gifts by
serving Christ in their home congregation.
I
believe this sends a message to youth and to the church that we are ready and
willing to mentor each other in ministry gifts that will bless generations yet to
come – “paying it forward” if you will!
We
welcome our interns for the summer of 2014 – Clayton Larson, Mikayla Vos,
Lyndsay Terpstra and Andrew Scholten. In
invite you to take time to check out their pictures and biographies in this
addition of the Informer.
They
put into perspective the bible verse that I believe symbolizes what we do when
we let God lead.
“Cast
your bread upon the waters and it will return unto you.” Ecclesiastes 11:11
Welcome
interns!
In Christ,
Pastor Wayne
