January 31, 2025
January 31, 2025
Dear Radiant,
I wanted to share a recent update from our friends at World Relief:
“We are being forced to put staff on furlough or layoffs by the end of the week [UPDATE – looks like next week]. We may have 2-3 staff remaining under the state grant. You have all been so responsive and quick to get the word out regarding temporary housing for families. We’ll be meeting this morning but it looks like we may have spots for everyone [all refugees]. The need now is finances for rent and deposit so they can go into permanent housing. The families are so hurt and confused. Please pray for them as we may not be around to assure them that things will be ok in time. This has been heart wrenching all the way around. I’m still praying and believing for a miracle. We can ask God for big things and trust that he will provide. He loves the refugees today as much as he did before.”
These words are from Sarah Williams, the director of the local World Relief branch. Let’s keep praying! If you would like to financially support World Relief Modesto and their work with refugees- you can do so here.
2025 has arrived with a fury: devastating wildfires in LA, unsettling political action, and the recent sad news of a plane crash Wednesday night in the DC area.
A few things surface in my mind as I consider our situation:
1) As I shared on Sunday, this is an opportunity for the church to be the church of Jesus. We can bear witness to God’s heart through our generosity, service, and love to our neighbors. Thanks to many of you who have given of yourselves and your resources to help in this time. Many of you would like to help but are unsure of how to do so. Don’t be anxious about that — God knows your heart and will provide the opportunity for you to serve/ give in due time. We will keep close to this.
2) It is vital to keep our eyes on Jesus — the hope of the world — at all times. We remember that amid all of this Jesus is the real king and we follow him. We pray that Jesus would use this pain and challenge to redeem — making us into his image as we bear witness to his goodness and mercy.
This Sunday we will be wrapping up our Exodus 33-34 series with a very relevant word about directing our eyes to God — to always gaze upon him with unveiled faces.
Nowhere and no one else will do.
As Bernard of Clairvaux sang long ago:
“Jesus, Jesus, the very thought of thee
With sweetness fills the breast
But sweeter far thy face to see
And in thy presence rest.”
EVENTS CALENDAR
HOME CHURCHES RESTART
2/5 – Women’s Gathering, 6-7AM at ELC
2/7-8 – Holy Spirit Conference (livestream)
2/9 – Second Sunday Super Bowl fun!
5/2-4 – Men’s Conference at Mission Springs (registration opens Feb. 1st)
SUPER BOWL SUNDAY FUN!
While I’m bummed the 49ers aren’t playing this year in the Super Bowl, we are going to have some post church football fun next Sunday. We’ll have some hot dogs and chips and maybe even some football games — (i.e. kicking field goals, punting, a little touch football) after the service. FYI — I am a halfway decent punter.
NEW? GETTING PLUGGED IN…
HOME CHURCH – Is where the really good stuff happens as we grow as disciples of Jesus. These smaller communities are reconvening in mid-January. You can fill out the form here if interested.
WOMEN’S GATHERING THIS WEDNESDAYLadies! You are up! This Wednesday from 6-7AM at ELC’s fellowship hall for a time of community and prayer.
HOLY SPIRIT CONFERENCE
We have N.T. Wright (amazing New Testament scholar), Tim Mackie (of the Bible Project!), and more coming for a Holy Spirit conference! Well, let me clarify….Bridgetown church in Portland is actually hosting their seventh annual Holy Spirit conference with those great speakers. We are going to be joining the conference via livestream together, learning and practicing what it means to welcome the Holy Spirit in our lives.
To learn more about the conference you can go here. To sign up to join us for the livestream, fill out this form. This will help us plan accordingly.
MEN’S CONFERENCE 5/2-5/4 (REGISTRATION OPENS THIS SATURDAY)
Join us for a weekend of impact, challenge, and fun as we worship, fellowship, and grow in our faith journey in beautiful Mission Springs. It is guaranteed to bless your soul. Our hope is that the men at the conference will feel empowered to rise up as husbands, fathers, and men of faith. Despite their feelings, circumstances, or situations, they will seek out God. Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deed.
REGISTER HERE STARTING FEB. 1st.
BAND APP
One way to connect at Radiant is to join our BAND APP group. Think of this as a sort of Radiant message board — our own little social media space. People can extend invites, share about needs and opportunities.
GIVING
Thank you for your generosity and partnership in Radiant’s ministry!
Here’s the link to online giving.
Grace and Peace!
Zach
zach@radcov.org
209-497-3710
www.radcov.org
