On July 25, 1741, John Wesley introduced the idea of an almost Christian. After a discussion in my church home, I think an almost Christian is someone that has yet to relinquish full control to God, and still believes they can “earn” God’s grace; but how can a person earn something given freely?

The almost Christian has yet to experience true brokenness. All Christians experience trials, but there is always one trial that forces us to our knees and makes us defer to God. Only when we are truly broken do we defer to God and allow Him to take control. Control over our hearts, minds, souls, finances, etc. In our weakest moments God reveals our purpose, our value, God’s will. He does this in many ways through people, situations, or even during times of mediation.

In 1 Kings, the Prophet Elijah carried out God’s will and admonished Ahab and Jezebel for turning their backs on God and abandoning the ways of their fathers. Elijah was a prophet chosen by God to deliver His message, but when Elijah was presented with the earthly consequences of God’s message Elijah ran from his divine responsibility as far and as fast as he could. Tired, broken, and dying in the desert, God was patiently waiting with food, water, and rest. As Elijah fled he exuded doubt about his mission and acted as an almost Christian. Elijah did not trust God with control over his life. He doubted God could protect him from Jezebel shows us that Elijah still thought he had control over his circumstances. God used Elijah’s frailty to show love, forgiveness, and strength. Elijah returned to fulfill his purpose herding God’s flock. Elijah’s acceptance of God’s will is the rebirth of a true Christian. As a Christian we have nothing to fear. God never promised our purpose would be easy, He only promised we would be equipped to carry out His will.

Having faith casts out fear, doubt, and commands that we recognize God has control. To answer the previous question, we cannot earn a spot; your spot had your name on it before you were ever conceived. All you have to do is accept your identity in Christ and strive each day to be more Christ-like than you were the day before. We are the only Bible some in the world will ever read. We must extend grace freely to others so we mirror Christ. Not only should we extend grace freely, we are called to also love, accept, and nurture all we come into contact with. This means acceptance of our fellow Christians and non-believers alike.

All of us are God’s children; some just choose to rebel longer than others. By being Christ-like we exemplify a long-standing offer to have a relationship with the perfect Father. No matter what, the call is to invite others to walk with you in fellowship.  An invitation may be declined but it will never be forgotten, God has a plan for all of us. Are you living out His purpose for you?

– Kat McCoy

This month I have thought a lot about the terms “Sisters in Christ” and “Brothers in Christ”. These terms both just strike such an image with me that I cannot ignore. To call someone my brother or my sister is to acknowledge them as my family. In a world full of dysfunctional family units, I think that these references go over our heads. A sister or brother is meant to be someone that you can depend on.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down,
 one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

A Christian community is more than a community, it is a family. In this family we share support, love, and trust. A sibling is closer than a cousin and, for most of us, closer than a parent. A sibling is a person who shares your life experiences and their love is strengthened through them. A sister or a brother is a confidante, a protector, and a voice of reason. In the Christian faith we can discuss our doubts, our fears, and can expect to be held accountable in our faith through this new family into which we are reborn.

Not a single Christian stands alone against the world. And not a single person deserves to be left alone to stand against the world. We should be strengthened by our family to reflect love and increase the size of the family. Each rebirth is a celebration of grace and a welcoming of a new sister or brother, not just a new friend, not just a new congregant. So stand strong with this family as you would for your own because we are all one body working towards one purpose.

KO is an international ministry that God has blessed us with here in West Texas. Through this ministry we are able to touch the lives of women who have been affected by incarceration of their loved ones or themselves.

– Kat McCoy

Take a minute, close your eyes and picture your ideal world. See everything that brings you peace and joy. Maybe your utopia has water and trees or maybe it is a city with buildings. Either way, take a minute and think about the people living in this beautiful scene. Are they children, elderly people, are they your peers? Is it a diverse group, or do all the people in your world look like you and your friends, and family?

Time to return to the real world and accept that this world can be perfect too. We live in diversity, a world filled with people that might not have the same opportunities or life experiences as you. God charged His people to go forth and make disciples; there were no buts in that statement. There are no exceptions on who is worthy of receiving the love and forgiveness of God’s grace and no one is meant to be excluded from God’s presence. All people on this planet are God’s children and we are all a flock searching for a pasture full of safety and security.

Colossians 4:5-6 says “5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” This is a charge to make the change in the world you want to see. All people have the ability to make this fallen earth a better place for our families, our friends, and all the people we come into contact with each day. In each interaction we have with fellow believers and unbelievers we should inject God’s love. The interactions on Emmaus Walks and Kairos Weekends should be maintained in our daily lives. The end of a Weekend does not signal the end of a need to share love, grace, and mercy.

I can only imagine and cannot wait for a day when all Christians look at other people and see only people. No labels, no sins, no past transgressions. Instead each individual is seen for the beauty and potential that God meant for all of His children to have. God’s greatest gift is love and His greatest mercy is grace. These are meant for us as Christians to share and proliferate so that more people can be saved and enjoy the everlasting life that is provided.

KO is an international ministry that God has blessed us with here in West Texas. Through this ministry we are able to touch the lives of women who have been affected by incarceration of their loved ones or themselves.

– Kat McCoy

Hello from Kairos Outside (KO) Lubbock.

Kairos means “in God’s timing,” and Kairos Prison Ministries serves all individuals and families who have been affected by incarceration. Kairos Outside specifically serves the women affected by incarceration. We seek to replace the pain of “time served” with the spirit, community, and support of “God’s timing.”

Jesus has called us as a body to cover and care for all people especially in times of tribulation. While Paul was incarcerated, he ministered, baptizing prison guards and prisoners alike, and sang praises until the chains fell off. He was also visited and people brought him food, water, and clothes during his time in jail. From lock up, Paul held churches accountable for preaching the true gospel. The prophet Daniel was thrown in jail and literally was to be fed to lions and in that moment God protected and shielded him. Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers and with his gifts from God was able to overcome betrayal, false accusations, and prison to provide Egypt with the means to withstand famine, plague, and war.

All of these instances prove God’s love for every person no matter their circumstance, background, or surroundings. Each family serves time with their loved one. And as that time is served they should receive the same love, protection, and grace from God’s people as they do from God Himself. Their needs are not lessened during these hardships, in fact it is the opposite. The women we are blessed to touch every day have the same needs as our own close friends and families. They all deserve to be listened to, fed, clothed, and live in homes where they can feel safe and secure.

Hebrews 13:3 “Remember those who are in prison, as though you are in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.”

This verse is an example of the many verses where the Bible tells us how to treat individuals who are behind bars. Each one of us serves time with every individual convicted of a crime, and should celebrate every time an individual gets to hear “time served”. When our brothers and sisters rejoin our families, they should receive the support God would have us provide to renew their lives and step into God’s light. Anyone that has lived life on the “inside” for any period of time and serves their sentence has paid for their transgressions. And Jesus paid for everyone’s transgressions so that we would be allowed to live our lives in forgiveness and be allowed in the presence of God. These men and women and their families have served their time and need the forgiveness that we have all been guaranteed.

KO is an international ministry that God has blessed us with here in West Texas. Through this ministry we are able to touch the lives of women that have been affected by incarceration of their loved ones or themselves.

– Kat McCoy