Dear friends,
In only a little over 24 hours, I will be privileged to participate in a marvelous display of restored beauty – the beauty of brothers and sisters assembling together in love for one another and in shared adoration of the Savior. Praise be to our infinitely merciful Heavenly Father Who guides His people into mercifulness toward one another and then – oneness!
Fifteen years ago, the people of Ruston saw an ugly, embarrassing rift in Christ Community Church. It was a church that had been planted ten years earlier by close friends who had enthusiastically shared a common vision. It was a church that enjoyed a good reputation with the people of Ruston. But in 1995 there was anger. There was confusion. Some left. Some stayed. All were sad. Within a few years, another church was established – Crossroads Church. Both churches flourished in ways that were quantifiable, but they languished in unresolved conflict. The haze of disharmony hung over their testimony in North-Central Louisiana.
However, one man never gave up hope of reconciliation, although the possibility of any kind of coming together seemed more than remote. Through the years, he remained determined and ever prayerful that the divide would be healed – completely healed. I well remember my doubtfulness in the face of his hopefulness.
But friends, we have a prayer-answering, faithful God! At last this brother's prayers (and the prayers of others) were answered! They were answered through the workings of God's Hand in the heart of a much younger man. This young leader from Crossroads found himself, through no provocation of any man's words, feeling compelled to address the seemingly unaddressable. He reached across the divide and made an appointment with a dear friend from Christ Community, and together these two church leaders took the first step on what would prove to be a lengthy and sometimes challenging journey – one that would ultimately include every man and woman who had been involved in or impacted by the intense strife that severely marred the loveliness of Christ's holy community.
As the number of those involved in the restoration process increased, the reach of the effort went back much farther than the 1995 crisis and much deeper than anyone could have anticipated. It went to the very roots of the discord! While it led to the revealing of long-borne pain, it also brought about the unveiling of long-hidden beautiful scenes in a story that began decades ago. Thanks be to God!
I write these things to you this afternoon for two reasons. First, I have been traveling toward this moment since the day my dear bride, our little son Jake, and I first came to North Louisiana when I was 24 years old, and I cannot describe to you the joy I feel in my heart as the hour nears when my old friend Robert Lewis and I will join with others in leading this reconciliation service tomorrow night, May 22nd, at Christ Community Church. Secondly, I know that many of you have experienced division in your churches and distance in certain personal relationships. I pray that some of you who are reading this letter will pick up the telephone and take the first step in restoring relationships between churches and between individuals. Jesus said, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." May this be our testimony with all men!
"Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1)
Your brother always – because we have a good and faithful Father,
Rodney
