Business / English Camp Team

Here we are. I am the one hiding, the third person from the right!

Czech Business / English Camp Team 2005

Memorial Day

As a child, I did not understand the meaning of “Memorial Day.” It was simply the last holiday before we got out of school in June. Perhaps it was because both of my grandfathers did not serve in World War II, and my uncles who served in Vietnam did not talk much about it. Perhaps it is because a child has a hard time comprehending the sacrifice others have made to keep me free. Whatever the reason, I was a teenager before I fully realized the importance of the holiday.

Sometimes I think we can make the same mistake when we talk about the fact that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead. It can be a distant fact, not a vital reality. It is the reason for “Christmas” and “Easter,” not a reason to stop and worship. I suspect that is why the movie The Passion of the Christ was so powerful. It forced me to stop and recognize the sacrifice that was made to set me free.

Next month, I will be a part of a team going to the Czech Republic to conduct a Business / English Camp. While there, we plan to show a short but powerful film called MOST (the Czech word for “bridge”) on Thursday, June 23. This Academy Award nominated film powerfully illustrates the sacrifice God made in sending His own son to die for our sins. As you pray for our trip, please pray especially for the impact of this film and the discussion that will follow. Please pray that God would prepare the hearts of those who will see it. Please pray that God would give us the right words to say to answer their questions. Please pray that some would put their trust in Christ alone as they finally understand the true meaning of the sacrifice Christ made for them.

Welcome

Hi. My name is James Wartian, and I am the Missions Pastor (as well as Mature Adult Pastor) at New Covenant Bible Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This is my personal blog to tell more about missions at New Covenant. Thanks for coming to check it out. I will be posting about once a week my thoughts about missions in general, and about my experiences on various missions adventures. And your thoughts will be welcome too! Join me on this great adventure.