In the News ... "'Miracle on Tyler Street' in its fourth year of blessing community"

By Sara Higgins
Reporter
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - The 23-foot tree is lit bright at night, beckoning families to visit the wintry village that surrounds it. The lights sparkle in children's eyes as they take in the structures that make up Greater Ideal Family Life Center's fourth annual Miracle on Tyler Street.

More than 200 volunteers and friends of Greater Ideal have worked for months to make the village a reality so all area families can receive a Christmas blessing.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the MRT story

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories for the 2011 Mission Yearbook were collected around General Assembly Mission theme “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide” based on Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 9:35. Each yearbook page bears witness to the abundant possibilities of the church because of the leadership of Christ. Today in the Mission Yearbook: December 16, 2011 PRESBYTERY OF SAN FERNANDO, CALIFORNIA - On Sunday, October 25, 2009, a crowd of more than one hundred people gathered to celebrate the birth of a new church in the Presbytery of San Fernando. Northland Village Church received forty members and will serve the Silverlake/Atwater area of Northeast Los Angeles, while focusing on a ministry of reconciliation. These members will serve as a “launch team” to develop the congregation’s vision. CLICK HERE to read more.

Teichert Prayer Letter for December

Karl and Jenny Teichert are serving the Lord as missionaries with OC Africa, in South Africa. They moved to Johannesburg in November, 1997 with their four children; Ann, Scott, Stephen and John. Karl serves as the Southern Africa Director of the Southern Africa Regional Team. Their vision is to see a healthy, Bible-based church established in every un-reached village and community in South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia and beyond. Their strategy is to partner with key African church leaders to research, train, and mobilize the body of Christ to complete the Great Commission. They are striving to equip local leaders in Southern Africa to reach their nations for Christ and send missionaries into other countries as well.

December Letter ...

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
     Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government
     and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and
     upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

~ Isaiah 9:6-7 

Dear Family and Friends,

May you have a blessed celebration of our Savior’s birth during this holiday season. Trusting that Christ’s righteousness, justice, and peace are revived in your life.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and generous support for us in the Lord’s mission to Southern Africa. We are deeply grateful for your enduring partnership and friendship.

For His Kingdom and Glory,

The Teicherts

OC Africa is an interdenominational ministry committed to developing, equipping, and mobilizing church leaders to multiply healthy, Bible-based churches in every community in Southern Africa and the world. OC is a faith-based mission who depends on the Lord to provide committed, financial supporters and partners. The contributions from these individuals help generate ministry opportunities around the world, impact missionaries and their global work, and provide a means for the International Mobilization Center to function. CLICK HERE to learn how YOU can be a part of mobilizing church leaders around the world by donating to OC.

Partners 2012 Calendar now available

Partners' 2012 calendar is now available for pre-order to be shipped in December. The pictures in this year's calendar were taken by Partners Relief & Development staff and friends who have engaged with the people of Burma. These photos are part of Partners' story. As they endeavor to bring free, full lives to the children of Burma, they catch these sublime moments to remember and share.

CLICK HERE for more information, and to order.


Steve and Oddny Gumaer started Partners Relief & Development in response to the needs of refugees and displaced people from Burma. Partners Relief & Development is a registered charity in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States. Their mission is to, through holistic action, demonstrate God’s love to children and communities made vulnerable by war in Burma.

Word from Uganda: "Goat Roasting ..."

Missionary teacher Natalie Rolfe writes, "'When He calls me, I will answer ... I'll be somewhere working for my Lord.' My call was Mbale, Uganda and that is where I have returned to serve for another year. Specifically, I am teaching phonics at Lulwanda Children's Home, an orphanage and school for 90 kids." Natalie also keeps an online journal of her service at the weblog, When He calls me, I will answer ...

Goat Roasting ...

Many little eyes, 338 to be exact, stare intently following the sound of the goats' screams. The Headmaster presents the head boy and head girl each with a big goat with a string tied to its foot like a leash. The excitement grows as the uncles lead the goats to the side of the school. Definite squeals of thrill and disgust as the children have closely huddled around to see the goats being slaughtered and skinned.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of Natalie's post

If you are interested in supporting LCH by sponsoring one of the 90 children, go to ugandaorphans.org/ If you are interested in financially supporting Natalie in her mission, you can send checks (with "Natalie Rolfe" in memo) to: Midland Bible Church, 2800 North A Street, Midland, TX 79705

Advent Devotional for December 4

"This Advent Season, start — or end — your day with these meditations provided by faculty, students, and alumni/ae of the Austin Seminary community."

CLICK HERE for a complete schedule of this season's devotionals.
CLICK HERE to learn how you can support the mission of Austin Seminary

Advent Devotional for Sunday, December 4

Mark 1:1-8

It bothers me that John the Baptist thinks he is unworthy even to untie Jesus’ sandals. Who could be more worthy than John? Talk about committed. He devotes everything he is and has to “preparing the way” for the One who is to come. He proclaims a message that will surely make him more enemies than friends. He even crafts his own clothes and scavenges his own food so he won’t be distracted in his ministry by the things of this world.

In our time and culture we tend to associate feelings of unworthiness with having a poor self-image. As Christians, we often try to encourage those who say they are unworthy by reminding them they are valuable because God made them and loves them.

John the Baptist offers stellar service to God and knows he is beloved. But still he says he is not worthy.

I imagine myself standing with John by the River Jordan, trying to convince him to think more highly of himself. I bet he would listen quietly and then point his finger off ahead of us both. “Just watch for the One who is coming,” he would say, “and then you’ll understand.”

When the Christ child comes, I will remember, again, that I am worthwhile. The Word will become flesh, and I will be made whole, again, in him. But am I open, with John, to for now recognizing my unworthiness? To pointing my finger away from myself and toward the One who is yet to come, the One who is all-worthy, the one who will give all things worth?

Coming God, baptize us with your Spirit. Break us out of the selves to which we cling that we might await, and then receive, our hope and our healing. Amen.

Cindy Rigby
The W. C. Brown Professor of Theology

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For the glory of God and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a seminary in the Presbyterian-Reformed tradition whose mission is to educate and equip individuals for the ordained Christian ministry and other forms of Christian service and leadership; to employ its resources in the service of the church; to promote and engage in critical theological thought and research; and to be a winsome and exemplary community of God's people.

Advent Devotional for December 3

"This Advent Season, start — or end — your day with these meditations provided by faculty, students, and alumni/ae of the Austin Seminary community."
CLICK HERE for a complete schedule of this season's devotionals.
CLICK HERE to learn how you can support the mission of Austin Seminary

Advent Devotional for Saturday, December 3

Mark 11:27-33

Some of us who are following paths of leadership in ministry or who are already in roles of ministry may have been asked by others, both acquaintances or those who dislike us, this question numerous times. The reason we are asked? Well, inquiring minds just need to know! The question may be asked directly to us, but more than likely inquiries are made behind our backs. But we don’t have to worry or bow down to pressure, especially when we see how Jesus handles the probing.

Jesus, in being asked this question by the chief priests, teachers of the law, and the elders stood firm. When confronted with, “And who gave you authority to do this?” Jesus challenges the intellect of his confronters by responding, “John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

When those who “knew” everything about the Torah and the laws and proper customs of how religious folk should act and behave couldn’t answer Jesus, well, Jesus maintained a boundary. He did not placate those who were pushing for an answer. In fact, he refused to tell them by what authority he was permitted to continue doing his ministry.

It is refreshing to see that we do not have to feel duty-bound to answer questions about the authority given to us by God, when others are demanding that information.

God of steadfastness, please remind me that there are boundaries to help shelter my heart and personal space when others may be pressuring me into giving them what they want, when they want it. Amen.

Eric Gates
MDiv Student

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For the glory of God and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a seminary in the Presbyterian-Reformed tradition whose mission is to educate and equip individuals for the ordained Christian ministry and other forms of Christian service and leadership; to employ its resources in the service of the church; to promote and engage in critical theological thought and research; and to be a winsome and exemplary community of God's people.

Advent Devotional for December 2

"This Advent Season, start — or end — your day with these meditations provided by faculty, students, and alumni/ae of the Austin Seminary community."
CLICK HERE for a complete schedule of this season's devotionals.
CLICK HERE to learn how you can support the mission of Austin Seminary

Advent Devotional for Friday, December 2

Jeremiah 1:4-10

It would be nice if God would keep a proper distance.

If you have traveled much in the Middle East, you know that people tend to intrude upon your personal space, at least as it is defined here in America. They don’t spread out over the bus, but tend to bunch—right next to you. They don’t stand two feet away in conversation. It is right in your face. God is right in Jeremiah’s face.

Other than Jeremiah’s weak objection in v. 6, we don’t get much of an insight about what Jeremiah thinks of this new arrangement (which is not actually new at all —surprise!). I imagine he is squirming.

Francis Thompson wrote “The Hound of Heaven” in 1893 describing God’s relentless pursuit of the writer through “the arches of the years” and “labyrinthine ways,” with “deliberate speed, majestic instancy.” “The Voice” does hound us, make demands of us, knows what we are capable of, and expects us to use our gifts to build and to plant. God will not keep a respectful distance, but sit right next to us on the bus, no matter how much room there is elsewhere.

O Heavenly Voice, near and far, round me “like the bursting sea,” forgive my deafness, my turned head, my glazed eyes, my reluctant steps, always checking for email rather than my Lord’s whispers. Persist, that I may desist, and return to what has never left me. Amen.

Whit Bodman
Associate Professor of Comparative Religion

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For the glory of God and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a seminary in the Presbyterian-Reformed tradition whose mission is to educate and equip individuals for the ordained Christian ministry and other forms of Christian service and leadership; to employ its resources in the service of the church; to promote and engage in critical theological thought and research; and to be a winsome and exemplary community of God's people.

Advent Devotional for December 1

"This Advent Season, start — or end — your day with these meditations provided by faculty, students, and alumni/ae of the Austin Seminary community."
CLICK HERE for a complete schedule of this season's devotionals.
CLICK HERE to learn how you can support the mission of Austin Seminary

Advent Devotional for Thursday, December 1

Psalm 82:1-2, 8-13

Every translation is an interpretation … a commentary of sorts. Were we in a Diaspora synagogue of—let’s say—Corinth on a day when an apostle like Paul was preaching and debating (=midrash) on the meaning of our Psalm (number 84 in the text I have translated), the Greek translation would likely have played a role. Yes, to translate holy writ is to restate it and to restate it is to re-envision its subject matter! Even in the Hebrew original, the opening triad of creation, inheritance, and God’s forgiveness is restated prayerfully in the antiphon. In contrast to “land” we have “earth”; for “restored fortunes” we have “turned away treachery”; for “forgave iniquity … pardoned” we read “forgave lawless acts committed … covered”; the Greek version also weaves carefully the imagery of “turning away” and “turning (for both God and for mortals) toward” … “salvation,” “life,” “peace,” and “God’s glory.” Then restatement continues with the “tender embrace” (“passionate kiss”?) of righteousness and peace as past tense (not a future) following upon the conjoining that took place between mercy and truth, a truth that “rose up” (as from the dead?) out of the earth just as righteousness “leaned down” out of heaven. Promised are both the “lordly” provision of practical blessing and the “earthly” yield of fruit that will surround a future whose path is “crossover-marked” by God’s own footprints.

This translational restatement and re-envisioning of the Psalm reminds me of the apostolic declaration of that translator/preacher Paul, who wrote: “For God is at work in you all both to will and to energize on behalf of (salvation’s) good-pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).

O God, for the gift of translation and the re-envisioning of our encounter with both your glorious mercy and truth and your tender embrace of righteousness and peace, we give you thanks and praise. Give us eyes to see the markers of the path Christ blazed for us. Amen.

John Alsup
The First Presbyterian Church, Shreveport,
D. Thomason Professor of New Testament Studies

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For the glory of God and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a seminary in the Presbyterian-Reformed tradition whose mission is to educate and equip individuals for the ordained Christian ministry and other forms of Christian service and leadership; to employ its resources in the service of the church; to promote and engage in critical theological thought and research; and to be a winsome and exemplary community of God's people.

Partners Blog: "Mom Andres gives an object lesson on Burma"

Steve and Oddny Gumaer started Partners Relief & Development in response to the needs of refugees and displaced people from Burma. This blog is meant to be a more personal stream of conversation than newsletters allow for. The opinions expressed here may not be those of Partners Relief & Development.

Mom Andres gives an object lesson on Burma

"This short video, recorded in Saskatoon Canada, was done to help small children understand what is happening to children in Burma. Watch and share it with your young friends. To do it yourself you need a tray, milk, pepper, and dish soap. I almost forgot, you also need a frowning bad guy face."
CLICK HERE to read the rest of this post

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories for the 2011 Mission Yearbook were collected around General Assembly Mission theme “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide” based on Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 9:35. Each yearbook page bears witness to the abundant possibilities of the church because of the leadership of Christ.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: November 30, 2011

PROVIDENCE PRESBYTERY, SOUTH CAROLINA - Seventy-nine-year-old Isabell Johnson opens the door. Standing on the stoop is a smiling, white-haired volunteer bearing a tray of hot food from the Union County Meals on Wheels. Isabell smiles back through the oxygen tubing wreathing her face. This is the one hot meal that she can count on eating today in her rural home.
CLICK HERE to read more.

Advent Devotional for November 30

"This Advent Season, start — or end — your day with these meditations provided by faculty, students, and alumni/ae of the Austin Seminary community."
CLICK HERE for a complete schedule of this season's devotionals.
CLICK HERE to learn how you can support the mission of Austin Seminary

Advent Devotional for Wedbesday, November 30

Luke 21: 34–38

Anticipation. Yearning. Anxiety. Hoping. Waiting. Isn’t that what this Advent journey is all about, waiting on the world to change? Jesus’ parable in Luke 21 is telling disciples - both then and now - that the celebrations and disappointments of this world should not be the primary focus of humankind. For a worrier like myself, those are harsh words to digest. They become exponentially more difficult to enact when confronted with the brokenness of creation that manifests itself in disease, oppression, consumerism, poverty, and war. As John Mayer suggests, who could possibly rise above and beat these things? And by which means?

How easy it is to feel hopeless in the face of such great needs. How quickly we allow the matters of this world to distract us from divine blessing. So we wait. Simultaneously balancing the joy found in God’s eternal assurance with our compassionate action to aid a hurting world, we wait in hopeful tension for the Child of Promise. We wait because we know that through the Jesus of Crib and Cross the world will change as God comes to be with us and for us in this world. We wait for that signal of Creation’s nearing redemption. Alert and steadfast, we wait for the world to change.

God of Promise, we yearn for the light of your coming. Focus our hearts on that which is truly important. Renew us by your love that we may face both present and future with hope and joy. In the name of the One who is to come, Amen.

Cam Burton
MDiv Student
Pastor, Decker United Methodist Church, Austin, Texas

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For the glory of God and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a seminary in the Presbyterian-Reformed tradition whose mission is to educate and equip individuals for the ordained Christian ministry and other forms of Christian service and leadership; to employ its resources in the service of the church; to promote and engage in critical theological thought and research; and to be a winsome and exemplary community of God's people.

Teichert Prayer Letter for November

Karl and Jenny Teichert are serving the Lord as missionaries with OC Africa, in South Africa. They moved to Johannesburg in November, 1997 with their four children; Ann, Scott, Stephen and John. Karl serves as the Southern Africa Director of the Southern Africa Regional Team. Their vision is to see a healthy, Bible-based church established in every un-reached village and community in South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia and beyond. Their strategy is to partner with key African church leaders to research, train, and mobilize the body of Christ to complete the Great Commission. They are striving to equip local leaders in Southern Africa to reach their nations for Christ and send missionaries into other countries as well.

November Letter ...

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
    Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government
    and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and
    upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”
~ Isaiah 9:6-7

Dear Family and Friends,

May you have a blessed celebration of our Savior’s birth during this holiday season. Trusting that Christ’s righteousness, justice, and peace are revived in your life.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and generous support for us in the Lord’s mission to Southern Africa. We are deeply grateful for your enduring partnership and friendship.

For His Kingdom and Glory,

Jenny for the Teicherts

OC Africa is an interdenominational ministry committed to developing, equipping, and mobilizing church leaders to multiply healthy, Bible-based churches in every community in Southern Africa and the world. OC is a faith-based mission who depends on the Lord to provide committed, financial supporters and partners. The contributions from these individuals help generate ministry opportunities around the world, impact missionaries and their global work, and provide a means for the International Mobilization Center to function. CLICK HERE to learn how YOU can be a part of mobilizing church leaders around the world by donating to OC.

Project Girl to help ECPAT-USA mark 20th anniversary

From EPCAT-USA ...

Project Girl, an arts-based initiative designed to empower young women, will be performing at our 20th Anniversary Celebration on November 30th, in New York City. If you haven't already purchased tickets for the event, it's not to late for the opportunity to see these talented young women perform. If you're still not convinced, we should point out that this incredible performance collective put on a show at the White House earlier this year. Don't miss this rare opportunity to see a unique and powerful piece specifically for the cause of Child Sex Trafficking.

PROJECT GIRL PERFORMANCE COLLECTIVE from Jon Ecklund on Vimeo.

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories for the 2011 Mission Yearbook were collected around General Assembly Mission theme “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide” based on Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 9:35. Each yearbook page bears witness to the abundant possibilities of the church because of the leadership of Christ.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: November 29, 2011

PEACE RIVER PRESBYTERY, FLORIDA - In 2011, Cedarkirk Camp and Conference Center will celebrate forty years of ministry. This unique ministry has always sought to be a place apart to build up the body of Christ in love. Youth find acceptance and a safe place to explore and deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ, and churches retreat and enjoy the beauty of God's creation. Cedarkirk strives to create a place where conversation around the dinner table, canoe trips on the river, and walks in the woods revive and feed one's spirit. Throughout its history, generations have come to Cedarkirk, encountered God through their common life together, and left empowered to go back into the world and share God's love.
CLICK HERE to read more.

Advent Devotional for November 29

"This Advent Season, start — or end — your day with these meditations provided by faculty, students, and alumni/ae of the Austin Seminary community."
CLICK HERE for a complete schedule of this season's devotionals.
CLICK HERE to learn how you can support the mission of Austin Seminary

Advent Devotional for Tuesday, November 29

Micah 4: 6-13

As an undergraduate in 1990, one of my favorite songs expressed the hope felt by many at the fall of the Berlin Wall. The song, “Right Here, Right Now,” by Jesus Jones repeats the chorus, “Right here, right now, there is no other place I want to be. Right here, right now, watching the world wake up from history.” Being elated at the collapse of oppressive governments, I thought that healing, restoration, and peace found in justice could finally take root and become fruitful.

And here we are more than twenty years later still seeing oppressive governments collapse, and still hoping for healing, restoration and peace found in justice. All the while, still reeling from the aftereffects of 9/11, economic recession, the Texas drought and wildfires. Micah’s words capture unfilled hope and the desire for justice and peace.

Yet, Micah also reminds us that hope has to carry us on as we struggle to wait for restoration. In spite of our anguish, as we groan and squirm, Micah invites us to arise and tread on. For a baby is to be born and new life will come; the living Christ found in the midst of us. The living Christ found in serving, loving, and forgiving our neighbor. So as we wake up from history, we move forward in the hope expressed through Jesus’ birth, and in knowing that God gathers us, rescues us, restores us, and moves us closer and closer toward God’s ultimate design.

God of compassion and strength, we know that you’re always our counselor and our guide. Help us see the living Christ as we wait; help us acknowledge the promise of your restoration and the salvation that comes in spite of suffering. God help us open our eyes to understanding the relationship between justice and peace. Amen.

Laurel Dixon
MDiv '11

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For the glory of God and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a seminary in the Presbyterian-Reformed tradition whose mission is to educate and equip individuals for the ordained Christian ministry and other forms of Christian service and leadership; to employ its resources in the service of the church; to promote and engage in critical theological thought and research; and to be a winsome and exemplary community of God's people.

ChinaAid: Chinese preacher persecuted, files lawsuit over her administrative detention

The China Aid Association is a non-profit Christian organization - based in Midland, Texas - with a mission to uncover and reveal the truth about religious persecution in China, focusing especially on the unofficial church. They do this, they explain in their website, by exposing the abuses, encouraging the abused and equipping the saints to advance the kingdom of God throughout China.

Chinese preacher persecuted, files lawsuit over her administrative detention

Released by ChinaAid, November, 2011 ...

"SHANDONG, CHINA – A woman preacher certified by the official Three-Self church and who preached for many years in a government-approved church was administratively detained for five days last month and has filed a lawsuit over the incident, ChinaAid has learned.
Read the Rest of the Report from ChinaAid

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer. The stories for the 2011 Mission Yearbook were collected around General Assembly Mission theme “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide” based on Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 9:35. Each yearbook page bears witness to the abundant possibilities of the church because of the leadership of Christ.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: November 28, 2011

NORTHEAST GEORGIA PRESBYTERY - The Presbyterian Student Center is a campus ministry at the University of Georgia that is supported by Northeast Georgia Presbytery and its congregations. Presbyterian campus ministry at the university began in 1940 and moved into the Presbyterian Student Center in 1959. Since that time, untold numbers of students have come to this community and matured in their faith while growing into disciples and leaders. Students worship together every week, join to form small groups, and seek to serve others in the community in various ways.
CLICK HERE to read more.

Advent Devotional for November 28

"This Advent Season, start — or end — your day with these meditations provided by faculty, students, and alumni/ae of the Austin Seminary community."
CLICK HERE for a complete schedule of this season's devotionals.
CLICK HERE to learn how you can support the mission of Austin Seminary

Advent Devotional for Monday, November 28

Psalm 79

A woman I know in Northern Ireland lost her husband at an early age. One minute they were on a family vacation on the coast; the next, while holding their newborn child, he suffered an immediately fatal heart attack. In her early forties, she was widowed with four small children. Her husband was not only the love of her life, but also the family’s sole source of income.

Grief-stricken and hopeless, she sought council from her parish priest. In the midst of her outpouring, she finally mustered the courage to tell him how deeply, viscerally angry she was with God for letting this happen. This old Irish priest responded by quietly leading her into the sanctuary and standing her right in front of the altar. After a few moments of silence, he told her: “Tell God how angry you are at Him. Scream, yell, and weep for as much and as long as you wish. The Almighty can bear your grief. He hears you.”

In a similar way, Psalm 79 is Israel’s stance before God in a period of utter pain and desolation. It is tempting for us to shirk away from intense texts such as these, but the same powerfully emotive lines that make us recoil can also carry us to God in our darker hours. In this season of waiting, let us adopt these ancient words as our own and trust that we too are heard.

Ever-near Spirit of God, who prays for us when we cannot, inspire us to claim these scriptures from the shadows; so that the Coming Light may more fully enter our lives. Amen.

Bart Smith
MDiv Student
Student Body President

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For the glory of God and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a seminary in the Presbyterian-Reformed tradition whose mission is to educate and equip individuals for the ordained Christian ministry and other forms of Christian service and leadership; to employ its resources in the service of the church; to promote and engage in critical theological thought and research; and to be a winsome and exemplary community of God's people.

Video Vault: New Spor from ECPAT-USA

As Congress considers passing a law to authorize funding for the development of shelters for sexually exploited American children, ECPAT-USA is launching a 60-second public service announcement, entitled "Princess." The PSA tells the all too common story of children sold into the sex trade and spells out the simple truth that "dragons aren't the only monsters." JWT New York is the agency that created the PSA. The video aims to raise awareness and gain support for legislation in the United States.

Contact your United States Senator and ask him or her to support S. 1301: Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2011.