In Thursday night’s message, Dr. Stanley John, assistant professor of Intercultural Studies at Alliance Theological Seminary, challenged the Alliance family to shed any ethnic prejudices or nationalistic idolatry that may hinder us from a pure proclamation of the gospel to those who are desperately searching for God.
Stanley cited Acts 10:15—where the angel of the Lord commanded Peter to “not call anything impure that God has made clean”—as the catalytic revelation that challenged everything Peter had come to believe about Kingdom equality and radically altered the course of his missionary work.
Stanley first reminded us that we are “Spirit-guided.” In describing the spiritual journeys of Soeuth and Syna Lao, C&MA missionaries to Cambodia, he reminded us that we cannot move forward in our missionary call apart from the Spirit’s stirring.
Then, in recounting an encounter that forever changed the trajectory of ATS Dean Ron Walborn’s ministry, Stanley further characterized us as “Spirit-sanctified,” receiving with humility and gratitude the Holy Spirit’s gentle guidance in remembering our true Kingdom citizenship and embracing the things that warm the heart of God.
And finally, we are “Spirit-empowered,” emboldened as Christ’s witnesses and equipped with the courage to risk reputation, leadership security, and community acceptance to fulfill our missionary calling—just as Peter did when the angel of the Lord gave Him a fresh vision of the Kingdom.
Stanley ended his message by encouraging the Alliance family to allow the gospel to challenge the ethnic pride, priorities, and structures that hinder our efforts to proclaim the good news to all peoples.
The Day in Pictures
Seen and Heard
“Generous people are a lot of fun to be around.” —John Stumbo, U.S. C&MA president
“There is a great bonfire coming on this planet when everything that is used for human purposes will go up in flames, but that which is invested in the eternal, those things will last. We are rescuers of resources from the great bonfire to come.” —John Stumbo, U.S. C&MA president
“Which people group on planet earth has the right to determine what is the right way to do church? I think every culture has the right to say, ‘This is how we do it.’” —Ron Morrison, senior pastor of Hope Alliance Bible Church in Maple Heights, Ohio, “An Honest Conversation on Diversity, Privilege, and the Hidden Walls that Affect African Americans”
“We have to believe and have faith that God will bring this work to completion. This is the belief that sustains us in the dry places.” —a marketplace ministries worker, “Redemption Stories from Around the World”
Extras
Following are additional items to remind you of today’s session.