July 4, 2024

Dear Central Church,

Happy 248th birthday, America! I hope you’re enjoying a wonderful holiday with friends and family today. 

One of the joys of being part of a multicultural church is learning about different cultures and helping people from other countries integrate into American life. I have had several conversations with friends from our Hispanic and Brazilian congregations about some of the nuances of the July 4th holiday. 

One thing I’ve had to explain to them is that going to someone’s house for a “BBQ” or a “cook out” generally means hamburgers and hotdogs on a grill. This has produced high levels of disappointment from our South American friends as those terms are generally associated with higher-end meats prepared in a much more elaborate way than a propane gas grill. Having participated in both a Brazilian and Argentinian “BBQ,” I’ll have to say I share their disappointment. 

Nonetheless, I will partake in my share of hamburgers and hotdogs today and give thanks for this country and the freedoms we enjoy. We are truly blessed! 

This is just one of the ways that we are able to learn from one another in the context of a multicultural church. There are more than 20 different countries represented at Central. It’s a regular reminder of what Paul says in Philippians 3:20, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” On this Independence Day, we give thanks for this nation and honor its history, but also we recognize that our true allegiance is to Jesus. We are part of a Kingdom where all are welcomed by grace, and we serve a King who is good and whose reign will never end. 

I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday! I’ll be preaching from 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, and we will welcome a musical group from MidAmerica Nazarene University. You will be blessed by these students as they lead us in worship! 

Until He’s Finished,
Pastor Mark