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Evalgelical Lutheran Church in America Northeastern Ohio Synod
Letters from Pastor Alan Smearsoll

           
March 2022

I’ll never forget an experience I had with my Candidacy Committee during my  early seminary years. The Candidacy Committee of each Synod follows their “candidates” for ministry through their seminary education. They do the work of assuring that the candidate is not only prepared for ministry educationally but   also, for a lack of a better word, realistically. Is this person emotionally and      spiritually capable for the call to ministry? They do much more, but, as I look   back on their role in my preparation, this I see as their greatest contribution.

Anyway, the committee meets periodically with the candidate throughout their seminary education. At one particular meeting, I remember being asked this question:  “Who is Jesus to you?” He’s my savior. He died on the cross to save me from my sins and bring me eternal life, I responded (or something like that). “No, we don’t want the textbook response. We want to know who Jesus is to you, personally.” Silence….long silence. Oh, Oh, I just blew it! What do I say?  No one has ever asked me that before. I don’t have an answer.

Thankfully, I realized much later that they were not trying to trip me or any other candidate up with that question. What they were doing was wanting us to focus on digging deep for a response. They wanted us to search our hearts for a personal story, our story about our encounter with the risen Lord. I must say it was a challenge, but after some searching, I came up with a description from something I had picked up in one of my classes. Jesus is my “non-anxious presence.” He stills the storms in my life. He comforts me in times of distress. He quietly whispers in my ear, “Don’t worry, I’ve got this.”

Turns out, this description of Jesus in my life makes him a very real and current presence, not something that happened two thousand years ago but something that is alive and active now! We can all benefit from exploring the question “Who is Jesus to you?”

Wednesdays this Lent, I invite you to set aside a small block of time to dig deeper into this story of Jesus that is your story. Our Director of Faith Formation, Janie Crowl, will be leading a group on this very path of discovery. This will take place at 6:00 at the church, prior to the midweek service at 7:00. The worship that follows will explore what it is to live the baptized life and help us to better realize and understand our calling as disciples of Jesus.

There is nothing worse than an inquisitive, would-be convert to Christianity coming up to you and, knowing that you are a Christian, asking you “who is this Jesus to you anyway? What do you find so special about someone who died a disgraceful death on a cross? What does he do for you that you would choose to     follow him? Why should I become a Christian as opposed to other religions that are out there?”

Could you readily and confidently respond with your faith story or would there be silence….long silence?  Please come and be a part of this very important learning and growing experience this Lent. God’s story is told through your experience with God. What a wonderful story you have to share!

Pastor Alan 


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