By Melvin Chapman of Hot Springs, Arkansas USA

Jesus Christ, the embodiment of God’s shalom, invites all people to come and receive divine peace in the midst of the difficult questions and struggles of life. Follow Christ in the way that leads to God’s peace and discover the blessings of all of the dimensions of salvation.

This journey started in July 2022 during the last reunion at Camp Powderfork in Arkansas, USA. The visiting minister was an off-the-wall, out-of-the-box missionary named Larry McGuire. He introduced us to the spiritual discipline of the Mission Prayer.

His warning: If you do not believe it do not say it. Well, we believed it and started saying it after we got home. Then things started to happen. We heard that a neighbor was ill; we did not know how sick he was. So, like what we thought good neighbors would do, we provided some soup and homemade bread. We thought we did well. WOW! Were we in for a surprise!

A few days later several cars quickly arrived at the home. I went over to see what happened. A young lady, the daughter, shook her head in a negative way. I walked into another room of the house and was met by the wife who grabbed me and said, “Melvin—he is gone.” She held me and cried. So did I.

A few days later I had been thinking what I (we) could do for our neighbors, whom we were beginning to realize we knew little about. As I was going into the kitchen for a cup of coffee, a thought hit me. I told my wife we ought to start a Bible study for our neighbors. She did not miss a beat and said, “Tuesdays at 1:30. You ask them.” So, a Mission Prayer journey began.

We had been saying the prayer daily and what I (we) got was wonderful. I set out to ask neighbors within walking distance. We live on a lake with a dead-end road, so it was a captive audience. Each said yes. Eight came for the first meeting. It was, of course, rather quiet until the coffee and homemade cinnamon rolls were made available. Smiles and laughter soon abounded around our table.

We now have between ten and twelve at each meeting. And, yes, people bring snacks. Around that table are Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Assembly of God, and Community of Christ members. The studies are lively and sometimes entertaining. I now know what the true meaning of community is.

This journey is not over. It began August 15, 2023, and on August 15, we celebrated our one-year anniversary. Fifty-two weeks at the table and still going. Where will the Spirit lead you today?

Prayer Phrase

“…he has given us a new birth into a living hope” (1 Peter 1:3).

Spiritual Practice

Weaving a Life

Hold, or imagine yourself holding, a piece of patterned cloth. Examine it carefully. Notice overlapping threads mingling colors that form the design. Write a journal entry or meditate about the threads and patterns of your life. What design do you see? How does the life pattern you are weaving create justice and wholeness in God’s world? What new pattern is God calling you to weave in 2025?

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.