Message summary: Paul's example from his ministry in very secular Athens applies to our ministry in very secular modern America (and virtually everywhere else on this planet!)

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"So he (Paul) reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there" (Acts 17:17).

This past Saturday afternoon we attended a gathering at our friends, Ron and Bonnie Hoover's home. They both have a mentoring ministry seeking to impact others for Christ, in which they are very effective. Our association began in 2007 when we made a presentation regarding our chaplaincy ministry to a group Ron leads called "Convene". This is a forum for business leaders who seek to honor God in their business and family. We now serve several of the Convene-related companies in our chaplaincy ministry and have made friends with many others in the group.


At the gathering we visited with Aaron Fisher and his wife Barbie who are newer Convene members with an interesting business/ministry. He operates a food distribution service called "Blessings Of Hope" arranging with food suppliers to receive large quantities of donated food and then distributes them to 117 ministries from New York City to North Carolina. Their "customers" include local food banks, missions like the Bowery Mission in New York City and ministries like Teen Challenge.

On the same day as our gathering the local newspaper had an article about "Blessings of Hope" (link below). The article begins, "Growing up in Kirkwood (a small town in Lancaster County), Aaron Fisher knew what it was like to be hungry. 'My dad was in a wheelchair,' he said. 'We were pretty poor. Somebody would bring us food once in a while and I thought this was amazing. It was almost like Christmas. So I determined at that point I would do something with my life to help people'.”

Aaron joined Convene to better equip himself for the business aspects of his ministry, which has an annual budget of $700,000.

Our daily text is frequently used by those who have a broader vision of ministry and speaks of an essential element of the Apostle Paul's ministry. The example from ministry in very secular Athens applies to ministry in very secular modern America.

Paul saw the city from a spiritual perspective and, grounded in his solid knowledge of the Law of God, he was "greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols" (v. 16). These idols are among the tourist attractions of Athens today but to Paul they were a stark reminder of man's ignorance and rebellion toward God. Rather than being impressed Paul was distressed. As we walk with a spiritual perspective this should be our reaction as well, even to the many wonders of our modern day "Athens".

But Paul was not intimidated nor did he remain silent.


Today we are all called to serve and witness. The need is all around us wherever we are, whatever we do. Look around and see who just "happens" to be in your circle of influence today? In what way can you express God's redemptive message as you interact with them? We must realize that in God's providential leading He has placed each of us where we are and His will is that we walk circumspectly and speak out as His witnesses. Many will mock and others might say, "We want to hear you again on this subject" as they did in Athens (v. 32). And some might begin to believe (v. 34). No matter the response let's keep living and proclaiming the gospel message of salvation!



Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, You have called each of us, as believers, to take Your light to a lost and dying world where wrong seems right; where right is derided, mocked and considered old-fashioned. It's challenging and often times awkward to go against the grain of our culture that calls evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. We can convey the message of truth and salvation, but only You can change the hearts of those who walk in darkness. Only You can replace darkness with light, evil for good, and sweet for bitter. We share the message and leave the results to You as the Holy Spirit convicts and changes the hearts of those who seek truth through salvation. Amen.

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Blessings of Hope newspaper article in Lancaster newspaper

Blessings of Hope website

Convene is a national organization. Our relationship with Convene is through Ron Hoover who chairs several of the Lancaster groups.

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