Deed and Deeds

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Hanging in my church office is the original deed wherein Jacob and Barbara Burry sold land to the German Evangelical United Congregation.  The document details the boundaries and acreage of the property along with its value.  Near the end of the contract, it reads, “In witness whereof, the said Jacob Burry and Barbara his wife hereunto set their hand and seal the day and year first above written,” followed by “Jacob ‘x’ Burry” and “Barbara ‘-’ Burry”.  Framing the “x” and “-” are written the words “his mark” and “her mark”.  One hundred and ninety years later (September 5th, to be exact), the Burrys’ legacy lives on at St. John’s German United Evangelical Protestant Church, because they literally left their mark.

This raises a question, “What marks will we leave behind?”  For two thousand years, God has faithfully preserved the Bride of Christ by raising up men and women as instruments to build and sustain the Church.  As individuals within a local expression of this global Body, how have we contributed and how will we be remembered?

My hope is that our ministry together will be marked by the words and actions of Christ as found in Mark 10:42-45, “Jesus called them over and said to them, ‘You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them.  But it is not so among you.  On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’”

Burry’s Church has a rich history of service for Jesus’s sake.  Let us continue to build upon this legacy by outdoing one another in love.  As a source of encouragement for myself, I would love to hear how you or someone else have left a mark.  Please stop by my office and share a story.  Be a blessing and be blessed.

With much love,

Pastor Christian