Page 50 - Mariners Church Jubilee Book

2008
On a Faith Adventure to Africa, Kenton met Pastor Oscar of Nairobi Chapel and Pastor Muriithi of Mavuno Church, both in Nairobi, Kenya. As their friendship grew, Pastor Oscar kindly but firmly reminded Kenton that God is throwing a global party and we in Orange County are missing it. He helped the leadership of Mariners understand that God is moving in profound ways around the world and we are called to be a part of His global Church. We are all part of the body of Christ.
2 Corinthians 12:14-20, paraphrased says:
Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
Now if the American church should say, “Because I am not an African, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.
And if the Latin American church should say, “Because I am not an Asian, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were European, where would the sense of joy be? If the whole body were African, where would the sense of order be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
MANY PARTS, BUT ONE BODY
We quickly realized we didn’t have all the answers. But in a posture of learning and reciprocity, we began to understand the meaning of true partnership: a give and take of ideas, resources, wisdom and love.
Mariners Church heard and understood this message of God’s work in His Church around the world. In that year, giving to Global Outreach increased by 110%. We began to wonder and dream where else in the world God would call us.
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