JULY 2020 Christian
Health Care This Month’s Newsletter Newsletter 1 When one suffers, we all suffer 3 Get your $250 Healthcare Bluebook fair price reward
4 Moving from lament to leadership: When one suffers, we all suffer George Floyd, the Gospel, and our response from Samaritan Leadership 6 Member Spotlight Mike Donehey: Tenth Avenue North
8 How hospitals could become a thing of the past
10 No social media algorithm rewards grace
15 Prayer for the Persecuted Church
16 The Doorpost Prayers that impress God
Member Letter:
HEALTHCARE BLUEBOOK HELPED US GET A FAIR PRICE Our son Caleb was eating popcorn and decided to stick a t h i s h a s b e e n a difficult time for so many of us as we try to process kernel up his nose. We couldn’t get and respond in Christ-honoring ways to the events taking place across it out and had to take him to an our nation and in our cities and neighborhoods. acute care center. With the tragic and needless death of George Floyd, we have one more We thought the bill was too high, painful reminder that injustice is alive and well in parts of our society. so we checked Healthcare Blue- We know that there is a depth of hurt and sadness many are experiencing book. We sent a letter with esti- right now, on staff and among our members. For those who are hurting, mates of what the treatment the leadership at Samaritan Ministries wants to say that we see you. should cost and a check for $350. You are dearly loved. And we will move forward together. The hospital accepted the payment As followers of Jesus, we know that the problems we are facing can be and took $500 off the bill. traced back to the sin in our hearts. We also know that the lasting hope we are looking for is found in Jesus Christ and His Gospel, which leads Kevin & Lesli us to reconciliation with God and one another. We believe that if God can WISCONSIN continued on page 12 Sharing Summary | June 2020
NEEDS IN NEGOTIATIONS $30,011,595 $11,700,000
SHARES MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS $30,011,595 80,843
Contact Us | 877-764-2426 | Dash.SamaritanMinistries.org
QUESTIONS ABOUT? EMAIL PHONE MENU Your medical need [email protected] 1–1 Shares you are sending or receiving membership@samaritanministries. 1–2 Your membership membership@samaritanministries. 1–3
Have a Need? Use the Health Resources App on Dash
• Compare quality and cost of health care services in your area using Healthcare Bluebook. Receive a $250 reward when you submit a screenshot showing you chose a green fair-price provider. • Use MediBid to receive bids from doctors for tests or treatments you are seeking. • Email a medical professional or call a nurse (free), or call a doctor who can write a prescription ($25). • Access discount tools for prescriptions and lab tests.
Send a note. Pay your share. Always stay alert in prayer.
EDITORS CONTACT US FOLLOW US ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES Jed Stuber, Editor newsletter@ Facebook: Samaritan Ministries PO Box 3618, Peoria, IL 61612 Michael Miller, Managing Editor samaritanministries.org Instagram: @samaritanmin telephone: 309-689-0442 Ray King, Editor Emeritus Twitter: @samaritanmin telephone (toll free): 877-764-2426 fax: 309-689-0764
The Christian Health Care Newsletter is published monthly by Samaritan Ministries International, a 501(c)(3) charity. Subscriptions to the Christian Health Care Newsletter are available to non-members for a suggested donation of $12 per year. The information provided is for educational purposes and is not meant as medical advice. Ministry News Get your $250 Healthcare Bluebook fair-price reward
Simply submit a screenshot from Healthcare Bluebook with your bills indicating that you chose a green, fair-price provider u s i n g h e a lt h c a r e b l u e bo o k demonstrating that you chose one appear depending on your area to compare cost and quality ratings of Healthcare Bluebook’s green and the specific treatment you before you see a provider is one “fair-price” providers and submit it are seeking, especially if it is a of the most important ways you with your bills. Samaritan staff will surgery. If you call the number on can steward your fellow members’ review it with your Need to make the screen and work with Health- Shares, and now you can receive a sure it qualifies for the reward. care Bluebook’s concierge, you $250 reward for choosing a green Here are some important details: will qualify for the $250 fair-price fair-price provider. reward automatically. • To be eligible for the reward, the Pricing information is often Samaritan Ministries will be bill has to be for procedures, hidden in health care, and doing a six month experiment with tests, or services listed on cash-paying patients can be the fair-price reward, and we want Healthcare Bluebook. Doctor’s charged up to 12 times more than every member to log in to your visits and therapy are not eligible. other payers. That’s why negotiat- Dash account and use Healthcare ing large “discounts” after service • Bills must have dates of service Bluebook to help keep the Share usually doesn’t result in fair pricing. July 1 and forward. as affordable as possible. For more But Healthcare Bluebook gives you details about the fair-price reward, • You may only receive one $250 the pricing information you need to visit SamaritanMinistries.org/ reward per Need, even if you compare cost and quality of provid- reward. choose fair-price providers for ers near you. Knowledge is power. several different bills on that Need. When you do your part to help keep the monthly Share afford- Healthcare Bluebook is able, you will now receive a $250 also releasing a new fair-price check. Simply take a screenshot “concierge” feature that may
Get your $250 reward...
Compare quality and cost of health care in your area.
Log in at Dash.SamaritanMinistries.org and go to Health Resources
3 Worldview Moving from lament to leadership: George Floyd, the Gospel, and our response
by Chris Brooks neighbors the grace and truth of the unjust killing of Mr. George Pastor of Woodside the Gospel in the face of such pain Floyd, we must affirm that lament- Bible Church & Host of Moody Radio’s Equipped and brokenness?” These questions ing is Biblical. Buried underneath are only intensified when we see the headlines of the riots are the 24-hour news cycles of civil unrest untold stories of image-bearers a s t h e d u s t clears over the across our country. who are deeply grieved by the Minneapolis skyline and other When we see young people types of abuse of power that killed cities around our country, and the gathered in our streets, I believe Mr. Floyd. And by the apathy of embers begin to fade from the we should agree with the senti- leaders who refuse to address blaze of yet another heartbreak- ment Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the injustice they and their chil- ing page in the story of human expressed in his September 27, dren face on a daily basis. These fallenness, we are all left with the 1966, interview with then CBS men and women cry out to God aching cry of Maranatha! This one reporter Mike Wallace, “Riots are in lament. Our Bibles are full of word sums up our deepest long- the language of the unheard.” Psalms of Lament (Psalms 44, 60, ings when God, in His sovereignty, The images of our brothers and 74, 75, 79, 80, etc.). allows the veil to be lifted from our sisters in Christ expressing such Lament is a uniquely Christian eyes causing us to see the sheer deep hurt, pain, and frustration action. It is the act of taking our depths of human depravity. should cause us to ask ourselves, sorrows to God when our pain The filmed pain of the injustice “What aren’t we hearing?” We must is tempting us to run from Him. committed against Mr. George acknowledge nonviolent, peaceful All laments begin with God’s Floyd has only been compounded protests have been a very useful people bringing our complaints by the ugliness of burning buildings tool for addressing inequities in before the Lord. They then prog- and wounded cities. This should our society. But it should break our ress to us petitioning God boldly cause any true believer to long hearts whenever these peaceful in prayer, that He would hear our for Christ’s return. As we witness protests are highjacked by looters cries for justice and our pleas for clashes between people and and those who desire to instigate His intervention on behalf of the police, we are reminded this world further violence. They have no mistreated. Christian lament is is not our home. So, our souls cry, genuine love for the communities grounded in a deep abiding trust “Maranatha … Come Lord Jesus!” who are hurting, because destruc- in the character of God. But for now, we, His Church, are left tion will never produce the true Ultimately, our lament drives to look forward to His return while justice our hearts long for. Yet, if us from our knees to our feet in grappling with the question, “How we are humble, we must also admit action, compelled by love to be now shall we live?” these types of civil unrest do teach difference-makers in our commu- In the wake of injustice we often us something about our hurting nities for Christ. The Lord reminds find ourselves asking familiar neighbors. They reveal the histori- us in our anger and grief that we questions like, “What can we do to cal depths of penned up lament. are His ambassadors. We have personally address the evil of injus- While we must condemn looting been entrusted with the task of tice?” and “How can we show our and violence in the aftermath of being His witnesses in both word
4 and deed. Lamenting, though ethnicity cause you to think there but much harder when it comes to Biblical, is not enough. We cannot is nothing you can do. While the hurting communities in our own afford to live in unending lament. list of positive proactive steps we backyard. We must look with equal We must act redemptively to fix can take to address the underlying concern upon the pain of others what is broken, to leverage the causes of injustice are endless, who are geographically near us power of our voices against injus- I suggest there are four enduring and listen to their stories. When tice, to exchange our comfort for actions every believer should take Christ-followers ignore those who solidarity with the wounded, and now as we seek to live out our faith live under the weight of injustice, to bring truth, beauty, and justice and to love our neighbors. we ensure the evils that victimize to our communities wherever it is them will perpetuate. The greatest missing. So, what do we do now? Four enduring actions every way to end systemic injustice is Where do we go from here? believer should take surprisingly simple: it is for Chris- Today, I write to help answer tians to model the character of these questions. To give some Show solidarity with the victims of God by showing solidarity with guidance on how you and I can injustice. Throughout scripture we those whose stories our society make a difference in the face of see God identifies in a unique and so often dismisses. Demonstrat- injustice. You see, after we have special way with the oppressed and ing this type of solidarity becomes pushed back the distractions of mistreated. Although Liberation very practical and uncomplicated the unproductive responses of Theologians will misrepresent this when we understand it is shown some, we are left with the sobering truth in an unhealthy and dispropor- primarily through friendship and tionate manner, what is undeniable hospitality. By opening our hearts is the Bible makes it clear that to and homes and entering loving Lament is the act of bless the poor and mistreated is relationships with diverse groups to bless God Himself. For example, of people, we are able to hear taking our sorrows consider Proverbs 14:31, which their stories, feel their pains, and to God when our pain says, “Whoever oppresses a poor offer them the hope of Christ. man insults his Maker, but he who is We may shed tears with our friends is tempting us to run generous to the needy honors Him.” when they encounter injustices The Gospel also makes it clear we ourselves are not exposed to. from Him. We bring Christ expects His followers to But in doing so we become more our complaints to God take on this same characteristic authentic witnesses of God’s grace of loving and identifying with the in Christ to them. and then progress hurting and abused. Hebrews 11:25 says about Moses, “He chose to be Speak up. This may be the simplest to boldly petitioning mistreated along with the people but, in many ways, hardest thing for that He would hear of God rather than to enjoy the us to do. Let’s be honest, speak- fleeting pleasures of sin.” You and ing up on behalf of others who our cries for justice. I are called to do the same. This is are suffering injustice is risky. It is simply to say we must avoid the not convenient to use our voices temptation of looking away when and social platforms on behalf reality that this moment demands our brothers and sisters, who may of the unborn, for those who are Christians to act. We must all press live in very different social situa- trapped in human trafficking, and beyond the overwhelming feelings tions from us, are crying out over victims of domestic violence, of inadequacy that come when we their pain and mistreatment. sexism, racism, or police brutality. are confronted by injustice of this Historically the Church has What if our friends do not agree magnitude. Do not let distance found this easy to do when it in geography or difference in comes to international missions continued on page 12
5 Member Spotlight Mike Donehey Tenth Avenue North by Michael Miller
Member Mike Donehey TenthAvenueNorth.com; mikedonehey.tumblr.com Twitter @tenthavenorth; @mikedonehey Facebook @tenthavenuenorth Instagram @tenthavenuenorth m i k e d o n e h e y h a s had lots of Kelly, and my four daughters,” tion. It gives me maybe a unique, “Aha!” moments, and now we get Mike says. birds-eye view of the Church and to learn from them. He didn’t realize he had a book what things a lot of people seem to The lead singer and co-founder until a book agent said he did. wrestle with—myself included.” of the soon-to-say-farewell Chris- “It seems so audacious to say, For example, Mike says he tian band Tenth Avenue North has ‘I’m going to write a book!’” Mike continues to face challenges of written Finding God’s Life for My Will: says. “It was more just these balancing ministry and family. His Presence is the Plan. The book thoughts and observations I’ve “You have to be constantly unfolds as a spiritual autobiogra- willing to make hard decisions,” phy, charting Mike’s growth as a he says. “Three years ago, my wife, believer while also sharing lessons I have a unique Kelly, says, ‘You’ve got to cut the he learned at key points in his life— number of shows you’re doing in those “Aha!” moments. perspective having half.’ I said OK. My first feeling is, The result is a peek inside a ‘Well, our kids are going to eat half successful singer-songwriter’s played in thousands as many meals, so I don’t know how beginnings as both a believer and of churches of every we’re going to provide.’ But you a musician as well as the strug- choose what’s right for your family gles he faces and has faced with denomination ... a and what your capacity is and then various aspects of the Christian birds-eye view of trust that God will, in health, allow life. Examples of chapter titles are you to minister to the people He “42 Trips to the Principal’s Office,” what a lot of people wants you to minister to.” “The Leader Label Lie,” “I Stopped Mike says that for many Chris- Asking God to Use Me,” and “I Still seem to wrestle tians in entertainment or ministry, Maybe Don’t Know What I’m Doing ( with—myself it’s the opposite. I’m Not Supposed To).” “It’s like, ‘This is what God has The book came from writing included. called me to. The family’s just along he would do while on tour with for the ride,’” he says. “‘If I can be the band. there for my family, cool. If not, it “I just decided I’ve got lots of been feeling for years and years. doesn’t matter, because I’m doing things I want to say, so I might as I feel like I have a unique perspective what God has called me to do.’ I well just drill ’em down while I’m having toured the country for over would say there’s a tension of two flying, then it doesn’t take away 15 years and playing in thousands truths, of where Jesus says in Luke from my home time with my wife, of churches of every denomina- 14 (paraphrasing), ‘Hey, if you’re not
6 willing to leave your family in the kids, and then corresponding home more or branch off into name of Jesus, you’re not worthy circles outward.” other careers. He was the one of Me.’ But then Paul turns around In one of those circles is Tenth left standing. and says in 1 Timothy 5 (paraphras- Avenue North, started in the early “So everyone decided they ing), ‘If a guy doesn’t take care of 2000s by Mike and other students wanted to be off the road and that his wife and kids, he’s worse than at Palm Beach Atlantic University kind of left me, and I could have an unbeliever.’ in West Palm Beach, Florida. After kept the brand of the band going “So you have this tension of eight albums, several Dove Awards and hired a bunch of new people, loving the people that God’s put and nominations, and multiple but, to me, that feels dishonoring closest to you, and that’s where tours, the group is disbanding after in a way to the other members, I go with proximity, that’s how a farewell tour this fall. so I’ll most likely be moving forward your time and energy ought to Mike says other members of the just putting out music in my own look. Like I ought to put the most group had been stepping down time and energy into my wife and for the past year and a half to be continued on page 14
Why Samaritan Ministries?
Mike Donehey says he and other members of it’s this way or no way, so the thought behind Tenth Avenue North became aware of Samari- Samaritan seemed really intriguing, to be part of tan Ministries when “this guy named Dustin just a community and ministry.” kind of hounded us.” The Donehey family’s one Need went well, He’s referring to Dustin Garrett, who repre- Mike says. Nora, one of his and Kelly’s four sented Samaritan Ministries on three Winter daughters, broke her arm. The experience of Jam tours. Tenth was on one of those tours getting discounts and receiving checks from when they learned about health care sharing other members “was awesome.” through SMI. “It’s absolutely different having the personal “Our financial manager goes, ‘Hey, have you connection to other people and other people’s talked to Dustin about this health care sharing?’” needs,” he says. “How different is it than getting Mike says. “We said, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah.’ She said, a statement from your insurance company? ‘Well, I just talked it all through with him. It’s kind You get a handwritten card saying, ‘Hey, we’re of awesome.’ She started explaining how you praying for your daughter’s arm and here’s the send your Shares directly to other people and check.’ It’s not really comparable. It’s like other pray for them and send them notes. That felt a humans are actually in it with you as opposed to, whole lot like the way it was meant to be Biblically. like, a robot.” On top of that, it was just dramatically cheaper Jeff says their membership has gone well so far. than what we were paying every month to have “It’s cool when you’re sending the Share,” he health insurance through the band.” says. “It doesn’t feel like you’re just writing a In the end, everybody in the band joined. check to a business to pay a premium. It’s more “I didn’t care for insurance,” lead guitarist Jeff personal than that. It’s going straight to some- Owen says. “I was open to a new option. Health body who has a Need.” insurance kind of seems like a monopoly, like
continued on page 12
7 Health Care How hospitals could become a thing of the past from Healthline.com
Experts say a move toward decentralized care could make hospitals obsolete. Urgent care clinics are changing how health care is delivered. There’s a trend toward people, especially the elderly, being taken care of at home. t y p i c a l ly , w h e n yo u ’ r e sick, medical reasons. Those can include the teeth and gums remained hurt, or not feeling well, you go to cost of care as well as how their a specialty. a hospital to see a doctor. In the medical conditions left them That’s why their care takes place near future, that won’t necessarily unable to work. in smaller, self-contained dentist be the case: The United States In 2018, a third of the $3.6 tril- offices that handle everything medical system has become lion spent on health care went to in-house, from X-rays to surgery. increasingly expensive and too hospitals, while 20 percent went to It’s only one example of care long often dangerous to one’s health. physicians and clinics, according to removed from hospitals that few That’s why some are actively the Kaiser Family Foundation. would associate with them. That’s trying to change things. And while hospitals are often because they’re outpatient proce- Dan Paull, MD, CEO of Easy thought as places to heal, they’re dures, meaning they don’t need Orthopedics based out of Colora- also common sites where people beds to house people overnight. do Springs, says the current U.S. get sicker or even die. Experts say populated areas health care industry is terrible for Johns Hopkins Medicine still need hospitals, specifically both patients and doctors. reported in 2016 that more than for large-scale emergencies, that He says his business involves 250,000 people in the United are primarily focused on immedi- transparent pricing and cash States die each year from medical ate medical issues and traumas, payments, a system that avoids the errors, making those mistakes such as a natural disaster or usual bureaucracy that typically the third-leading cause of death disease outbreak. comes with insurance companies behind heart disease and cancer. That would include an emergen- and hospitals. Those numbers are just some cy room, some operating rooms, At his office, he says, no one of the reasons why centralized, and an intensive care unit. gets surprised with paying $100 “everything under one roof” hospi- That’s because there are many for an aspirin. tals may become a thing of the common procedures that don’t “Hospitals are using an old busi- past, as the U.S. health care system require overnight stays but ness model,” Paull told Healthline. continues to transform itself to are still often associated with “They want to trap as much care as meet patient needs. hospital visits. they can while bankrupting people.” These include imaging, dialysis, That’s important to note, as What is decentralized care? physical rehabilitation, inocula- two-thirds of all Americans who For some reason, as hospitals tions, and simple IV transfusions. declare bankruptcy have cited evolved to treat the whole body, The modern idea of central-
8 ized care in the United States Louis Levitt, MD, MEd, vice the more likely they are to contract didn’t begin until the 1800s, when president and orthopedic surgeon a disease they didn’t come in for.” hospice—caring for the dying— for the Centers for Advanced That’s because repeatedly visiting transitioned into improving care Orthopaedics in Maryland and an the hospital is not only expensive for and helping people live longer. assistant clinical professor in the the individual person and taxing on Since then, hospital buildings department of orthopedics at the health care system, but it often have gotten bigger, and the costs George Washington University in leads to shorter life spans. have gotten higher. Washington, D.C., says health care So, companies such as Executive To some experts, it’s an inevita- has already “radically changed in Care look for red flags in people ble domino effect. the last five years, even if patients over the age of 65 who are read- David Duncan, PhD, a faculty didn’t notice.” mitted to the hospital soon after member for Walden University’s That includes large hospital they were last released. PhD in Health Services program, systems merging and acquiring Instead, they send skilled has worked in senior leadership smaller systems. nurses into those people’s homes positions in the health care indus- “There’s a race to see who can and use gadgets like pulse and try for 40 years. roll up primary care physicians,” blood pressure monitors linked “The hospital industry isn’t even Levitt told Healthline. to the internet. 200 years old and it’s dramatically But he says outpatient surgery “Cost is very important, changing,” he told Healthline. “It’s centers, “concierge clinics,” and but people don’t want to go to engaging in creative self-destruc- telemedicine can provide a better, the hospital,” Verkhoglaz said. tion, and they’re trying to pull faster patient experience at a lower “They want to stay at home.” themselves apart before anyone cost to deliver evidence-based and Doctors can’t say how much else does.” data-driven medicine. most procedures will cost a Part of that self-destruction, “It’s going to be quick in and patient, as it’s behind the scenes Duncan says, are advances in quick out at the lowest price,” negotiating between the hospital medical hardware and software, he said. and the insurance companies, but along with artificial intelligence they also want to honor their oath helping advance diagnostics. The long haul to their patients. They make simple procedures For care that isn’t meant to be Which is why some medical and screenings outside of hospitals quick, there’s meeting people professionals in larger health care easier and more affordable. where they are, just like the iconic systems are actively finding ways “Just about every service can image of the rural doctor showing to reclaim their lost autonomy be taken out of the hospital,” up to someone’s bedside with a and offer lower-priced care Duncan said. leather bag and stethoscope. because they operate with much That includes the emergence of But there’s going to be a lot of less overhead. critical care clinics in larger cities technology in that bag. That, many experts agree, is and the inclusion of health clinics Lenny Verkhoglaz, MBA, CFE, taking patient care outside of large inside Walmarts. is the founder of Executive Care, hospitals and meeting people In addition, Amazon wants to a full-service home health care where they are to keep costs down. keep its employee care in-house company serving seniors, disabled, “It makes sense that hospitals and routine things such as flu shots and recovering individuals with should decentralize,” Paull said. being available at Walgreens, CVS, the goal of keeping them safe and “You don’t need to go to the hospi- and other pharmacies. independent in their own home. tal for many things.” That’s part of the decentral- “We want to prevent people ization. Meanwhile, major health from going back to the hospital,” Copyright 2020 HealthLine.com. Reprinted systems have been trying to keep a Verkhoglaz told Healthline. “The by permission.
9 Worldview No social media algorithm rewards grace by Chris Martin
The in the december 2019 issue of of its problems? Go to battle for The Retweet button essentially Atlantic, social psychologist Jona- Christianity and the gospel against enabled the frictionless spread than Haidt and technology-eth- any and all combatants who assail of content. A single click could ics writer Tobias Rose-Stockwell the name of Jesus online? pass someone else’s tweet on concluded an article titled “The Managing social media for a large to all of your followers—and Dark Psychology of Social Media” Christian organization, I see Chris- let you share in the credit for with the following thoughts: tians shine the bright light of the contagious content. Gospel and mercilessly eviscerate If we want our democracy to others online every single day. I fear These features, and the eventual succeed—indeed, if we want many of us have fallen into feed- addition of others like Facebook’s the idea of democracy to regain back loops created by algorithms version of a retweet—the “Share” respect in an age when dissat- intended to generate engagement, button—laid the groundwork for isfaction with democracies is and have lost sight of our calling to the polarization already present in rising—we’ll need to understand be known by our mutual love (John our hearts to take center stage in the many ways in which today’s 13:34–35). our public discourse and, indeed, social-media platforms create our entire culture. conditions that may be hostile What changed These methods of engagement to democracy’s success. And The early years of social media were are functionally social reward then we’ll have to take decisive dedicated to connecting friends. systems. Likes, comments, shares, action to improve social media. It wasn’t much more complicated retweets, and other forms of Social-media platforms have than that. There were no “time- affirmation act as “points” in a transformed over time to reward lines,” “news feeds,” or other steady gamified sociological landscape, mob mentalities instead of civil streams of content on the earliest both literally within the algorithms discourse. Haidt and Rose-Stock- social-media platforms. Users that govern these platforms and well go so far as to say that today’s had profiles, and communication figuratively in the sociological social-media platforms “create between users occurred on those architecture of the internet. conditions that may be hostile to profiles or in private messages. No social-media algorithm democracy’s success.” But the social-media landscape rewards grace. Encouraging tweet Likewise, today’s social-media changed dramatically in 2009 with threads aren’t shared as much as platforms create conditions that two major additions: Facebook’s angry ones. “Cancel culture” thrives may be hostile to considerate, algorithm and Twitter’s “Retweet” because the reward systems and Christlike communication. While button. Haidt and Rose-Stockwell algorithms support mobs, and social media can be a place to observe the following about these most mobs are angry. We are more learn and grow in our Christian innovations: eager to share negative content faith, it often feels like a black hole, because fear and anger push us to The News Feed’s algorithmic resembling an endless void of action more than love. ordering of content flattened darkness that can’t be penetrated Social-media conflict within the hierarchy of credibility. Any by any kind of light. the Body of Christ helps no one post by any producer could stick What are Christians to do? because there’s no public incen- to the top of our feeds as long Abandon social media because tive to resolve it. Until the conflict as it generated engagement. . . . 10 is taken offline or to a private be a lethal weapon in our efforts to other kinds of posts. online space, all parties involved simultaneously display the love Perhaps we need more believers are performing for their followers, of Christ. celebrating the justice and righ- whether they think about it or not. teousness we see in our world. Tell No one gets retweets for conced- So what do we do? stories of the goodness you come ing ground, only for holding it. Practically, what are Christians to across in a given day. Share stories Few Christians have difficulty do on social media? One option of service and selflessness in your communicating the truth of the is to log off completely. We’re not community. Point people to the God gospel on social media. We have being faithless if we opt out of of all goodness and righteousness. that nailed down. Yet so many of us shining Gospel light online. There is struggle to communicate the truth no ministerial obligation to partic- 3. Manifest kindness Again, we’ll of Christ with the love of Christ on ipate in social media. If you can’t be known by our love for one social media. figure out a way to use social media another—or lack thereof. All of us to glorify God and point others to need encouragement from time Social media as spiritual Him, your soul and the church will to time. Use social media to send battleground be best served if you log off. encouraging notes to people. Why are we so prone to give a But what if you want to stick Can you find your favorite author listening ear to “discernment” around? How can Christians use on Twitter? Mention the author and blogs? Why do we foam at the social media in constructive ways tell him or her how you see God mouth to cancel the celebrity who that point folks to the glory of God working in their writing. Are you steps out of line? Why do we cheer and the overflow of that glory in friends with your pastor or small- on, either aloud or in our hearts, our world? group leader on Facebook? Take 10 the ideological gladiator we love minutes out of your lunch hour one most in the digital colosseum? 1. Share the beauty of life Are day and write up an encouraging Sin. you a gifted photographer? Take Facebook message to that person. Our sinful hearts lead us either beautiful pictures of the world Be kind to others. Be generous. to sign up as gladiators for social- around you and share them with Let the love of Christ overflow in media warfare, or to willingly punch the world, reminding your audience your online world. our tickets, grab our popcorn, and of the God behind the creation you watch the madness. In our sin, we capture in your photos. Are you Gospel light love a good fight. We love seeing a gifted cook? Create a cooking Social media isn’t going away. the people we believe are wrong social-media account devoted to Perhaps the light of the Gospel “put in their place” by the people the craft of cooking, celebrating can penetrate the darkness of the we believe are right. the diverse tastes the Lord has social internet. Simply, we’re prideful. Social gifted us. Let’s shine it and see what media is yet another place to feel We can use social media to share happens. triumphant. We just want to win. the beauty of life while pointing We must see social media less our followers to the God behind all Copyright © 2020 Gospel Coalition. Reprinted as an ideological battleground that beauty. by permission.
11 continued from page 1 | When one suffers, we all suffer tear down the hostility between already suffered disproportionate- to start our dialogue with love. Jew and Gentile and make “one ly. The Scriptures are clear: “Do not Everything we do needs to be in new man” in Christ (Ephesians be overcome by evil, but overcome love, for hate is the fuel for racism.” 2), He can bring healing and unity evil with good” (Romans 12:21). He continued by saying, “In Christ, among all of us today. This recon- To go forward, we heed the humanity is free—we can all ciliation in Christ—and the healing guidance of Scripture: “… let every demonstrate the kindness of it brings—is the task of the Body of person be quick to hear, slow to treating every person as our fellow Christ. speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19). human of equal worth. We need At Samaritan Ministries, our Our staff is learning this firsthand. to love our neighbor and under- mission is to be a community We are asking God to help us more stand our neighbor’s perspective. of Christians who care for one fully reflect Jesus and His kingdom Remember, we don’t all have the another during times of medical in our community. Recently, we same experiences. However, all illness. In our focus on that mission, gathered virtually to participate in of us deserve to be treated with we are cautious in responding to a conversation between two of our fairness, dignity, and respect.” headlines or shifting cultural or senior leaders. This conversation We long for the day when that political winds. However, to us, this was a time of listening and seeking great multitude of saints “that situation is more than a headline. to understand, of letting the Holy no one could number, from every Members in our community are Spirit work in our hearts to help nation, from all tribes and peoples grieving, and Scripture says, “If one us see things from each other’s and languages” (Revelation 7:9) member suffers, all suffer togeth- experiences. join in love and unity and worship er” (1 Corinthians 12:26). We are Our Chief Information Officer, before our Savior Jesus Christ. suffering together right now. Will Cooper, who has been on the Let’s keep giving ourselves to At the same time, we reject receiving end of racial injustice, humble listening, learning, loving, the violence threatening lives and reminded us of how essential and reconciling toward that glori- property across the U.S., often in Christian love is during these ous day—together, as one Body in communities of color that have times when he said, “We have Jesus Christ.
continued from page 4 | Moving from lament to leadership
or understand? What if speaking enemies, but the silence of our of others like Mr. George Floyd, we up means we must break with friends.” We live in an extraordinary are fulfilling Proverbs 31:8-9, which some of the narrative we learned time marked by the power of social commands us to, “Speak up for as a child about other groups media platforms, which enables those who cannot speak for them- of people? What if speaking up each of us to bring light to issues selves, for the rights of all who causes us to risk losing acceptance that grieve the heart of God. As are destitute. Speak up and judge within our social group? You see, stewards of His grace, we must fairly; defend the rights of the poor this is exactly what makes doing leverage these platforms to fight and needy.” justice so difficult: it requires risk. all injustice. I encourage you to use However, nothing is more healing social media as a tool for good. We Support people and projects that to those who are suffering injustice can also speak up by correcting are making a difference. Although than the voices of their friends the inappropriate thinking of our we may have a burden to see a being lifted on their behalf. family and friends. They may not form of injustice end, it doesn’t Again, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. listen to those who are experienc- mean we have the expertise to famously said, “In the end we will ing injustice directly, but they will effectively address it ourselves. remember not the words of our hear us. By speaking up on behalf This is because it takes more
12 than passion to fix the problem. for the offender is bleak. Once vast majority) across our country However, we can praise God for the public knows the identities of have had the reputation of their and partner with those have those who have been the perpe- profession bruised because of the studied, trained, and equipped trators of injustice, they face the unjust actions of a few bad ones. themselves to fight on the front tidal wave of vitriol, retaliation, and Cities are burning. Young people lines against injustice. By investing condemnation. However, it is at feel hopeless. And, while we cry our generosity into the people and projects that are making a difference, we join in the fight Lament drives us from our knees to our feet against injustice. When we use our resources to support those who in action, compelled by love to be difference- are addressing the injustices in our community, we demonstrate the makers in our communities for Christ. love of Christ. Likewise, when we withhold our generosity, we are withholding the love of God. This the cross where justice, mercy, and Maranatha and wait for our Lord’s is exactly what the Apostle John forgiveness meet. return, we must never forget the expresses in 1 John 3:17, which You see, people everywhere Gospel is still the power of God states, “But if anyone has the desperately need Jesus. This is unto salvation for ALL who believe! world’s goods and sees his brother true for both the victims and the So, let us proclaim it with bold- in need, yet closes his heart victimizers of injustice, for Mr. ness and faithfulness until Christ’s against him, how does God’s love George Floyd and for the police return. May cities be healed, abide in him?” who unjustifiably killed him. The sinners saved, and may justice Remember, God has blessed good news of the Gospel is there roll down like a river! us so that we can bless others. is grace for everyone at the foot You may not be called by God to of the cross. The people of our Copyright © 2020 Woodside Bible Church. become an expert in overturning communities need the healing and Reprinted by permission.
13 continued from page 6 | Member Spotlight: Mike Donehey name,” Mike says. Lead guitarist Jeff Owen, also a Samaritan member, says he’ll continue to write songs for other artists. “I’m just diving full steam into that and hoping God keeps shining light on the path in front of me,” Jeff says. “The objective is to come off the road and spend more time at home.” Tenth Avenue North bandmates Ruben Juarez, His 15 years with Tenth, though, Mike Donehey, and Jeff Owen. were “an awesome journey.” “I think Mike and I wanted it has idolized me, being vulnera- fame. When you ask to be rich and to end well and not just kind of ble and being honest about my famous, what you’re really asking dissolve,” Jeff says. “We wanted to failures.” for is to be known and loved. It’s like plan it out and celebrate what God’s Mike says that it’s important getting famous is a quick, easy way given us for more than a decade.” that well-known people in ministry to do that. Mike says he also is already stay authentic. “I remember praying that writing new songs and is working on “A lot of times I’ll watch differ- prayer when I was a theater major an outline for a new book as well. ent Christian celebrities, and they in high school: ‘God, make me “I’ve been writing songs with just always are ‘on’—always clean, famous for Your glory.’ Almost new friends and people, just sort of always produced, always edited, like God is going, ‘You know, you gathering content,” he says. always made up, and just looking don’t realize this, but what you’re Through those years of working perfect, sounding perfect,” Mike really asking is to be known and in Tenth Avenue North—named says. “In a way, I don’t think this loved. If I answered your prayer, after an east-west road in West really helps people. The Bible is I wouldn’t actually be answering Palm Beach—and, previously, as really honest about its heroes. I your prayer, because your prayer a worship leader at a local church, think that’s why it’s so trustworthy, is something different than what Mike has had to come to terms with because it shows you every which you’re asking for, whether you being well-known. way they’ve failed and screwed up. know it or not.’” “It’s funny, because when I It takes a lot of pressure off when Friendships help to keep his spirit worked at a big church, I felt more you can live honestly and openly. I in the right place. famous than I do as a traveling think it actually helps people have “Obviously, I need deep friend- musician,” he says. “I worked at a more belief that the grace of God ships with people who don’t love big church, and everyone in town is for them when we who are in the me for what I’m going to do for knew who I was. In some ways, spotlight are more honest about them,” he says. “I need really honest traveling around, you feel more our own mistakes.” friends who will tell me the truth like a gypsy as it were. A traveling Mike defines success as some- about myself and who also will let entity. But for the times someone thing other than fame. me have space to feel and fail.” comes up to me at a coffee shop “If I help anyone move out of and goes, ‘Hey, I read your book’ or shame through the music I’ve ‘I listened to your record’ or ‘I saw made and toward a belief that this thing of you online,’ it’s really God loves them, that is absolute wild, especially for musicians. success,” he says. “Success for any “It’s a little strange. My job is to of us is intimacy with God, but we humanize myself wherever anyone try to hack the system by seeking
14 Prayer for the Persecuted Church
Detained pastor released in India An American pastor detained in India since October 2019 has returned home, International Christian Concern reports. Pastor Bryan Nerren was falsely accused of violating India’s Foreign Exchange Management Act when he entered the country for conferences. The American Center for Law and Justice says he was targeted after he told customs agents he was a Christian. Praise God Pastor Nerren was released, and pray for freedom of all Christians entering India to spread Remember those the Gospel. who are in prison, as though in 4 Christians imprisoned in Iran Imprisonment of Iranian Christians continues. The four prison with them, converts are being held at Lakan Prison on unknown charges, and those who ICC says. Pray for these Christians and all other imprisoned are mistreated, Christians in Iran. since you also are
Mobs terrorize Indian families with Christians in the body. Armed mobs recently terrorized 16 families with Chris- tian members in Jharkhand state in India, Voice of the HEBREWS 13:3 Martyrs-Canada reports. The militants threatened to kill the Christians unless they returned to the animistic Sarna reli- gion. A pastor reports that two of the families have returned Our brothers and sisters in to the ancestral religion. The other families filed a police Christ around the world are being report on May 7. Pray for those Christians standing up for their persecuted for the sake of the faith and for the families who yielded to pressure to return Gospel. We need to remember to Jesus. them in prayer. Each month, we will provide COVID-19 doesn’t slow down attacks updates and offer prayer points Militant Islamic groups continued to attack Christians in gleaned from a variety of sources. Nigeria despite the COVID-19 lockdowns there, Missions Please use them in your personal News Network reports. Fulani herdsmen killed men, women, or group prayer time. and children in at least 13 assaults in March and April. Pray that the attackers’ hearts would be changed and for protection for Christians in Nigeria.
Eight assaulted, arrested in Indian village FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE PERSECUTED CHURCH: Eight Christians who gathered in a home in India to assemble relief packages for the poor were assaulted by police and International Christian Concern persecution.org arrested for allegedly violating COVID-19 gathering restric- 800-422-5441 tions, MNN says. The eight were released after a village Pray for World Watch Monitor leader vouched for them, but charges were still filed. worldwatchmonitor.org Pastor Ramesh Kumar and other Christians in the village.
15 THE DOORPOST DEUTERONOMY 6:4–9; 11:18–21
And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father Who is in secret, and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you. MATTHEW 6:5-6
n ot a l l o f o u r prayers will receive a reward from God, no matter how eloquent they may seem. The question is who we are trying to impress. Fervent, heartfelt prayers to Him are good. We should pour out our hearts to Him all the time (Psalm 62:8). It is our secret prayers to Him that bring His favor and blessing, not the ones intended to impress others.
For the Kingdom, Ray King Matthew 6:5-6 Matthew you. will reward Who sees in secret Father that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have have they you, to I say Truly, others. be seen by may that they shut the door and pray to your Father Who is in secret, and your and your Who is in secret, Father your to shut the door and pray received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and room your go into pray, But when you their reward. received And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they they For the hypocrites. not be like must you pray, And when you love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners corners and at the street in the synagogues and pray stand to love
16 refrigerator Detach and use as bookmark or on your