My very dear friends,
Imagine a pastor in the 1950s in the Deep South. Suppose he’s white. Suppose he’s the pastor of an upper-middle-class congregation. Suppose there’s a congregation on the other side of the tracks without a pastor, and suppose this white pastor agrees to preach in this second congregation on Sunday afternoons. Suppose this goes on for a while, since the second congregation can’t afford to call a pastor. Suppose then that the pastor decides to bring these two congregations together to worship together once a month, Black and white.
Now, no matter how godly those ethnically diverse sheep are, it’s not hard to imagine undercurrents (or overcurrents) of resentment and envy and worse. And the reason I pose this little fantasy is to provoke you to prayers for Juraj and Zuzana Sabol. I’ve told you about them, and you know they came to Texas this month, along with their two sons, Tadeáš and Jakub. They talked with groups from six or seven PCA churches from Beaumont to Austin to Cedar Park to Bryan (and Dallas, I think). They talked of their twofold ministry to an ethnically Slovak congregation in the small city of Spišská Nová Ves, as well as a Roma congregation in a nearby village that is literally on the other side of the tracks.
Juraj and Zuzana didn’t emphasize the interethnic challenges of their ministry, choosing rather to talk about their desire to serve the poorest of the poor; but I suggested my opening hypotheticals to remind you of (fallen) human nature, to help you feel the challenge of Juraj’s calling and the Sabols’ ministry, so that you will pray more perceptively about their challenges. And remember, Juraj has only been pastor since September; this is his first rodeo.
They are very thankful to have the Gregoires with them to share the ministry—but that sharing hasn’t really taken off yet: The Gregoires are on HMA this year and won’t return to Spišská till July. You could also pray for their working together. It was good to hear Juraj call Dan his best friend. Still, they are crossing cultures to work together; Slovaks and Americans may be closer culturally than Slovaks and Roma, but they are by no means the same.
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I announced to you that Archie Wayne Lundgaard was born early in March to Ethan and Katie. All is well. Thank you for praying. I didn’t mention yet, I think, that Karen is also expecting her sixth in early July. She won’t object to your prayers, I’m certain.
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As far as my writing goes, I’ve finished and submitted my final drafts of a revision of The Enemy Within, a revision of Through the Looking Glass (to be retitled The Glorious Christ), and the manuscript of The Devoted Mind. The target for the release of the three is September, D.V. There’s much to do between now and June to hit that target.
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May the Prince of Peace fill you with his peace beyond the reach of your understanding.
Kris (for Paula)
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