Second chances
By Dr. Rick Vance
In January, I visited the Church of the Primacy of Peter and the Church of the Multiplication in Israel. The churches reminded me of the many chances Jesus gave to Peter.
You know Peter; he was a man who wanted to do right in his walk with the Lord, but he had a propensity to always mess up.
This is the same man, who, when Jesus asked, “Who do people say that I am?” Peter responded, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God,” Then Jesus said, “Peter you are the rock, and upon this rock I will build my church (Mathew 16:16 and 18).
He also was the man who told Jesus that he would never deny him, yet, not long after, Peter denied Jesus three times.
I believe UM Men are in the same boat as Peter. We want to follow Christ, we want to do what is right; sometimes we do so, yet many times we fail Him.
Despite Peter’s denials, the resurrected Christ, said to Peter, “If you love me, feed my sheep.” (John 15-17).
Time and time again Jesus offered Peter new opportunities to be forgiven and go out into the mission field.
God offers us the same opportunities to UM Men in 2022.
As we begin this new year, I challenge you to examine what you and your ministry are doing to further God’s kingdom of earth. And I challenge you to hear Jesus ask you, “If you love me, feed my sheep.”
As part of the UM Men, we are called to “Coach men to thrive through Christ.”
May God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, empower you for this journey in 2022.
The Rev. Dr. Rick Vance, director of operations
General Commission on UM Men