Unite the Clans

One of my all-time favorite movies is Braveheart. William Wallace leads his fellow Scotsmen to fight for their freedom—escaping the clutches of an evil British king. In one of the most dramatic scenes of the entire movie, Wallace pleads with Robert the Bruce to use his influence and “unite the clans!” Scattered and out of sync, the Scottish clans stand little chance at achieving their freedom. But, if they could only unite and pursue their goal together, victory would soon be within their reach.

My desire for Defiance Christian Church in 2012 is that we unite the clans! Jesus’ mission on earth is to deliver people (1) out of the clutches of an evil, demonic king and (2) into a relationship with Him, where there is true peace, joy, and contentment. In the process, he unites the two most powerful clans the world has ever seen. What am I talking about? The church and the family. How are we going to do it? By thinking Orange.

Thinking Orange

Thinking Orange is a simple theory developed by Reggie Joiner, a founding pastor of one of the fastest-growing churches in America.^[1] The concept is as old as Moses^[2]: combine a warm, relational family unit (represented by the color red) with a bright, truth-declaring church (represented by the color yellow). What do you get? An Orange explosion—something stronger than either influence would make individually.

The Red Family

This means the leaders of DCC are going to work to make every family warmer, stronger, and healthier in the year ahead. We have some cool things up our sleeves, but the coolest one of all may be the decision to hire Jim Dotson as our new Pastor of Family Life and Administration. If you haven’t met Jim yet, he’s an awesome guy with a heart for Jesus, a ton of ambition for Jesus’ church, and an unfortunate fondness for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In addition, I’ll be running a “Family Friday” article on my blog to cover topics like marriage enrichment, couple’s communication, raising great kids, falling in love, family faith, etc. We want you to finish 2012 with the warmest, reddest family^[3] you’ve ever known.

The Yellow Church

We also have plans to make our church glow brighter than it ever has. We’ll grow closer through small groups, further through community involvement, bigger through ambitious goals^[4], and wiser through a Bible Study Certificate program. These things are just a glimpse of all that your leaders have planned for our church family in 2012.

Red + Yellow = Orange.
Church + Family = a force to be reckoned with!

Unite the Clans,
-pastor bill

---

[1] Reggie’s church is North point Community Church in Atlanta, GA. You can read more about Thinking Orange here.

[2] Moses’ speeches throughout the book of Deuteronomy have an orange appeal to them. Check out Deut 6.4-6, for example.

[3] This does not imply all warm families are necessarily communist or republican.

[4] Growth goals for 2012: 250 first-time visitors, 400 in regular attendance by Christmas, and 10 baptisms

4 Reasons I am Thankful for DCC

 

Thanksgiving: a time to stop and give thanks for all the good in our lives. One of the “goodest” things God ever did for my family was bringing us to Defiance Christian Church. So, this year I made a list of the top four reasons why DCC means so much to me:

1. A Legacy of Excellence

Defiance Christian Church was founded by Bible-believing, Jesus-loving people over 60 years ago. Since that time, the US has endured recessions, wars, political scandals, and countless changes in the moral fabric of our society. Through it all, the servants, deacons, elders, and ministers of DCC have faithfully declared and shared God’s love with the greater Defiance area. The congregation that now calls 955 Standley “home,” does so on the shoulders of the saints who’ve come before us.

2. I Get to Do What I Love

Confucius said: “Find a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Well, I can’t imagine a job I’d love more than the one the people of DCC called me to do. Teaching God’s Word and helping people develop faith in Jesus Christ is my life’s mission. Lord-willing, I’ll die in the pulpit someday. And, given the great folks who call DCC home, it’d be an honor for that to happen here (not any time soon though!).

3. Everybody’s Welcome

At Defiance Christian Church, we know we’re all sinners saved by nothing more than God’s grace. So, we keep the doors open wide for absolutely anyone who wants to ride with us on this awesome journey of God’s love. It doesn’t matter where you’ve come from, what you make or what you wear, you’ll find someone at DCC with a story similar to yours!

4. Everybody’s Loved

Once you’re a part of this family, you’ll wonder how you ever got by without them! I’ve never seen a church family so eager to “do life” together. This church rallies together in the good times and the not-so-good times. Need a meal? Need a coat? Have a coat and want to give it away? The answer to what (and Who) you’re looking for is Defiance Christian Church.

God has blessed my family tremendously through the friendships we’ve forged at DCC. I pray He does so for many years to come!

With Thanks,
-pastor bill

Heading to the Field

This weekend we go on standby for the course’s culminating field training exercise (FTX). If you’re not familiar with an FTX, I’ll briefly explain what they are and how they work.

What’s an FTX?

The goal of an FTX is for soldiers (marine, airmen, etc.) to take what they’ve learned in a classroom-type training environment out to “the field” for practical application and deeper training. “The field” is normally a wooded environment set up to simulate a combat-deployed situation. They vary as to how “hard” they are (a “hard site” is an area that has been semi-permanently established, may have buildings, poured concrete, running water, etc.). If you don’t deploy to a hard site for an FTX, then you bring your own tents and build everything you’ll need for the duration of the training. I don’t know where we’re heading for this site, but I assume it’s somewhere between completely hard and “go chop down those trees.”

Meals are mostly MREs (Meals Ready-to-Eat). This is a complete meal (2K+ calories) in a fully enclosed bag with a long shelf life. The main courses are usually pretty good and can be heated with the provided “just add water” field cooker. The rest of the items are immediately traded on the MRE black market. Tootsie Rolls and the lemon pound cake (if you’re lucky enough to get one) have high trade value.

Showers are hit or miss. The harder the site, the better your chance of showering. If not, baby wipes are your best friend.

Once there, we’ll receive missions to accomplish and then go to work carrying them out “in a military manner.” Basically, it’s every little boy’s dream of playing army—only without the fun you always assumed would be part of it. I often joke that the military has a way of taking everything that used to be fun and sucking the fun out of it (camping, shooting, exercising, even eating). OK, that’s not true. Yes it is. No it’s not. Yes it is.

Getting Ready

We got an FTX packing list before we got here and were told to be packed and ready last night. This afternoon we’ll have a “bag drag.” This is where you bring your packed bag and have your supervisors go through it all to be sure you have everything. Everywhere you go in the military, “inspect what you expect” is the law of the land. It’s a good law. As a leader, the more you care, the more you inspect.

You can usually count on someone packing an oddball item just to catch the bag inspector off guard. Hot pink underwear packed in some guy’s bag is par for the course.

After the bag drag, the waiting begins. You’re told not to leave the area and to always be reachable “within 6 rings.” At some point, the phone rings, you grab your bags, go where you’re told, and get ready for the fun (“embrace the suck” is a common term than can often be inserted here as well).

Talk to you Later

That’s all I have for now. I’ll be waiting for the phone to ring (even though they told us when it’d probably come) and fill you in more when we get back.

Why I am a Chaplain (1 of 2)

 

I’ve been asked many times (1) why I continue wearing the uniform, and (2) why I drastically changed career fields with the decision to become a chaplain. I think the best way to answer that is to explain what chaplains do. So, this is part 1 of a 2-part series attempting to do just that.

One of the main job descriptions of military chaplains is to ensure people in uniform have equal access to their rights afforded by the 1^st Amendment. My time at the Basic Chaplain Course has made clear how little most people (believers and non-believers) understand about the legally enforceable ramifications of the 1^st Amendment.

I have no intentions of engaging in an online debate regarding the free exercise of religion, so please don’t go there. But, I do want to answer another common question I get: “Doesn’t the military make you act like a universal minister, serving all faiths?”

Short answer: yes, and no. And I’m thankful for both. From the Air Force Chaplain Corps website:

“As members of a multicultural community, chaplains provide ministry to persons of their own faith group, yet also act as guardians of the free exercise of religion for all Air Force members and their families.”

Chaplains: Ministers to all Faith Groups

The buzzword is “religious accommodation,” and it’s an awesome responsibility laid on the shoulders of military chaplains. We’re here not to respect the beliefs of all people, but to respect their right to believe what they believe.

· Professionally, it goes beyond tolerance.

· Practically, it means chaplains do all they can to facilitate a military member’s practicing of his/her religious beliefs.

· Personally, it means I do everything I can to keep the military from getting in the way of someone’s religious convictions.

It will never mean I am forced to conduct a Buddhist, Islamic, or Catholic service (they wouldn’t want me to anyway; more on that in part 2), but it does mean I will use my position and privileges to get them a room, religious materials, or—if possible—the services of a respective cleric. I am not their cleric, nor do I share all of their convictions, but I can cooperate without compromising.

The words of two men motivate me to serve as a chaplain.

Jefferson

From the 1^st Amendment to the Constitution:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Contrary to the motivations of militant atheists, the Constitution does not mandate freedom from religion. It promises freedom of religion. That’s a monumental difference. The Constitution erects a wall ensuring the government will not impede a citizen’s right to pursue—or not pursue—God on their own terms. Chaplains wear uniforms to make certain that right carries over to military members.

If I limit my support to people who agree with me, I’m rejecting the 1^st Amendment and returning my country to the world it was in prior to the break with Great Britain—where believers had to believe what the state told them to believe. I don’t want that to be the world my boys inherit, so I do what I can to keep freedom alive.

Rev. Martin Niemoller says it well:

"In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up."

Jesus

More importantly, the Bible tells me ministers are servants. I’ve read it quite a few times and never found a limit on who Jesus wants me to serve. He actually says Heaven will be filled with Christ-followers from every tongue, tribe, and nation because Christians on earth shared the love of Christ without reservation.

The military allows me to rub shoulders with ethnic and religious groups most people will never see. I pray Jesus uses my time in the uniform to add more tongues, tribes and nations to His Kingdom (more on that in pt 2 as well).

Chaplain School—Week 2

Week 2 seemed like a longer week than the one before. But it’s over, and I’m now a third of my way toward graduation and returning to my family and friends. The weather was a cool 214 degrees Fahrenheit (give or take), but I’m neither in Afghanistan nor getting shot at, so in complete respect for those who are, I won’t complain.

We got trained up and certified in two areas this week:

MarriageCare

Curriculum written and produced by the Air Force to be used by AF chaplaincy when offering marriage retreats. The Army has a great program (Strong Bonds), and I hear the Navy has a good one as well (CREDO), so—in true military fashion—the Air Force decided they needed their own organic program. Since DCC is currently putting together our own marriage-enhancement retreat, I came to this training pretty excited.

• Blah. That was my overall impression of MarriageCare. To be fair, my disappointment comes from my own personal convictions about what a marriage retreat should look like:

1. Guy-friendly (because we’re usually the ones in the relationship who don’t want to go)
2. Entertaining (because I believe it’s a sin take something as awesome as marriage or God’s Word and make it boring)
3. Immediately practical (in other words… “OK, So what?”)

• Later in the week, I was asked by one of the instructors what I thought of MarriageCare. I quickly realized he wasn’t looking for honest feedback (again: in direct keeping with military fashion). Regardless, I’m trained up and have one more tool in my chaplain/pastor toolbox thanks to the research and development of the US Government.

ASIST

A training and education program helping people assist in suicide intervention. ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) is a wonderful program. I can tell the people who put it together truly care about lowering the suicide rate.

• This two-day training ended on Friday. In an eerie twist of fate, I got a phone call late Saturday night from a member of the DCC Family telling me someone close to them had just committed suicide. Suicide is serious, but hurting people are not without help. If you or someone you know struggles with suicidal thoughts, please get help.
• After Tweeting about this training during the week, I received a couple requests to offer similar training to the DCC family back home. If you’d be interested, please let me know.

More important than any training or certification is the sad news that two members of the DCC Family lost loved ones this week. Mary Arps lost her dear mother, and Susie Locher lost her son. Both deaths were unexpected. Both families need prayer and support. We all need the church.

For the Kingdom,
-pb

Chaplain School–Week 1

As some of you may know, I am in sunny South Carolina attending the Air Force’s Chaplain Corps College.  A few years ago the Department of Defense (DOD) combined the services’ 3 different chaplain schools into one Chaplain College housed on the Army’s Ft. Jackson.  The move was an effort to save money and mirror the inter-service approach to war-fighting already common across most of the military.  I’m sure it saves quite a bit of money, but I’ve yet to see any inter-service cooperation or training.  But, it’s only week 1, so I don’t know what I don’t know at this point.

I’ll blog about the experience as often as I’m able.  I’ll try to give you an idea of (1) what I’m up to and (2) what a DOD chaplain does in today’s military.  I’ll also share my personal views on being a conservative evangelical pastor serving in a pluralistic religious environment.

So, here’s week 1 in a nutshell:

I arrived a bit behind the power curve and have been playing catch-up the past few days (hence the overdue blog entry).  I lost one of my bags on the way down here and had to replace everything inside.  Expensive mistake, but entirely my own fault.  I also showed up with some outdated information from my unit regarding insignia I have to have sown on my uniforms.  I was the only chaplain (out of 14) not already wearing his chaplain’s cross, so it’s been a scramble to get the proper Air Force uniform items on an Army post.

The weather’s been a ridiculous 257 degrees Fahrenheit (in the shade, uphill both ways…).  I’m not a big fan of the heat (sorry, Alicia!), and a broken AC unit in our schoolhouse only makes it that much…more realistic!  But, I’m not about to complain.  We have troops in scorching heat getting shot at everyday.  I am sure I can navigate the stresses of chaplain school.

That’s not so say I’m not thoroughly enjoying the training though.  We’re taught cutting-edge pastoral stuff that is applicable in both civilian and military ministry.  I’m thankful to my church for giving me the time to go and to the governor of the great state of Indiana for paying the way!

This week, we briefly studied leadership and basic chaplain duties.  It was stressed repeatedly that the chaplain is the only individual in the military who can offer 100% confidentiality regardless of the confession or the confessor.  Intimidating but honoring at the same time.

We spent some time getting educated on how to respond to mass casualty situations and were lead through some (very graphic!) pictures/scenarios.  The point was simple: chaplains provide a calming presence in the midst of chaos.  For that reason, he/she can never be the anxious one on the scene.  Again, intimidating but empowering as well.

The biggest block of instruction this week dealt with pastoral counseling.  These classes were a goldmine of information and practicum.  I’m continually amazed at the high level of professionalism and competency held by my peers.  I’ll leave you with a video demonstrating the most effective approach to most client problems.

 

For the Kingdom,
-bill

Video Blog: Communion in the Bible

Baptism in the Bible from Defiance Christian Church on Vimeo.

For this week's FAQ, Bill talks about the second sacrament: communion. Answering the most frequently asked answers at DCC, he breaks down the Bible's answers for: How we take communion, Why we take communion, Who can take communion, When/How often we take communion.

The Bible is a Gift

Tonight a friend directed me to a video with more power than any video I've seen in a long time.  This includes The Lord of the Rings, so you know I'm serious.


In the American church, where we are spoon-fed God's Word and have more translations than heaven has unicorns, the Kimyal church provides a breath of fresh air.  After going a lifetime without a New Testament in their own language, the Kimyal Tribe of Papua sobs with joy (sobs: as in crying tears of happiness) when a plane arrives carrying the Word of God in their native tongue.


Seeing our foreign brothers and sisters in Christ rejoice to the point of building an ark! (don't miss the 7-minute mark on this video) convicts me to: (1) Read my Bible more everyday, and (2) Call to repentance all those who have forgotten the power, wisdom, and ultimate supremacy of The Bible.
  
May we never attempt to do life without it!


-pastor bill

What if I disagree...?

The Elders recently read a good little book on the biblical basis for church leadership.  What I liked most about the book was the constant reminder that the church is a Spirit-led, Bible-based family rather than a state-regulated corporation.  Every page was dripping with Scripture.
The author humbly closed the book by answering the simple question, “What if I disagree?”  I couldn’t add to or improve his advice in any way, so I’ve plagiarized it in its entirety.
For the Kingdom,
-bill

The following is taken from: A Book You’ll Actually Read: On Church Leadership, by Mark Driscoll (pp. 85-86)

What Should I Do if I Disagree with How My Church is Led and Organized?

You need to begin by searching the Scriptures to make sure that your convictions are true, searching your heart to make sure that your attitude is humble, and searching your motives to make sure that they are to lovingly build up your church.
If you still disagree with how your church is organized and governed, you should humbly speak with one of the senior leaders in a way that is respectful, not demanding, and not divisive.  You should lovingly articulate your concerns and desire to see everything done in a way that honors Jesus according to Scripture, including the organizational structure of the church government.
At this point your church leader may agree and bring your thoughts for the consideration of the other senior leaders.  Or, they may disagree with you.  In the case that your church is unwilling or unable (because of something such as a legal denominational obligation) to operate in a certain manner to change, then you are left with two options.
First, you can stay in your church and lovingly submit to the leaders and structures that are in place, seeking as best as you are able to build your church up and see it grow in its ability to seek the transformation of your city.  Second, you can kindly and lovingly leave your church in a way that is not divisive or disrespectful and attend another church where you can submit to both the church leaders and their form of church government in good conscience.
I offer one final word of caution for the idealistic neatniks who may read this: every church is filled with imperfect people like you who are led by imperfect leaders like me and governed by imperfect systems like the ones outlined in this book.  The goal for yourself, your church, and its leaders must be faithfulness and not perfection, so it behooves you to start drinking decaf and to lighten up a bit in Jesus’ name.

Video Blog: Baptism in the Bible

Baptism in the Bible from Defiance Christian Church on Vimeo.

Those wanting the assurance of salvation must follow ALL of the Bible’s guidance on how the assurance of salvation is given. There are multiple pieces of Scripture in the Bible that describe how one is saved. None of them contradict each other, but they do all complement each other. We often run into disagreement or confusion when we emphasize one verse over another rather than reading them both as equally authoritative.

After reading all of the verses regarding salvation and noticing how many of them had clear statements about the central role of baptism, our church adopted this as our stance:

“We believe salvation from sin comes from a right relationship with Jesus Christ. That relationship comes by grace through faith, produces repentance, and begins with the immersion of Christian baptism.”

Here is a link to an article I wrote on the topic some time back: http://www.billmesaeh.com/2010/09/baptism-by-book.html

Here is a link to an article written by a highly respected seminary professor: https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150208643265617

Video Blogging

To better answer FAQs and communicate with our members, we’re starting a weekly video blog.  This week’s blog answers the FAQ: What kind of church is DCC?

 

VidBlog 6/14/2011 from Defiance Christian Church on Vimeo.

Weekly Blog Post by Bill Mesaeh, Senior Minister of Defiance Christian Church.

Helping Joplin, MO

Friends,

I received this letter from a fellow pastor in Defiance, OH regarding aid for those in Joplin, MO.

-pastor bill

New Life out of Bryan has asked us to get the word out concerning items needed for Joplin, MO. If you are interested in getting some of the needed items together, I will be taking anything brought to our church up to Bryan late Friday afternoon. Please have any items brought to Harvest Life by

3:00 pm.

Blessings, Tim Hacker

New Life Worship Center is working in cooperation with other churches, ministries, and organizations throughout the tri-state area to collect emergency relief supplies to send down to Joplin, Missouri. Many people have seen the pictures and heard the descriptions but don't know how to respond to this great need. Please join us in giving your congregations an avenue to help those most deeply affected by this tragedy.

I have a life-long friend who has been ministering in Joplin for several years who is our contact there. His church is in the middle of the destruction but was untouched by the storm. They are in a perfect position to distribute supplies directly to those in need.

We are collecting the following items:

Diapers of all sizes....

Formulas, bottles.

Bottled water.

Children's clothes ( good condition).

Pillows and Blankets.

Personal care items (toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, soap and shampoo).

Paper and Feminine hygiene products.

And cash/check donations are welcomed.(Checks may be made out to NLWC for those seeking tax credit).

Drop off location:

New Life Worship Center

14451County Road C

Bryan, Ohio 43506

419.636.3526

Truck will leave NLWC on Friday 27th at 11pm.

If you have people interested in being part of a work crew, we are also organizing a team to leave Sunday May 29th and returning Saturday June 4th.

Contact me for more information.

We can't do everything, but we should do something! Together we can make a difference!

J. Mark Holbrook

NLWC

419.636.3526
419.551.0520

The Vision of an Acts 2 Church

A personal vision to build a Church, based on Acts 2.39-47,
for those who don’t like church

I will never be happier or more successful than when I am completely devoted to God’s will for my life. As a sinner saved by grace, I will devote my life to reaching the irreligious and connecting them with Jesus and His people. May I never forget my life before Jesus Christ and the power that first loving church had on my future.

As a pastor in Jesus’ Church, I will actively and consciously lead my flock and manage its resources toward becoming a hell-defeating congregation. The result will resemble an Acts 2 church proactively seeking out the prodigal sons of the world and lovingly teaching the elder brothers the error in their religious ways. Because I fear God and not man, I will reject excuses—in my life and the lives of others—and will hold every man-made method, ministry, and tradition accountable for the supreme task getting sinners close to Jesus.

Without jeopardizing my faith, my family, or my fitness, I am giving this task every last ounce of who I am and what I have. On my deathbed, success will be defined by the results I, my family, and the churches I have led have produced for the Kingdom of God.

Bill Mesaeh, Jr.

18 Mar 11
Defiance, Ohio

 

Acts 2:39–47 (NLT)
³⁹ This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”⁴⁰ Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” ⁴¹ Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. ⁴² All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. ⁴³ A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.⁴⁴ And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.⁴⁵ They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.⁴⁶ They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—⁴⁷ all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

The New Testament Church

Acts 2:39–40 (NLT)
39 This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

· God gives the world a promise of hope. This hope—salvation and redemption through Christ—is what everyone desperately longs for, whether they know it or not

· Creating a church for the unchurched is the most Christ-like effort a group of believers could desire

· The church stood as a lighthouse of salvation to the lost of its day

· The members shared a hunger for God’s Word, and they received it through strong biblical preaching

Acts 2:41 (NLT)
41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

· The Church’s greatest gift to the world is conviction about the message of Jesus Christ

· When the Church delivers the Good News in a relevant, understandable, and applicable way, God responds with exponential growth

· God blesses the Church that is unified toward achieving what He wants

Acts 2:42 (NLT)
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

· Regardless of location, ethnicity, background, gender, etc., the Church maintained unity by focusing on these key practices:

1. Bible teaching,
2. attractive friendship that was Spirit-empowered and deeply sincere, and
3. continually deepening their bonds to each other and to God

Acts 2:43 (NLT)
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.

· The church is constantly aware of and drawing upon the supernatural power of God

· A healthy fear of the Lord drives the Church to stay on mission and remain obedient to Christ

· The church is not a secular institution, and is therefore not limited by resources or manmade regulations

Acts 2:44–45 (NLT)
44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.

· Deep love for each other moved the Church to “take care of its own”—extending real love

· Counter-cultural, counter-intuitive love distinguished the Church from the rest of the world

Acts 2:46 (NLT)
46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—

· The church gathered corporately to worship and learn & scattered into each other’s homes to serve and fellowship

· The Church fought back the powers of hell on two battlefronts:

1. The AIR WAR of corporate worship and study
2. The GROUND WAR of scattered service and fellowship

Acts 2:47 (NLT)
47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

· As a result of the Church’s genuine worship of God, they enjoyed rapid growth and true joy

· God wants His church to grow. The Church that finds true joy and unity in radical worship and service experiences the blessings of radical growth and happiness

Secret Church

Right now, around the world, millions of Christ-followers are meeting in secret places, worshiping in hiding, practicing their faith behind closed doors. If exposed, they face prison, torture, or even death. Yet their devotion to God and His Word are unwavering, even heroic. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must learn to take our God as seriously as they do.

When we think of “church” in America, we think of going to meet at a building, singing, praying and hearing a message from a Pastor or teacher. But in many places around the world, “church” meets in a home, an apartment, even in secret. These small groups of Christ-followers often meet for many hours in study, prayer and fellowship, as it is dangerous to travel to “church” and they want to make the most of their time together.

On May 20th, DCC will be the location for ‘Secret Church’. We will spend 5 hours, from 6 PM to 11PM in God’s Word, prayer and worship. Our desire is to see people come for the entire event, but realizing that conflicts and prior commitments might interfere, we are splitting the event into smaller sections. If you need to miss part of the event, you may still show up easily at any time to join in without feeling ‘lost’. Most of the night will be spent in Bible study as I teach through the book of Acts. There will be a time of praise and worship in music from 7:30 to 8:30.

Please make plans now to be there: this Friday (5/20) @ DCC, 6-11p.

-pastor bill

Kingdom Growth

Friends & Family,

The letter below comes from a man DCC is looking to bring on as a second full-time minister.  Praise God!  For us to do this, however, he will have to raise a considerable portion of his own salary during the first year.  Please read the letter from him and consider supporting him financially.  Of course, all checks would be mailed and addressed directly to Defiance Christian Church, so they would be fully tax deductible.

In Christ,
-bill

“For this reason I kneel before the Father”

Ephesians 3:14

Defiance Christian Church is averaging 300 members, with only 1 minister! The church has decided now is the time to aggressively pursue Kingdom growth rather than wait until their entire mortgage debt (approximately $1.4m) is exhausted. The elders and church’s CPA are working very hard to reduce this debt.

The senior minister, Bill Mesaeh, had been asking the church leaders, "Why not?  Why not?  If God owns the cattle on a 1,000 hills, why don't we slaughter a few of them?  In other words, if anything is possible with God...there has to be a way for DCC to have ministers they need in the midst of this time of financial debt.

Many of you have been praying, along with me, for God to open a door of ministry to me for the last two years of my life. Our prayers recently met up with Bill’s prayers! Bill had been praying for how God could use him to plug me in, in obedience to Ephesians 2:10, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." 

DCC has decided to bring me on the team as a missionary (raising my own financial support), with the full intention and plans of this being a committed, long-term ministry. In 6 months, DCC will take on half my salary; and after 1 year, the church will provide my entire salary.

Bill foresees the church reaching anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 members. Defiance County’s population is near 40,000 people, with only 1 other decent size church.

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." (Matthew 9:37-38).

Would you, kneel before the Father on my behalf?

#1 Pray earnestly this prayer of Matthew 9:37-38, for God to send out laborers into his harvest, for Defiance County, and for the world.

#2 Pray about partnering together with me in this ministry, through faithful prayer and/or financial support (details on the following page).

#3 Pray for the financial debt of the church to be wiped away by sacrificial and often insignificant gifts….which, if brought to Jesus, He will multiply and accomplish monumental things! Like when Andrew brought the boy with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread to Him, and He fed the 5,000 (John 6:1-13).

Would you, help support me financially in this year of ministry?

If so, know that any gift you can give would be so appreciated!

Checks should be sent to:

Defiance Christian Church

C/O Jason Martin

955 Standley Rd.

Defiance, OH  43512.

Checks should be addressed to Defiance Christian Church. On the memo of the check write, “for: Jason Martin’s ministry”.

If you would like to give to help DCC with this financial debt, write on the memo, “for: DCC’s Mortgage Debt”.

If you would like me to send you this letter via mail-mail.  Please give me your address, and I will send it right out with a return envelope enclosed if you would like to help in any way.

Alicia, the office manager, will generate a charity tax statement for any contributions.

Forever grateful and always at your disposal,

                               Jason Martin

Eggs & Ham

Friends & Family,

This Sunday I’m preaching on what would happen if we celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus instead of “Easter Sunday.” I don’t have anything against bunnies, baskets, or Cadbury Eggs. But, I want us to consider the implications a risen Jesus has on our lives. Did Jesus ever intend for us to celebrate his resurrection with boiled eggs and baked ham? Or, might there be something more to this life?

Check out the promo video, share it with your friends, and make plans to come to DCC this Sunday @ 10am. I hope to see you there!

-pastor bill

Easter Sermon Intro from Defiance Christian Church on Vimeo.

Easter 2011: What If?

Check out the video e-vite to DCC’s Easter service and make plans to be there this Sunday @ 10.

Easter Invite 2011 from Defiance Christian Church on Vimeo.

Senior Minister Bill Mesaeh with an open invite to worship with us at DCC Easter Sunday 2011.

Get Bill’s Blog in your Inbox

Friends and Family,

I’ve started a new service that allows me to easily share articles from my blog with you via email.  If we’ve emailed each other before, you may be receiving an email asking you to subscribe or confirm a subscription to my blog.  Don’t worry: your email address was not shared with anyone, and you can--very easily--opt out of any future emails.

I’m hoping you stay on though!  Over the past 6 months, I’ve been gathering data and preferences as to what people would like a pastor to write about.  I’m looking forward to setting time aside every week to write about the topics you chose:

1. Interacting with the culture from a biblical perspective
   1. How to share my faith
   2. How to speak out on political issues
   3. What’s the Bible say about drinking, R-rated movies, etc.?
2. Family Life
   1. Raising my kids the way God intended
   2. How to be the right kind of husband/wife
   3. Growing spiritually with my spouse
3. Biblical & Theological Studies
   1. Where did the Bible come from?
   2. Do we have free will?
   3. What does the Bible really say about heaven, hell, angels, demons, & death?
4. Christian Maturity
   1. Why should I pray, fast, study my Bible, etc.?
   2. How do I deal with anger, guilt, and regret?
   3. What’s supposed to happen between baptism and death?
5. Biblical Manhood
   1. How to lead my family with a backbone and a soft heart
   2. Being a husband my wife needs and adores
   3. Being a dad my kids look up to
6. Leadership
   1. How to influence people around you
   2. Why God expects you to lead and how to do it right
   3. Professional development and continual personal growth

If you haven’t received the email and would like to subscribe, great!  Just go here and fill out the form.  Regardless, have a great day!

-bill

What Should I write about?

Friends & Family,

A while back I posted this questionnaire online asking you to tell me what you’d like a pastor to write about (if at all!). Well, I’m almost ready to pile up the data and start writing. It’s not too late to weigh in though. If you don’t mind, please take a few seconds to let me know what you’d like to read.

Thanks in advance,

-pastor bill

My Antioch

Antioch Christian Church: Coal City, IN

This is the small little country church I preached in during my first year of grad school (so, 2003-2004 ‘ish).  A great congregation full of wonderful people where the average age was well over 70!

This would be where I “cut my teeth” in preaching.  These fine people endured me figuring out how to write a sermon, how to preach it, etc.  On a real good day, we had 45 people.

Acts 13:1–3 (NLT)

¹ Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul.² One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.”³ So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.

The Untold Story of the New Testament Church

March 2011Newsletter

This month I want to tell you about a fun little book that gives us an opportunity to relive the New Testament’s story in a refreshing way. In The Untold Story of the New Testament Church, Frank Viola, “…has ‘straightened out’ the NT (New Testament) for us! The Bible we have today is fully inspired, yes. But the order of the NT epistles—well—a complete jumble. Instead of being arranged by date, they are arranged by size!” (p. 9, from the foreword)

So, this book tells the story of God’s second covenant (aka: the New Testament) according to the way God put His story together. After reading through (which can be done in one afternoon: it’s only 180 pages), you’ll walk away with more of a “ground-level” understanding of how the church—God’s Family—came to be. Narrative in style, the book reads almost like a novel. You’ll need to read it with your Bible at your side because the footnotes will have you flipping through all 27 NT books and exposing you to stories and characters that you may have never noticed before.

The author presents the giving of our second covenant as a play with five major “motions.”

1. The Godhead in Eternity Past

2. The Son is Sent to Earth

3. The Church is Born

4. The Son Returns to Earth

5. The Godhead in Eternity Future

The third motion is the largest and longest, as Viola unfolds the growth of the very same church body we are all a part of today. Following the book of Acts and Paul’s epistles, the author takes us through Jerusalem, Antioch, Galatia, the greater Grecian area, Ephesus, and finally Rome. Along the way, he “sharpens the focus” with historical tidbits that help us better understand the culture of the day.

If you’re looking for a fun book to read as you hibernate and wait out the last of this cold weather, I recommend checking this one out. It’s about $10 on Amazon.com. If you read it, let me know what you think!

At Your Side,

-bill

From this day Forward…

On February 13th I preached a sermon titled “How to be Rich” (you can hear it here: http://www.defiancechristian.org/sermons/).  In that sermon, I talked about “placing a stake in the ground” to declare that your life will change, you will seek to be rich in your relationship with Jesus, and you won’t let the ever-changing world affect how you live your life.

I recently read a statement Rick Warren wrote about being purpose-driven, and it squares perfectly with this very idea.  I’ve pasted it in below.  You can also find it on his website here: http://www.purposedrivenchurch.com/en-US/AboutUs/PD_declaration.htm

Read it.  Pray about it.  Then, begin to jot down ideas for your own declaration.  If you decide to write one yourself (yep: I am going to), I’d love to read it and (with your permission) post it here to share with others.

THE PURPOSE DRIVEN DECLARATION

Today I am stepping across the line. I’m tired of waffling and I’m finished with wavering, I’ve made my choice, the verdict is in, and my decision is irrevocable. I’m going God’s way. There’s no turning back now!

I will live the rest of my life serving God’s purposes with God’s people on God’s planet for God’s glory. I will use my life to celebrate his presence, cultivate his character, participate in his family, demonstrate his love, and communicate his Word.

Since my past has been forgiven, and I have a purpose for living, and a home awaiting in heaven,  I refuse to waste any more time or energy on shallow living, petty thinking, trivial talking, thoughtless doing, useless regretting, hurtful resenting, or faithless worrying. Instead I will magnify God, grow to maturity, serve in ministry, and fulfill my mission in the membership of his family.

Because this life is preparation for the next, I will value worship over wealth, “we” over “me,”  character over comfort, service over status, and people over possessions, position, and pleasures. I know what matters most, and I’ll give it all I’ve got. I’ll do the best I can with what I have for Jesus Christ today.

I won’t be captivated by culture, manipulated by critics, motivated by praise, frustrated by problems, debilitated by temptation, or intimidated by the devil. I’ll keep running my race with my eyes on the goal, not the sidelines or those running by me. When times get tough, and I get tired, I won’t back up, back off, back down, back out, or backslide. I’ll just keep moving forward by God’s grace. I’m Spirit-led, purpose driven, and mission-focused, so I cannot be bought, I will not be compromised, and I shall not quit until I finish the race.

I’m a trophy of God’s amazing grace, so I will be gracious to everyone, grateful for every day, and generous with everything God entrusts to me.

To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I say, "However, whenever, wherever, and whatever you ask me to do, my answer in advance is yes!  Wherever you lead and whatever the cost I’m ready. Anytime. Anywhere. Anyway.  Whatever it takes, Lord; whatever it takes!  I want to be used by you in such a way, that on that final day I’ll hear you say, 'Well done, thou good and faithful one. Come on in, and let the eternal party begin!'"

I Can't Forgive

From time to time, I'll receive an email and/or Bible question touching on a topic I know affects many others in our congregation. In those situations, I get permission from the author, strip the email to maintain anonymity, and then throw it up on the blog.

The Email:

I believe with every fabric of my being that some sins are unforgiveable. I believe that God can forgive these monsters. I can't. I have always felt that way but in light of recent events I can't internally try to deny it anymore to make myself feel like a better Christian. Does that make me unworthy of standing in front of church…? I'm trying to hold myself accountable and am feeling very undeserving...

My response

xxx,

I often think something very similar to your, “I believe God can forgive these monsters.” Then, again similar to your sentiments, my personal struggle to extend that forgiveness wages on. For me, that struggle is hottest and hardest when I think of the Taliban and “pro-choice” activists. Those are two people groups I’d like to see my Jesus consume with raging fire—today! (It IS going to happen; check out Revelation 19.11-16!)

Does that make you AND me unworthy of standing before our congregation? Yes. Absolutely it does. And so does every other sin we commit during the course of a “regular” day. Thanks be to God that Jesus’ work on the cross comes along and makes us righteous (Rom 5.19) in spite of our sinfulness (also Rom 8.1).

You’re a sinner. I’m a sinner. Abortionists and terrorists are sinners. That won’t change until Jesus comes back. Our (yours and mine) problem comes in when we fail to see just how much Jesus had to overcome so that we (you and I) could be made righteous. Remembering (temporarily!) my own awful sinfulness helps me not become so self-righteous as to think God is content to save me and then consume the “really bad sinners” in a raging fire.

The answer to sin—for you, me, terrorists and abortionists—is grace through Jesus.

Romans 5:21 (NLT)

²¹ So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Why Demons Are Bad

“A servant of Christ can no more avoid demons than a gardener can avoid weeds.” –Clinton Arnold

Further Reading

CS Lewis: Screwtape Letters

BJ Oropeza: 99 Questions to Answers about Angels, Demons & Spiritual Warfare

Miscellaneous References

· Satan is not equal to God

o There is not “good God, bad God”

o Satan is not omnipotent, omniscience, nor omnipresent

o There is only God the Creator and the created (1 Cor 8.1-6)

o For a side study of demons, see: Isa 14; Ezek 28; Gen 3; Eph 6

· Satan is not our only enemy

o He has demons (fallen angels) who work for him

§ Demons are not the souls of bad dead people; angels are not the souls of good dead people.

§ Humans do not turn into angels when we die; humans “outrank” angels (Heb 1.14).

o He can only tempt one person at a time and can only send a fixed amount of demons to any one person at any point in time

· Demons are spiritual beings

o When they leave one body/possession, they look for another (Lk 11.24-26)

o Any “spiritual” teaching is demonic when it’s not based solely on Jesus (1 Jn 4.1-6; 1 Thess 5.21; Acts 17.11)

§ i.e.: Buddhism, Yoga, Islam, Spiritualism, Avatar, Necromancy, etc.

§ Don’t be spiritual; love Jesus; be filled with the one Holy Spirit.

· Demons are personal beings

o With intellect, emotion, and will

o They know who Jesus is (Mk 1.24); they can influence people (1 Tim 4.1-6); they have fear (Lk 8.28); they rebel (Jude 6)

· Demons are extremely powerful (Mk 5.1-4; Acts 19.16),

o but their power is limited (Job 1-2; Col 1.16; 1 Jn 4.4)

· Demons are not the souls of the deal; they are fallen angels serving Satan

o Necromancy is a sin (Dt 18.9-12; 1 Chron 10.13-14)

Is “Trinity” in the Bible?

Recent Email

Hey man,

     I got a bible question for you:

Does God ever explain the trinity in the bible?  I mean does Jesus ever talk about it?  I still can't wrap my head around it, and it sounds like a man-made explanation to me...

My Response

The word "trinity" isn't in the Bible, but some translations (mainly older ones like King James) use "Godhead" in Col 2.9.  The word "trinity" is a man-made name (you're right there) to describe God "in 3 persons" as best we can. 

⁹ For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, (Col 2.9, NIV)
⁹For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Col 2.9, KJV)

I always try to explain it by saying, "My dad fills 3 roles as one man: he's my dad, my sons' grandpa, and his dad's son.  Still, he's one man.  It's the same with God.  He fills 3 roles, but he does so as one God." That's not a perfect explanation, but it gets the point across.  Or, H2O takes 3 forms: liquid, solid, or gas, but it never changes its core substance: it's always H2O.

We do see all 3 "Members" of the trinity showing up in the Bible though.  Here's 3 examples:

¹⁴ May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.  (2 Cor 13.14)

² who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. (1 Peter 1.2)

¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28.19)

And, at Jesus' baptism, we see all 3:

²¹ When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened ²² and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

And, the Hebrew word for God used in Genesis is plural.

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule… (Gen 1.26)

Why CS Lewis Matters Today

Though he wrote more than 50 years ago, CS Lewis speaks directly to the issues of our times.  He is arguably one of the most influential writers of the 20th Century.  As a former agnostic and critic of Christianity, Lewis addresses the very doubts so many of us carry but feel unable to voice.   Most importantly, he restores the Christian worldview to its rightful place as the sole bearer of Truth and shows how believing in anything less than Christianity and the Jesus of the Bible is to forfeit any chance we have at meaning or hope.

Asbury University produced a wonderful 5-part series of short videos capturing Why CS Lewis Matters Today.  If you’ve ever struggled with questions of faith, reason or significance, I suggest you grab a cup of coffee and sit down to have your heart rekindled.

Part 1 – Prologue

 

Part 2 – Reclaiming Christian Reason

 

Part 3 – Rediscovering Christian Imagination

 

Part 4 – Restoring a Christian Vision of Humanity

 

Part 5 – Epilogue

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth

February 2011Newsletter

Have you ever read the Bible and thought, “I don’t know what means”? That’s a silly question; of course we all have! The purpose of DCC 201: Grow is to decrease the number of times you ask that question. We do this by giving you tools for your personal spiritual toolbox so that you can study and understand God’s Word as a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ.

This month, I want to recommend to you the single best “how to” manual for reading the Bible. Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart wrote a wonderful book, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (currently $11.55 on Amazon.com), that will forever change how you read the Bible. Hopefully, you’re already reading the Bible and asking, “So what? How can I apply this to my life?” Sometimes however, the quest to apply the Bible to our lives can have us quickly jumping to conclusions about the text without first making sure we’re applying it the way God’s Spirit intended us to apply it. As the authors put it, “To make this text mean something God did not intend is to abuse the text, not use it.” (p. 25)

The original recipients of the Bible never thought it was ambiguous nor had a difficult time understanding what the author meant. Our challenge today is to read a Book that was written in the “then and there” and apply it to our lives in the “here and now.” To do that, we rely on scholars and translators to grapple with the context and the content for us—producing accurate translations and reliable commentaries. However, with a little homework, we all can do some of this ourselves. That’s what this easy-to-read little book is about.

One of the most practical chapters in the book is the one on all of the different translations. Why are there so many and how do you pick one? They explain the two basic approaches to translating the Bible: [1] literal, word-for-word (think KJV, NASB), and [2] functional/dynamic, thought-for-thought (think the Message, TLB). They talk about the strengths and weakness of each approach and then recommend some “happy medium” versions.

The rest of the book discusses how to “use” the Bible, section by section. What are The Law and OT narratives good for today? What are they not good for? How should we use books like Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes today? Was the job of the prophets really the job we think it was? Why do we have four books about the life of Jesus? Did Luke want us to use the book of Acts as a normative, authoritative manual for how we should “do church” today? Did Paul intend for his letters to be circulated to other churches and then used by us, 2000 years later? Why are there so many disagreements over the book of Revelation?

God’s Word is perfect, priceless, and practical (2 Tim 3.16), but it only helps us if we understand it as He wants us to. I highly recommend this book as a great tool for increasing your ability to do just that.

“The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him…the body they may kill;
God’s truth abideth still: His kingdom is forever”
–Martin Luther, A Mighty Fortress

At Your Side,

-bill

A Banner Year for 2010

 

DCC Family,

At the end of such a great year for DCC, I’d like to highlight our successes and give a big thank you to those of you who worked so hard to make our congregation such a great place to connect, grow, and glow in 2010. We were blessed with a 16% increase in our weekly attendance (a good 4 percentage points better than a “good year” by church growth standards). Several new believers, new families, and new babies are buzzing around this great place.

To avoid forgetting anybody, please allow me to simply extend a sincere pat on the back (or a holy hug, whichever you prefer) to everyone who set Christ’s mission of reaching the lost and serving the saved as your guiding compass this year. So many of our great volunteers put in long hours to improve every little aspect of how we “do church” around here. The fruit of your labor is the success of Jesus’ church. Celebrate successful Kingdom work!

After that celebration, we’ll need to get right back to the plow as we continue improving, building, and expanding what God has given us. Check out our goals for 2011 and prayerfully consider how you might support the work this year. People willing to humbly serve, work, lead, teach, and just simply sweat for Jesus will always be in high demand. We are truly experiencing Jesus' words:

Luke 10:2 (NLT)
“The harvest is great, but the workers are few.
So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest;
ask him to send more workers into his fields…”

I look forward to another year of harvesting at your side,

-bill

Blog Questionnaire

Which Herod?

Get confused by all of the Herods in the Bible?  Me too.  But, the family of King Herod is actually an important cast of characters for the New Testament story.  Here’s an excerpt from my Luke Commentary that breaks down who’s who.  You can download the whole commentary here (a dynamic document as a current work in progress).

The following is taken from the notes on Luke 1.5.

 

 

 

 

“Herod was king”

·         Aka ‘Herod the Great’ (cf. Mt 2.1-23)

o    Ruled from c. 40/37BC to 4 BC

o    Asked the wise men to report the whereabouts of the newborn King of the Jews to him

§  Had all male children in Bethlehem under 2 killed

o    Died of an incurable disease at Jericho in 4BC; people then turned to Archelaus as their king

·         Other Herodian Family Members:

o    Herod Antipas: Ruler of Galilee (Lk 3.19)

§  Son of Herod the Great

§  Most-often-mentioned Herod in the NT b/c he ruled over the areas where Jesus and John concentrated their ministries

·         Mentioned 3x in relation to Christ: Mt 14.1-2; Lk 13.31-33; Lk 23.6-12

§  Tried Christ just before crucifixion

§  Married his brother Philip’s (Lk 3.1) wife, Herodias (cf. Lv 18.16; 20.21)

§  Had John the Baptist beheaded at the request of his niece (Mt 14.1-12)

o    Archelaus

§  Son of Herod the Great

§  (brutal) Ruler of Judah when Jesus’ family returned from Egypt (Mt 2.22)

o    Herodias

§  Left Philip (Mt 14.3; Lk 3.1; Mk 6.17) to marry his brother, Herod Antipas

o    Philip the Tetrarch

§  Brother of Herod Antipas; married to Herodias until she left him for Herod Antipas

§  Built Caesarea Philippi (Mt 16.13-20) and enlarged Bethsaida into Julias (Mk 8.22-26)

o    Herod Agrippa 1^st

§  Judean King who persecuted the church and executed James, son of Zebedee (Acts 12.1f)

o    Herod Agrippa 2^nd

§  Governor of Judah when Paul was imprisoned in Jerusalem (Acts 25.1-26.32)

§  Brother-in-law to Felix

o    Felix

§  Husband of Drusilla; son-in-law to Herod Agrippa 1^st

§  Govern in Caesarea who heard Paul’s case Acts 23.23f

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