Dear ministry friends,
The Advent season is upon us and with it an opportunity to reflect on the depth of God’s love for his image-bearing creation, a love so deep that He would take on human flesh and become like us in every way. Indeed, while it may sound a little too “new age” for our postmodern ears, as the fourth Bishop of Alexandria, Athanasius, said: “God became man so that man might become God.”
There’s a lot to unpack there, and this is not the time to delve into the depth of what Athanasius meant. Even so, the reason for the season deserves our attention as we reflect on another year of ministry in Romania through the hands and hearts of those who are the Missio Link International family. In fact, “incarnational” is the word that might best capture the work of Missio Link International in and through its various expressions:
- How better to embody the love of God among abused young girls than through the tender care of Deborah House parents, Vio and Andriana?
- How more brightly can the light of Christ shine than in the darkness of a juvenile prison in Buzias through the unique ministry of Doru and Rodica Rocaviceanu?
- How more practical can the love of Jesus be revealed than through the provision of food and shelter to Ukrainian refugees fleeing their war-ravaged homes with the aid of Christian-workers like Adi Popa and his wife Gabriela on the border town of Isaccea?
- How more empowered to fight the good fight—in a culture that can be hostile to the gospel—can a host of pastors be than to be nourished on the Word of God through regular retreats, and conferences, and intensive trainings in the holy environs of Alpinis?
Yes, God became human so that, today, while we anticipate the complete restoration where “Christ is all and in all,” (Colossians 3.11) we may show the world what it means to be truly human.
What a beautiful picture of Christ’s body this is within the context of a broken world that is at times all too inhumane. And what a blessed honor it is for us, therefore—as members of the universal body of Christ—to play our part in the drama of God’s kingdom, “on earth as it is in heaven!” For your part in making such incarnational ministry possible in Romania we hope you know the joy of Jesus and a genuine peace that comes with your gospel-partnership.
Finally, we promise you this: your partnership with Missio Link International creates opportunities for Jesus-followers in Romania to incarnate the love of God among some of the most vulnerable. To you, we cannot say “thank you” enough. Nor can we praise God loud enough for “…taking on the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2.7). Immanuel!
Sincerely yours,
Kenny Woodhull
President, Missio International