This month is “Ministry Month” for our Visits to the Pastor’s Study. But the purpose isn’t just to give you glimpses into various ministries; the purpose is to encourage each of you to be serving others in ways that further the Kingdom of God. The work of pastors and teachers is to “equip the saints for the works of service”, and that’s what we hope this month’s series of programs will do for you.
I am so impressed with the work of Hope Christian Center. Let me tell you why:
First, it’s a ministry right in the heart of the Bronx – one of the five boroughs of New York City. It’s a ministry right in the midst of homelessness, addictions, and crime – right where the good news of Jesus Christ is meant to go.
Second, while Hope Christian Center ministers to men with life-enslaving addictions, it’s not a detox program. It’s not a mere rehabilitation program. In fact, the they don’t even call their work “a program”. It’s a ministry that focuses on men developing a personal relationship with the true and living God through Jesus Christ. Hope Christian Center is right up front that its intensive discipleship education and training, coupled with practical life experience helps men get back to family, church, and community as new people with new purpose in life and new skills so that the can labor to provide for themselves and others. Hope Christian Center gives true hope – the hope that comes from the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ who is about the work of making all things new.
And, third, I am so impressed that Hope Christian Center is a home. It’s an actual residence in the Bronx where men live together, learn together, and are transformed together over a nine-month training period. From my experience I’ve seen that ministries structured on the order of a Christian home have been the most effective in helping others – whether that help goes to foster children, pregnant unwed mothers, latch-key kids, refugees, or people with life-dominating addictions. I’m convinced that, coupled with its commitment to the power of the Gospel to truly change lives, Hope Christian Center’s home – and all that goes with that – is a key to its success as Christ’s instrument to form faithful disciples – people who have become disciplined to follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
My guest for today’s Visit to the Pastor’s Study is Pastor Jack Roberts. Jack has been a co-pastor of the Bronx Household of Faith since 1972 (and I also want you to hear about that unique ministry on today’s program), and, since 1976, he’s been serving as the Director of Hope Christian Center in the Bronx, New York.
Let me challenge you to think about how you (and your home) can be used by the Lord to help men – and women – in any type of crisis – not least, addictions that will destroy a person unless the power is truly broken by the power of God. You’ll learn more about that kind of ministry on today’s program.
Pastor Jack Roberts, Director of Hope Christian Center, welcome to A Visit to the Pastor’s Study….
Here’s a link to the full program:
Yours in the Lord our Hope and Help,
Pastor Bill