I first heard this simple “Jesus Is My Friend” song on Instagram by the Millennial Children’s Choir. I was captivated by the children singing with such emotion and the incredible reminder to “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1).
Many in the audience might be a bit chagrined at the song’s “theologically lite” lyrics (which I believe were written by a member of the Mormon Church), but when I heard it, I sat back and thanked Jesus for knowing my name and being “a friend of sinners” (see Luke 7:31-35).
I thought about this simple song during a long drive I just took with a good friend of mine. We were both going to a friend’s reunion several hours away and he graciously joined me on the drive back and forth. I knew my friend did not believe in Jesus, but I also knew — that he knew — that Jesus was my friend.
I don’t remember exactly how we got onto the subject, but something came up about all the “dos and don’ts” in the church and how he always felt he could never measure up. Now, I’d never consider myself an evangelist, but that sounded like an open invitation to me…my audience was buckled in…and I was driving.
For the next few hours we talked about some of my favorite Bible heroes like Abraham and David and how they didn’t measure up either. We talked about how very human and flawed even our Bible heroes were and how much they needed a Savior — just like us.
We were getting close to home when my friend said, “You know, I used to teach Sunday School in my church.” Then with a heavy sigh he added, “I never heard any of these Bible stories.”
My introduction to the ministry of LOGOI came from stories I heard my dad tell. His eyes would fill with tears as he would express how so many pastors leading churches were teaching just about everything in their churches except the Bible. “They are so capable and talented,” he’d say, “we just have to help them know God’s Word.”
For some 57 years now, LOGOI has been focused on helping pastors and teaching leaders across the Spanish-speaking world “know God’s Word.” To say it in a far simpler, “theologically lite” way, we’re reminding even pastors that “Jesus is their friend and knows their name.”
If you haven’t done so recently, take a moment and visit LOGOIministries.com and click on the “missionaries” button on the top. There you will find story after story of beautifully ordinary men and women whom Jesus knows by name and has called to proclaim the Good News.
That’s why we are always bold in asking you to invest some of your giving to the Lord via LOGOI’s ministry. We’re not very flashy and don’t make headlines, we simply go about helping pastors and leaders across the Spanish world better understand and proclaim God’s Word. In other words, your investments are used to let others know “Jesus is their friend and knows their name.”
I dropped my friend off back home. We gave each other a big hug and I headed back home asking Jesus to keep knocking on my friend’s heart. I emptied my suitcase and
sat down to relax when I got a text message. It was from my friend who said:
“I really enjoyed the drive, the conversations, and your stories. It was all very interesting to me. If you can recommend an easy-to-follow Bible, I would be interested.”
That sounds like an invitation to me.
Forever!
Ed Thompson
Comments