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Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, was instituted to honor Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. After World War I, the purpose of the day was expanded to include all men and women who died in U.S. military service. Today, Memorial Day is often thought of as the unofficial start of summer–a long weekend with a car race, playoff basketball, and brats and burgers on the grill.

It is always tricky to know how the Christians should or shouldn’t celebrate patriotic holidays. Certainly, some churches blend church and state in such a way that the kingdom of God morphs into a doctrinally-thin, spiritually nebulous civil religion. But even with this dangers, there are a number of good reasons why Christians should give thanks for Memorial Day.

1. Being a soldier is not a sub-Christian activity. In Luke 3, John the Baptist warns the people to bear fruit in keeping with repentance. The crowds respond favorably to his message and ask him, “What then shall we do?” John tells the rich man to share his tunics, the tax collectors to collect only what belongs to them, and the soldiers to stop their extortion. If ever there was a time to tell the soldiers that true repentance meant resigning from the army, surely this was the time. And yet, John does not tell them that they must give up soldier-work to bear fruit, only that they need to be honest soldiers. The Centurion is even held up by Jesus as the best example of faith he’s seen in Israel (Luke 7:9). Military service, when executed with integrity and in the Spirit of God, is a suitable vocation for the people of God.

2. The life of a soldier can demonstrate the highest Christian virtues. While it’s true that our movies sometimes go too far in glamorizing war, this is only the case because there have been many heroics acts in the history of war suitable for our admiration. Soldiers in battle are called on to show courage, daring, service, shrewdness, endurance, hard work, faith, and obedience. These virtues fall into the “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just” category that deserve our praise (Philippians 4:8).

3. Military service is one of the most common metaphors in the New Testament to describe the Christian life. We are to fight the good fight, put on the armor of God, and serve as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. When we remember the sacrifice, single-minded dedication, and discipline involved in the life of a soldier, we are calling to mind what we are supposed to be like as Christians in service to Christ.

4. Love of country can be a good thing. As Christians we have dual citizenship. Our first and ultimate allegiance must always be to Christ whose heavenly dwelling is our eternal home. But we are also citizens of an earthly country. We will stand before God not as individuals wiped clean of all earthly nationality, but as people with distinct languages, cultural affinities, and homelands. It is not wrong to love our distinct language, culture, or nationality. Whenever I’m at a ball game I still get choked up during the singing of the National Anthem. I think this is good. Love for God does not mean we love nothing else on earth, but rather that we learn to love the things on earth in the right way and with the right proportions and priorities. Love of country is a good thing, and it is right to honor those who defend the principles that make our country good.

5. I believe the facts of history will demonstrate that on the whole, the United States military has been a force for good in the world. Obviously, as a military power, we have blundered at times, both individually and corporately. But on the whole, the men and women of our armed services have fought and are fighting for causes that promote freedom, defend the rights of human beings, and reject tyranny. War is still hell and a tragic result of the fall. Praise God for his promise to one day end all human conflict. But in a world where people are evil by nature and leaders are not always reasonable and countries do not always have good intentions, war is sometimes the way to peace-at least the best peace we can hope for between peoples and nations this side of heaven.

So thank God for a day to remember God’s common grace to America and his special grace in enlisting us, poor weak soldiers that we are, in service to Christ our Captain and conquering King.

DeYoung, Kevin. "Why Christians Should Give Thanks for Memorial Day" The Gospel Coalition. May 27, 2019. 

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/christians-give-thanks-memorial-day/

Our Youth Ministry Coordinator is stepping down as he pursues new things that God has in store for him. Canyon - we are grateful for the years that you have invested into the youth of Mountain Christian and are praying for your future endeavors!

Here are a few messages from the Youth-

"Thank you for your teachings and encouragment in the Word. I will be forever thankful."

"Thanks for being a great youth leader - it means a lot!"

"Thank you for being a solid youth minister. Good luck in your journey and trust in God. I will be praying for you."

"Thank you so much for leading the youth group and teaching all of us the Word of God. I pray that God blesses you in your next step in life."

"Thank you so much for everything you have done in my life and all the amazing hunting trips we have been on. I hope you know how much this time with you means to everyone."

"I've only been here a short while, but you've been such an a amazing youth leader. You've left such a good impression and I hope everything goes well for you."

"Thanks for the inspiring lessons."

"The Lord used you in my life to draw me closer to Him through your teaching and example. Stand firm in your faith."

"We really appreciate the time and effort you put into each of us."

"I will miss your personality and jokes!"

"I truly admire your relationship with Christ and I hope to be bold like you, for Jesus."

You can click here to read a blog post from Canyon on his heart for youth ministry. It's not good-bye, it's see you later!

Mother’s Day. Few holidays can rival it for emotional highs and lows. As a child, I loved it. My dad would “cook” breakfast with us (or run to McDonald’s to buy pancakes), and we would “surprise” my mother with breakfast in bed. One year, my brother and I gave Mom a Folgers coffee can full of worms . . . on the same tray as her breakfast . . . in bed. She was genuinely ecstatic—she wanted more worms to put in her garden. Mother’s Day was full of love and happy memories.

When I became a mom, I delivered our firstborn the day before Mother’s Day. The entire staff of doctors and nurses rejoiced, and my food tray came with a rose on it. It felt like the whole world was celebrating with me.

When Mother’s Day Hurts

But Mother’s Day isn’t a celebration for all. It’s excruciating for many: my friend who lost a child this year, another friend who’s celebrating her last Mother’s Day with her dying mom, my friends who would love to be mothers but aren’t, my friends who’ve had abusive moms, my friends whose adult children are estranged. These situations are extremely difficult, and Mother’s Day can serve to only intensify the pain.

How, then, should we treat Mother’s Day? Churches, pastors, friends, and families struggle with this question every year. Do we ignore those hurting and go on celebrating? Do we suppress the celebration in hopes of lessening the pain around us? It might help to ask a deeper question: Should we be surprised that such intense joy and sorrow are wrapped up in motherhood?

It wouldn’t surprise us if we knew our story.

Motherhood in the Metanarrative

God’s first recorded words to Adam and Eve implied motherhood: “Be fruitful and multiply” (Gen 1:28). Motherhood was part of Eden, and it should have been an experience of pure joy. 

But after the couple sinned, God pronounced the consequences of their rebellion. To Eve he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children” (Gen. 3:16). This pain goes beyond the physical pain of childbirth—it includes everything painful about childbearing and motherhood: miscarriage, infertility, SIDS, abortion, rebellious children . . . the list could go on and on.

But we don’t stop reading at Genesis 3:16—the story continues. Four verse later we read, “The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living” (Gen. 3:20). In spite of the curse, life would come, and redemption would come through life. The first thing that happens after Adam and Eve are expelled from Eden is a birth—God’s mercy in the midst of his curse.

Eventually, Christ himself would come, “born of woman,” to bring salvation to his people and break the curse (Gal. 4:4; cf. Gen. 3:15). Until the final redemption of all things, however, the effects of the curse are still with us. Motherhood continues to be a mixture of great joy and tremendous pain. We live in a time that requires us to mourn over all that is broken and, at the same time, rejoice over what is good and right.

On this Mother’s Day, weep for yourself and for those you love who mourn over infertility, miscarriages, abortions, wayward children, and other consequences of the curse. At the same time, rejoice for everything good and right in motherhood that shines as a testimony to God’s goodness, mercy, and redemption. Celebrate life, extol the praiseworthy deeds of the moms around you, and praise God that he will one day, finally and fully, set everything to rights and wipe every tear from our eyes.

Doctor, Courtney. "Let Joy and Sadness Mingle This Mother's Day" The Gospel Coalition May 13, 2017  https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/let-joy-and-sadness-mingle-this-mothers-day/

Vacation Bible School will be here before you know it! And we can't do it without you! There are so many ways you can be involved and bless this ministry.  If you have an hour or a day here and there or even just want to make a donation, the lending hand is our lifeblood.  

VBS Job Descriptions

Bible Storyteller – A master teacher and communicator; tell the Bible story during Opening segment in a creative, attention-gripping way.

 Coffee Corner Helper – Visit with parents over coffee and treats after they drop their children off at VBS; can volunteer one or two days or every day.

Closing Ceremony Reception – Host or help with the Closing Reception – set up, make drinks, clean up, etc.

Cookie Baker – Bake a batch or two of cookies for the Closing Reception.

Crafts Helper – Assist children with pre-planned craft projects.

Daily Clean up - Tidy up after VBS each day to prepare for the next day! Empty trash, wipe bathrooms, restock paper products, etc.

Dance Team – learn the choreography and dance during Opening and Closing each day of VBS, and at Closing ‘Ceremony’

Games – Help to prepare for and lead groups of elementary age kids in fun physical activities and discussions. You can expect lots of hard work, fun, and high-fives.

Guest Teacher – Prepare for and teach a pre-planned lesson one day during VBS; a great way for men to participate in VBS

Handy-Man / Construction – Be available for any handy man projects that may come up (building of props, painting, climbing ladders, etc)

Nurse - Provide basic first aid for scraped knees, etc that happen during VBS

Photographer / Slideshow – Take pictures throughout the week; Create a slideshow to show at the Closing “Ceremony”.

Prayer Team – Pray for VBS specific requests leading up to and during VBS.

Preschool / Nursery - Love on and care for the little ones of our Volunteers

Registration – Welcome families Monday morning; sign kids in, hand out name tags, etc

Snacks – Prepare and serve snacks to the kids and volunteers each day

Supply List Coordinator - Gather lists from VBS leaders (snacks, crafts, etc) to share with the MCC Communication Coordinator to share with the congregation. Keep track of supplies as they are received and distribute to Department Coordinators.

Team Leader – Lead a set group of children throughout the week, building relationships with them (this position is best for those who can help every day) We need leaders and helpers.

Tech Team – Works together to provide audio, video, and computer graphics support

Work Day Director– Plan for and collect needed materials for our Work Day Wednesdays.

Work Day Helper – Wednesdays, 9:00 – noon; working on whatever needs to be done; come when you can for however long you can!

Wherever – I’m willing to help wherever you need me!

It all started as a crazy idea. Marcio Bolitas had gone to bed troubled about how to help many communities stay healthy during COVID. As Bolivia’s director for Food for the Hungry, Marcio had been hearing from the staff how the government’s recommendation to stay healthy by washing hands was causing distress in many communities. How can they wash their hands when they don’t have clean water? Does this mean they would all die of COVID? It was mid-2020, and no one knew. As the COVID scare was happening all over the world, Bolivia was one of the many countries still suffering from lack fresh water to a vast majority of its small communities. These people were very scared that they couldn’t protect themselves or their children.

Marcio woke up one morning asking himself, “Why not just get water to these people?” It had been a troubling problem for decades but maybe now was the time to make some big changes. Marcio presented this huge idea to his staff, and they looked at him dubiously. He replied with, “If God wants it done, He will do it.” And do it He did!

Marcio was able to connect with several other international non-profits whose goal is to supply access to fresh water, such as Water for People. When they presented their case, and significant international funding, to the local water authorities, God made things happen!

By the end of 2021, one- thousand Bolivian families had gone from carrying buckets many kilometers to a dirty hole in the ground to now having clean water piped to a storage tank that 2-4 families shared. This tank would allow for continuous sanitary water access in their new indoor-plumed kitchen sink and toilet! Now washing hands, regular bathing, and clean drinking water were a reality!

Not only was Marcio’s team able to work alongside the families as they prepared the ditches for the pipes to be laid, but they also were able to share about Jesus’s Living Water with them. Just as clean water was supplying health to their bodies, Jesus could satisfy their souls. Many families were connected with local churches and the gospel continued to spread! Marcio even had communities come and ask if they could help their neighboring towns get water too!

God had one more surprise in store for Marcio. In early 2023, he was asked to come speak to the United Nations in New York City about their program – Bolivia con Agua. The success of the program had been making international waves, and the UN wanted to hear about it and apply the method in other developing nations. So in March 2023, Marcio was able to not only present the methods and impact of Bolivia con Agua, but also speak the gospel to the UN as he shared the most impactful aspect of the program – spiritual and life change! God was using this idea to share the message to the ends ofthe earth!

Marcio continues to be amazed at how God has used this crazy idea to impact so many lives – 6,000 families by the end of 2023. As he looks ahead, he continues to believe, “If God wants it done, He will do it.”

Note: MCC has already partnered with 150+ families in Villa Margarita, Bolivia, to receive fresh water via this program!