The Church @ Rapha.
My Church....
I've been at Rapha for 14+ years now.
I've been holding meetings in this chapel since 2006.
We moved to a Saturday Night Meeting in 2008.
It is a most unusual church.
Not by design but by necessity.
Unlike most churches, membership in the Church @ Rapha is only 7 weeks to 6 months long. Why those numbers? Because that is the length of stay for most clients who come here. They fall between 7 weeks (phase 1 of program) and 6 months (the complete program)
This church is more like a place where new birth happens.
When you can learn to walk, talk and digest solid food. It is the place where babies turn into godly men.
I try to keep reminding myself that my call is to introduce, equip and sent out those who come through Rapha.
I hold dearly to the words of Ephesians 4.
Therefore I , a prisoner for serving the LORD beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace.
Being a member of the "Body of Christ" is not an invitation to individuality. You are now grafted into something greater than yourself. In fact, you whole focus is now about others and not your own needs. You heart is turned to Christ to serve, to grow and mature. Two words that can never go together are "Selfish Christian." A heart given to Jesus becomes a heart that has fallen in love with Him. This love is translated and manifested into seeing the needs of others. Everything from a cup of cold water given in His name, to sharing the good news that they don't have to live in spiritual darkness and a life of misery anymore.
Over the past 14 years, there have been a total of 13 Recovery meetings started in this state by men who came through the Rapha program. Recovery programs that are Christ-centered and actively leading others to Jesus.
Two of our former clients now serve full time in other treatment centers as either pastors or spiritual counselors.
Two other clients have now opened transitional housing for men who have no where to go. These two individuals also work diligently through Celebrate Recovery taking care of the needs of hundreds of people who are trying to break free of addiction.
Countless others have gone back to their home towns and have become active members in their home church. Going on mission trips and using their skills and talents in far away places such as Africa and Honduras.
I guess the real testament to what God does at Rapha came from a client who came back to visit. He had had a life changing encounter with God while he was at Rapha and was extremely grateful for it. He had enrolled in a Christian college in Ohio and was home on break when he came by to see me. As we sat in my office talking, he made the statement,"You know, since leaving here and enrolling in college, I have heard some powerful speakers. I have seen and sat under the teaching of those who some would say are the "A" team of evangelicals. Perry Stone, Rod Parsley, Ron Phillips, Joyce Meyer..." He went down a list of people that I knew very well. Then he stopped. Tears came to his eyes and he said, "But the greatest truth I have every heard came in that little cinder block chapel.It was there that I finally met the real Jesus."
God, may I never falter or forget the power of the message of the cross.
God on you.... mb
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