Guest Editorial: Ron Harding
So excited and happy after his baptism, Ron Harding Sr. is with his son Ron, his extended physical family, and the brothers that studied with him!So excited and happy after his baptism, Ron Harding Sr. is with his son Ron, his extended physical family, and the brothers that studied with him!
(Ron is the dynamic Evangelist of the Portland International Christian Church, the Lead CyberEvangelist for the SoldOut Discipling Movement, and a very dear friend and partner in the gospel. KM)
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families.” Hebrews 10:25
2011 has been an amazing year here in Portland! In just over three years, God has transformed a little remnant group of 13 hurting disciples into a vibrant congregation of exactly 100 members, having weekly baptisms, and an average attendance nearing 200 every Sunday! Without question, though I love all of the recent additions that the Spirit has given to the Portland Church, most special to me is number 99 – the baptism of my father, Ron Harding, Sr.!
For 18 years, I did everything possible to be “united in Christ” with my father. As a young Christian, I made many mistakes, which included preaching at him, being self-righteous, and expressing too often how he hurt me when I was growing up. (I now shake my head in disbelief that I shared these types of things at one particular time during a communion while he was present.)
In retrospect, I see that I missed some key opportunities to be humble towards him and to serve him the way I serve Jesus and His church. Eventually, I realized that I wasn’t being effective and began telling him that I just needed one hour of his time, so I could share my story through the Scriptures because I knew just how powerful the Word of God is and how quickly it can change a person’s heart. (Hebrews 4:12-13; Romans 10:17)
After the 2011 Global Leadership Conference in Los Angeles, I stayed an extra two days with one purpose: to serve my father and ask him once more for one hour of his time. After 18 long years of prayers, fasts and every spiritual plea that I could make, my father sat down with me and we did the Seeking God Study – after I helped him fix his motor-home of course! Also, I purchased a Bible software program and an audio version of the Bible for him, and he began to read and listen to the Bible on his own for the first time in his life. My father’s persistence that he already knew the Word of God and that he understood the Scriptures on salvation quickly faded away.
The East sisters rejoice with Brenda after her baptism!The East sisters rejoice with Brenda after her baptism!
As he began to look at his true reflection from the mirror of the Scriptures (James 1:22-25), his heart began to change. Seven weeks later, he packed up his motor-home, all of his belongings, and moved from the far Eastside of Los Angeles to Portland to study the Bible. James Haynes, Stephen Holladay, Ted Green, Sean Dobbins and Dustin Miller wrapped their arms around my father and “gang-tackled” him demonstrating the love of the disciples – for him and “for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
The brothers of the West Region praise God as Steve – who is from China – was transformed by the Spirit from an atheist to a sold-out disciple!The brothers of the West Region praise God as Steve – who is from China – was transformed by the Spirit from an atheist to a sold-out disciple!
Twenty-six days later, my father confessed, “Jesus is Lord” and he was finally united with his “Father in Heaven” and “united in Christ” with me! Even though I’m biased, it was one of the most moving baptisms I’ve seen in all of my 18 years in the Kingdom! My father having a relationship with God has brought more healing than I could have ever imagined and has literally changed everything in my family and the Portland Church. You can see the impact for yourselves at: http://www.portlandicc.org/family-album/baptismsrestorations/.
The IE sisters welcome Emily to God’s family!The IE sisters welcome Emily to God’s family!
The holiday season brings a special time of year where we take a break from our individual lives to be united with our families. Sadly in today’s society, many children – young and old alike – are forced to spend these precious times “fatherless.” Maybe the reason is their parents were never married and they lived with a single parent. Maybe their parents are divorced. Maybe there are conflicts which caused the family members to not want to be around each other. For some, their fathers have passed away while still being unresolved with them. There are many possible reasons. However, the reason does not really matter, because the outcome is always the same.
For the 2011 European Missions Conference, the London disciples welcomed Elena & me as well as all the visiting disciples from around the world at the Heathrow Airport with the song, “We Love You With The Love Of The Lord!”For the 2011 European Missions Conference, the London disciples welcomed Elena & me as well as all the visiting disciples from around the world at the Heathrow Airport with the song, “We Love You With The Love Of The Lord!”
The time of year which is meant to be the most joyful of times quickly becomes the most difficult of times. Deep down every child knows that he or she should be united with his or her father. Sadly, many allow their hurts from the past, their feelings and sentimentality, as well as the standards of this world to guide them, instead of the standards of the Bible and of their “Father in Heaven.”
At the London Missions Conference, Tim Kernan – the Paris Mission Team Leader – delivered the moving message, Where There’s Smoke There’s Fire!At the London Missions Conference, Tim Kernan – the Paris Mission Team Leader – delivered the moving message, Where There’s Smoke There’s Fire!
It is easy for us to be numb to the often tragic and traumatic events that have made the children that are growing up around us “fatherless.” Sometimes we are numb because we ourselves are living this same nightmare. The fact is that the “fatherless” of this world have trouble connecting with their “Father” who is not of this world. While it is the dream of every sold-out disciple of Jesus to be united in Christ with their physical father, our first priority must be to realize what kind of father our God is. He is holding out His arms to all of His “little children” desiring to be a father to each of us.
Coltin Rohn and Michael Williamson did an outstanding job directing the 2011 European Missions Conference in London!Coltin Rohn and Michael Williamson did an outstanding job directing the 2011 European Missions Conference in London!
Consider several Old Testament names for God that give us insight into what kind of father God wants to be in your life:
El-Shaddai (The All-Sufficient One) God is our perfect Father. His aim is to help us become whole. A human father may destroy your life, but God can make it complete. His unconditional love and unmerited favor can change anyone. God does not wait for a good report card, completed chores or a clean police record; but instead, God’s love is available at any time to any child acknowledging his need for his “Father in Heaven.” This love gives us the security that God is always there for us no matter how badly we blow it. As with the prodigal son, God the Father will celebrate us coming home and give us everything that’s His!
Brittany Lukins and Elena after the City of Angels Church prayed for her to be an effective campus ministry intern for the great Portland Church!Brittany Lukins and Elena after the City of Angels Church prayed for her to be an effective campus ministry intern for the great Portland Church!
Jehovah-shalom (God Is My Peace) Some children who live with their fathers feel “fatherless,” because of their father’s alcoholism, physical abuse, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and/or apathy. Statistics reveal that the average teenager talks to his father less than seven minutes a week. This heart breaking pain is not only found in these kids, because for every one of us, there has been a time when our human fathers could not meet our needs or expectations. This is why we so desperately need “Jehovah-shalom,” for only in Him can we find real peace. If there is no peace with our “Heavenly Father,” there is rarely peace with our earthly fathers. Be assured that “Jehovah-shalom” can give you peace even if your earthly father passed away while there were still hurts in your relationship.
Jehovah-raah (The Good Shepherd) As we grow up, our fathers are the primary authority figures in our lives. Therefore, we tend to picture God with the same characteristics as our fathers. Although the Bible commands fathers to discipline their children in love, fathers often pass off the responsibility of disciplining the children to the mothers, to day care centers, or to the school system. Sometimes true godly discipline has been replaced by harshness, anger or “buying” their kids’ obedience with gifts. Without paternal love expressed in punishment and in acceptance during times of discipline, teens that are “fatherless” in the area of discipline often become rebellious against authority and have little fear of God. They may even become hopeless when facing the true discipline of God, because they have never been disciplined by someone who accepted and loved them in the course of disciplining them. We must learn to forgive and move past this, motivated by our “Father in Heaven’s” mercy and grace.
On behalf of the Ventura Region, Amy welcomes Eileen to Los Angeles!On behalf of the Ventura Region, Amy welcomes Eileen to Los Angeles!
Jehovah-rapha (The God Who Heals) God is truly “a father to the fatherless.” It is His forgiveness gives us security, erases the guilt of our sins, and cleanses our consciences. Power from God’s Spirit within us changes our lives and gives us hope that we can continue to change. The God who heals is calling His children out of homes where they have no father, no one to be their peace, and no one to shepherd them. He wants to rescue us from ruined homes and become to us “Abba” – our “daddy.”
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Our lost fathers are spiritually lost and hurting, because they too are also “fatherless.” Our “Father in Heaven” is also calling us to go get His other children – our lost fathers who need their “Father in Heaven.” The greatness of our God is not merely a theological point – it is a reality that touches the hearts of people who need a “Heavenly Father” – people like you and me! Have an incredible holiday season and do everything you can to be united with both of your fathers!
Ron Harding