Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

Today, I made the final mortgage payment on our church facility one year ahead of schedule! Today, New Covenant Church became a debt free ministry.

This is obviously a great blessing, a result of the grace of God, and a testament to the faithfulness of our New Covenant Church family and the friends who support us. This day holds special significance for many other reasons because of the challenges and victories we have faced along the way.

I reflect on 35 years of pastoral service and the present smaller size of our congregation, but I also see our significant impact and influence on other ministries, nations, and people who have been served, especially our precious church family, youth, and children. We have empowered hundreds of youth in media arts through 19 years of media camps and we provided an academic and spiritual foundation for hundreds of children during the 15 years we operated Willowbrook Academy preschool. Untold numbers of people have been born again through our various ministries. A great volume of Gospel and inspirational books, ebooks, blogs, and digital media have inspired and helped people around the world. The annual Christmas outreach founded by my late mother, Gaynell Hudson, continues to share the Gospel and help families for the past 26 years.

I reflect upon having been sent by the Lord half way around the world to Africa on five occasions to do missions work, strengthen pastors, and provide them with resources.

I am always careful to keep everything in proper perspective, recognizing that there are many great ministries in our city doing great, and greater, works than ourselves. We have been honored to have supported and inspired many of those ministries as friends and partners. In fact, I am very thankful that size is not the final measure of the effectiveness of a ministry!

I reflect on God as our unlimited Source who provides resources…sometimes in ways that defy comprehension.

I reflect upon hardships and victories during times of zoning denial, winning a lawsuit to overturn the negative zoning vote, expected and unexpected change, contraction of resources after a season of expansion, the economic crash of 2008 which affected a scheduled re-finance, and the departure of some church members for various reasons including job opportunities in different cities.

I reflect upon the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (vv. 11-13)

I reflect upon Paul’s acknowledgement of the faithfulness of the faithful Philippian believers (whom I compare to our New Covenant Church believers), “Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. ” (Phil 4:18-20)

I reflect upon our Vision for 2017, which we began with a declaration: “Debt Free, Worry Free, Free to be Empowered and Empower Others.”

I reflect upon my precious wife and partner of 38 years, Patricia Hudson, who has labored with me, worked in the ministry, been a public school educator for our whole marriage, and continues to inspire and care for me. I also thank God for our children, whom He has blessed in marvelous ways, and for our youngest son, Jonathan, who has been able to work with us in ministry. On a teachers' and pastors' income we were able to put four children through private school and college, by the grace of God!

I reflect upon my father, Horace Hudson, who is, by far, the greatest man I’ve ever known and who at 80 years of age continues to do amazing things for the Lord’s kingdom and for New Covenant Church. I remember my late mother Gaynell Hudson, who was a foundation and pillar in my life and ministry.

I reflect upon this Scripture for 2017, “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

Through it all, God has been faithful and His faithful people have been steadfast.

In light of all this, the best words I can find are...THANK YOU!

______________

JOIN US FOR A MORTGAGE BURNING CELEBRATION!

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

1 Chronicles 29:14, But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!

It is important to understand the difference between source and resources.

Resource: A supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively.

Source: A point of origin or procurement; any thing or place from which something comes

The Apostle Paul “learned” how to handle both lack and abundance. He did not learn how to become comfortable with having less or how to boast when having more. Paul learned how to rely on God as his Source and live in contentment, not in frustration. Trusting in our resources ultimately leads to frustration.

The only benefit in experiencing lack is learning how to handle yourself within it, navigate through it, and rise out of it! People who have survived lack and overcome it through Christ become both bold and humble by staying connected with the Source. Going forward, they do not feel intimidated or overwhelmed by circumstances. As David said, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want..” (Psalm 23:1)

Trusting in our resources is relying on a limited supply. Trusting our Source is relying on an unlimited supply. Recognizing our source puts you in position to receive from God who is our Source. God as Source reigns over all and has a endless supply!

Listen to the teaching, “My God Shall Supply All Your Need,” and share it with others. Links below:

Firm Foundation Podcast on iTunes

Firm Foundation Podcast on Podbean

"Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." 2 Cor. 2:14

Recently, a friend's example reminded me that we can triumph in any and all circumstances! I am always blessed to witness believers in Christ who choose celebration over complaining in the middle of challenge. This is not a diversion from challenge, but a proper response to it.

"Triumph" is the celebration that follows a victory. We see it all the time in arenas such as sports championships. In that setting, it would be inappropriate to celebrate BEFORE the victory because there is no spiritual reality in sports.

Our life of purpose in Christ is entirely about spiritual reality. We are governed by God’s promises though hope and faith. Celebrating before we “see” victory is our protocol because “We walk by faith and not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7)

Because of Christ, we don't have to wait to celebrate until we SEE victory, we celebrate NOW because we HAVE the victory! If you make a transaction to purchase property you have not seen with a trustworthy party, you can celebrate before you see the property.

This is reality. Remember that you are dealing a God that you have not seen, but the evidence of His reality is your life and his work in your life.

What’s more, your triumph of victory becomes a fragrant and hopeful witness to others.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2, Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

"Steward" is not the best sounding word. It is, however, one of the best things in life.  There are not many better titles or attributes than to be called "a good steward." 

What is a steward? A steward is someone entrusted to manage the property and affairs of another. We can imagine being responsible for the finances, real estate, and equipment of a friend or family member would be a humbling task. We would exercise great care and attention to detail knowing that our actions affect our friend and family more than ourselves.

Now consider that we are God's stewards. We are responsible for what He has given us.... which is EVERYTHING, including our own lives!

Paul said two things about us. 1) We are servants of Christ; 2) We are stewards of "the mysteries of Christ." 

A mystery is not something hidden, it is something revealed. The mysteries of Christ are the truths and spiritual realities that you have learned and received from the Holy Spirit. For example, the truth that we are saved by God's grace through the sacrifice of Christ and NOT by our own works is a mystery. A steward never betrays this truth.

Paul then writes, "Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful."

Faithfulness is consistency is service to God, and this is where we discover the blessing of God. Not that we have "earned" blessing through being good stewards, but that we simply live in the zone of God's favor and blessing through stewardship.

So, be a good steward!

We are thankful for the conclusion of another outstanding Media & Arts Camp!

This was our 18th year. We thank you for your support and participation. 2017 Crew Members did an outstanding job of thinking, designing, working, and producing great projects. My vision from the year 2000 of empowering young people in the media arts and moving them from consumers of media into producers continues to be fruitful. YOU are a major part of all the positive outcomes!

I appreciate the guidance and expertise of our instructors who helped Crew Members learn and develop outstanding digital media and artistic work. We enjoyed helping young men and women tap into their God-given abilities and inspiring them to use their skills to better themselves and their community.

In keeping with Media Camp Rule #9, we also had FUN doing the work and working together! We heard from AMAZING professionals in the field of media arts who came each week to present their work and talk about their fields. We also visited production and education institutions. We are grateful for their willingness to host our Crew Members and expose them to real world production.