Youth Chaplain's
From Youth Chaplain - 01/2022
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Praise the Lord!
Blessed New Year to all!
“Relying on God has to start all over everyday, as if nothing has yet been done”. – C.S. Lewis
For many the New Year brings great hope and expectation for new possibilities and still for many others it is painful reminder if goals unachieved over the past year. What should the new year be like for you? None of us know the challenges that lay ahead in our personal or family lives. However, we can face it all with God who holds all things within His hands. Does that sound real to you? “Immanuel” is the witness or experience of the people who know Christ Jesus. He will be called “Immanuel” which means God is with us. Yet, this is not the experience of some who feel abandoned and alone. God is with you and me in every day of this new year. However, to recognize His presence and power we must be willing to open our hearts and minds to engage with Him. Mary, Joseph, the Samaritan woman at the well and many others in Scripture invited Jesus into their private spaces and life. In so doing, they not only felt but saw the salvation they so needed. When we can take that more active role in faith with Jesus, our prayers and worship will never seem like just some words uttered in a vacuum. In this new year, change it up a bit… focus on Christ Jesus and wait and see just how wonderful He truly is!
May God bless you all!
Prayers and Love,
Your brother in Christ,
Jaisen Achen
From Youth Chaplain - 04/2022
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“This is what the Lord says: “Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,” declares the Lord. “They will return from the land of the enemy. So there is hope for your descendants, declares the Lord. “Your children will return to their own land”. Jeremiah 31:16,17
Praise the Lord!
How are you all? Seriously, how are you doing? During the past couple of months, we have seen a quick spike in Covid cases, inflation, gas prices higher than we have ever seen and now we watch from a distance as war rages on in Ukraine. It’s a lot! It’s hard to make sense of all that is happening. Maybe you are struggling personally with several issues that you find difficult to share with others. What are we to do?
The prophet Jeremiah has been known by other names including “weeping prophet” and the “prophet of doom”. He served God during a very difficult time for the Jews. King Nebuchadnezzar had begun his invasion of Judah and would forcefully take the people into exile in Babylon. Jerusalem was destroyed and many were mercilessly killed. Jeremiah kept preaching and teaching and encouraged the people to look to God and never doubt His ultimate plan of salvation for His people. However, the message was not well received because the people didn’t want to hear or even see what was happening around them. Also, Jeremiah personally struggled with his loneliness and “depressive” mood. Yet, no matter how bleak things got for him or the people of Judah he trusted in God’s promise, in His Word and surrendered himself to God’s plans. Do not lose hope, for without hope faith cannot live. Further yet, live out hope! Live every day as hopeful people of faith. We must become a community of hope that witnesses the joy of our faith to all we meet. In this way, we can remain more grounded and secure despite whatever chaos ensues around us.
As we prepare for Passion Week, let us prepare our hearts to be resurrected in the purity of His love so that our life would truly reflect His image!
With prayers,
Your brother in Christ,
Jaisen Achen
From Youth Chaplain - 01/2019
Dearly beloved brothers and sisters of NJMTC,
“Every end is a new beginning”, so the saying goes. An eventful 2018 comes to a close, and we stand at the threshold of a New Year! We remember the year gone by and thank God for his grace and mercies. There were moments of joy and sorrow, a mixed bag of experiences which is the way it always is! 2018 was also a year when we lost some prominent people, who influenced us in many ways. Nevertheless, their lives will be a beacon of light for us in our journey of faith.
From Youth Chaplain - 07/2018
Dear Families of the Mar Thoma Church of New Jersey, Randolph,
Greetings in the name of the Holy Trinity! I am now wrapping up more than 5 years of ministry in this region. Isaiah 55: 8-9 says: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” I believe that this is all part of God’s plan and purpose.
From Youth Chaplain - 04/2018
Dear Families of the Mar Thoma Church of New Jersey, Randolph,
We have entered the second quarter of the year. We have completed yet another Lenten period, which was a time set apart by the church for fasting, prayer, meditation, repentance, and renewal. As a faith community, we must pay attention to giving glory to God, and must remain in active pursuit of God’s agenda in our life. Our worship life, our personal life, and our witness must be in sync. Many of us came to this country seeking better resources for ourselves, and our generation. But let us not pursue this at the expense of our spiritual life.
Jesus said “You are the Light of the World”. Every believer and member of the Mar Thoma Church should take up the responsibility to lighten others and hence our motto – Lighted to Lighten.