Week 3: The cost of community (and why I’m afraid)
Hi everyone,
Jasiel here. You are receiving this note because you signed up for the Tech Ecosystem Prayer Walk at the Nairobi Arboretum on Tuesday, Feb 10th.
First, the quick level-set: This is not a ministry launch. It’s not a church-led event. My heart for this hour is simply that we pause our striving, to find investors, to hire talent, to spot the next unicorn, and just spend an hour with the One whose breath is in each of us.
(The Promise: After the prayer event, I won’t send you any more emails. I know your inbox is as busy as mine.)
Reflections on Acts 2:42-47
There is something to be said about loving Jesus and the cost it demands.
Last week, I wrote about Peter’s viral sermon that brought 3,000 people to Christ. But if you read on to Acts 2:42-47, the tone shifts. We see the beginnings of the church community: people eating together, praying together, and really "doing life" in a way where you can’t hide your weaknesses.
The Introvert’s Dilemma If you are like me: an introvert who prefers to march to your own beat, this passage can be a difficult pill to swallow.
When I sent that first LinkedIn post four weeks ago, I didn't expect much. Now, 100+ people have signed up for this prayer walk.
And if I am being honest? I feel afraid.
I know theologically that the "gathering of the assembly" is how God makes a difference in this fallen world. But that doesn't mean we don't carry personal struggles into the room.
Work might be difficult.
The money might be "looking funny."
Or perhaps you are like me, and this week has just been a wrestle.
When we feel like this, we often don't want to do what Hebrews 12 says, “look to Jesus”, because we don't feel like He wants to see this mess.
The Crux of the Matter A friend told me something today that I hope is helpful to you too: “This Christian walk should not be done alone. We need people to keep us accountable.”
That is the challenge of Acts 2.
My encouragement to myself (and to you) is that this prayer walk is just a moment in time. Maybe it happens again, maybe it doesn’t. But I want to challenge us to do the uncomfortable thing: Find godly, Christian community.
We need people we can lean on for the days when life seems to be posturing as bigger than Elohim.
If God Himself exists in the Trinity, then it is not a weakness for you and I to need community to exist. As the scripture says, "a cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12
I look forward to walking with you through the Arboretum and spending an hour praying together.
Until then, I leave you with 2 Timothy 2:1-2: “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”
Much love, and I am praying with you.
As always, join me in being Holy as Christ is Holy.
Jasiel
Soundtrack for your week: Cece Winans - King of Glory
What I'm listening to: Two sermons by Pastor Dolapo that have been feeding me this week:
Jasiel
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