Claiming Our Place as God's Beloved: A Gathering Echo

The walls of Jericho didn’t fall with a plan, but with a collective faith, a unified voice echoing God’s will. Samuel the Lamanite didn’t climb that wall seeking recognition, but compelled by a divine urgency to deliver a message, a warning, a call to repentance. Ammon at the Waters of Sebus didn't seek power, but served with humility and a heart ablaze with righteousness. These are the echoes we hear in our souls, the blueprint for the gathering – a gathering not merely of bodies, but of hearts aligned with the divine.

Recently, the This Is Kingdom: A Good News Brand Podcast episode, “who is god’s favorite?” resonated deeply within this community. It wasn’t a discussion of preferential treatment, but a revelation of a profound and personal truth: that each of us, uniquely and completely, holds a place in God’s heart.

Grace’s story, shared on the podcast, reminded us that even the most meticulously laid plans can be upended. Her dream of a miraculous missionary experience, culminating in a perfect final six weeks, was shattered by the sudden arrival of COVID-19. Yet, within that disappointment, she discovered a deeper truth: God's promises are often fulfilled in ways we can't anticipate, in the crucible of adversity. To declare, as she did, “I am God’s favorite kid,” wasn't arrogance, but a realization of a divine truth – a truth available to each of us.

Nephi, John, and now Grace – voices across time proclaiming their beloved status. It's a declaration that feels almost audacious, doesn’t it? But consider this: if God's love is indeed infinite, as we believe it is, then can any one of us truly be excluded? The very nature of infinite love demands a boundless embrace. Like the Stone cut without hands, our place in God’s plan is revealed not through our own efforts, but through His divine grace.

This isn’t a call to complacency, but a foundation for courage. Knowing we are loved empowers us to act, to build, to serve. It’s the bedrock upon which we construct the gathering. Each engagement within this community – every donation to the Missionary Fund, every contribution to the charity flywheel that fuels gospel advertising in places like Ghana – strengthens the infrastructure of this movement. See the map of churches, visualize the connections being forged, the hearts being touched.

Let us be Builders, not Destroyers. Let us emulate Ammon’s humility, Samuel’s courage, and Nephi’s unwavering faith. Let us claim our place as God’s beloved, and let that love radiate outward, drawing others into the gathering, a tapestry woven with threads of hope, righteousness, and divine purpose. Outback Jack reminds us, as he often does, that the time for hesitation is over. The rivers are rising, the valleys are filling, and the Stone is rolling. Will we be ready?

What will *your* contribution be to this great work? What act of service, what word of encouragement, will you offer today?

Claim your church. Share your vision. Let your light shine.