Why Matthew?

In 50 minutes Jill and I will depart the apartment where we are staying to speak at the International Christian Assembly of St. Petersburg. This will be our first service there. It is exciting to be able to address such an out of the ordinary group of people that really do come from the four corners of the earth.

In the International churches you have people that lecture in Universities, work at Embassy’s, learn in cross cultural schools and are in business. It is an assembly of people from numerous and unique walks of life that are in varying stages of individual journeys of faith. It is with that understanding the message today comes from the conversation between Jesus and Matthew when he first called him. Of course, the main two questions of that entire conversation are:

• Of all the people in this part of the city, why does Jesus focus on Matthew, who Jesus has not yet met, and then invites Matthew to follow him? And second,
• Why does Matthew walk away from his job to follow someone he has only met this first occasion?

If you have not discovered the answers to this question join us this morning for the message here in St. Petersburg. We will start in one hour. Otherwise you can write me and ask what the answer is if you desire.

This week we have one enormous challenge that is mandatory by Russian law and that is to get registered within the city you reside. Pray that the process goes well and by Friday (the required time to have this registration) we are set. Thanks!