We have all heard “stories” of how Ferdinand Weyland met Helen, a young Jewish woman on the boat as she was immigrating to America and Ferd was returning to the u.S. after a year of studying Semetic languages in Germany. And then getting married some 3 years later right after Ferd was ordained as a Lutheran pastor.
Doing some ancestor research on Ferdinand Christian Weyland.
We know a lot about Ferdinand Weyland after he was ordained as a pastor in 1910, but know almost nothing in writing about his wife Helen!
Hopefully, some Weyland descendants will offer any info they may have heard. Looking for pictures of Helen Oppenheimer and their wedding pictures!
I wonder…as Helen, a young 27 year old single “Jewish” girl made her way to the ship going to America for her journey to marry a Jewish attorney in New York, that her life would change drastically and alter the course of history?
I wonder…
Did she know or was aware of God’s ever presence, all powerful and all knowing character as she proceeded in her journey?
As she stepped onto the ship…that the old was gone, and the new was just beginning…
I wonder…
I can only imagine as Helen embarked on the boat, that as she met or furthered her relationship with Ferd that her life would drastically change?
And then, meeting “Ferd” on the deck, among some 300 other 1st and 2nd class passengers…how that relationship began…or did she already know Ferd during his past year in Germany studying Semetic languages or was this her first encounter with Ferd? Something we will probably never know this side of Heaven.
I can only imagine!
I wonder…
As Oswald Chambers states : “The circumstances of a man’s life are ordained by God. In the life of a saint there is no chance. God by His providence brings you into circumstances that you cannot understand at all, but the Spirit of God understands. God brings you to places, among people, and into certain conditions to accomplish a definite purpose through the intercession of the Spirit in you.”
Was this a “coincidence”, “chance, or Providence?
I wonder…
Theologian Dr. R.C. Sproul. “God’s sovereign providence stands over and above our actions. He works out His will through the actions of human wills, without violating the freedom of those human wills.”
Although “Helen” was as we are told, “Jewish”. What was her spiritual background?
I Wonder!
More later!—————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
You were made for a mission.
“God has a ministry for you in his church and a mission for you in the world.”
Rick Warren in his book, What On Earth Am I Here For.
Rick Warren goes on to say, “Your ministry is your service to believers, and your mission is your service to unbelievers.”
Sometimes these terms are used interchangeably and we can get confused.
As we approach Sunday and our “Worship Service”, a few thoughts to contemplate as we prepare for our journey in the world.
We need to think both globally as well as locally when it comes to mission.
We are created for ministry in the church, to build up the Body of Christ, and for mission in the world, to help bring in the Kingdom of God as a reality for others.
Is my church helping me in my ministry and Mission?
Sometimes, the words Ministry and Mission can get mixed up in our thinking.
This is Post #1. We will endeavor to answer the following questions in following posts. Register on my BLOG page to get notified when the next posts are published.
Feel free to ask questions!
Are they the same? Where are each of them used?
What does Vision have to do with all this?
Ministry happens in the Church…Easy to get connected and use your gifts, abilities, etc.
We are created for ministry in the church, to build up the Body of Christ, and for mission in the world, to help bring in the Kingdom of God as a reality for others.
A little harder to get connected and use our gifts, abilities outside of the local church. See my Twitter list (not an exhaustive list), but a beginning) of organizations reaching out to unreached people groups in the world.
God created each of us with a unique contribution to make in our world.
No other person has our same abilities, motivations, network of friends and relationships, perspectives, ideas, or experiences. When we, like misplaced puzzle pieces, fail to show up, the overall picture is diminished.”
Richard Stearns: President of World Vision U.S.
Quote from his book: The Hole in our Gospel
