The church doesn’t have the privilege of ignoring the murder of Charlie Kirk. He is an American Christian martyr and a brutal reminder of the war raging in our midst, whether we choose to acknowledge it or not.

Ministry always leaves scars—some visible, most unseen. For me, even my old communion kit carries the marks of years spent serving others. This week, as our nation reels from the assassination of Charlie Kirk, I found myself reflecting on the cost of faith, leadership, and service. His scars were public, mine are quieter, but both point to the same truth: following Christ always comes at a price.

In all things, the moments of triumph, as well as the moments of heartache, to God be the glory. He is our creator and sustainer. He is our gracious redeemer. He can and will use every circumstance, in every situation, to His Glory, for His Purposes, to reveal His Son and expand His Kingdom. It’s just up to us to have the eyes to see it and the perspective to appreciate it. 

Every Ministry is Unique.

Every Mission is Unique.

And Every Measure is Unique.

When we think of the Book of Acts, the twelfth chapter is not high on the list of stories recalled. However, it’s one of the most dramatic chapters in the book with more twists and turns than a day time soap opera. Acts 12 is a story of faithfulness and trust in God. It’s a story of hopelessness and pride. In this message, we consider the true peace our faith provides despite our external circumstances.

From the moment the alarm sounded the only thing that flooded my mind was, “I’m not ready.” I thought I was. I had the training. I earned the credentials. I wore the rank and insignia on my uniform. I told myself and others I was “good to go” if/when I needed to respond to a critical incident. Then the call went out and my worst nightmare came to fruition.