“For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline”. 2 Timothy 1:7 (New Revised Standard Version Updated)
“We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope,” Martin Luther King Jr.
Dear Friends of the Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences of the United Church of Christ and beyond.
It is my prayer, all is well with you, yours, and ministries. Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ.
In reflecting on Martin Luther King Jr Day on January 20th, it isn’t lost on me it will be falling on the same day as President Trump’s second inauguration. There is no question there are many feelings going on in our churches and country happening because of it.
There are those receiving the day with much celebration and hope, while others are feeling anxious about what the future may hold for us. Regardless of how we are feeling, I wonder how we are communicating that to our children, watching us during these times. Are we communicating a human sense of pride and arrogance of winning, or a humble praise and thanksgiving and commitment to justice for all. Are we communicating a message of demonizing those that we disagree with or are we making a commitment to reach out and continue the work for those that are marginalized and in fear of their wellbeing,
In a pluralistic world, we hold the tensions of diverse views of our values and as UCC followers of Jesus, we are urged to aspire always to find common ground, in the name of loving neighbor as a tangible way of showing our love for God. (John 13:35, Romans 12:10, 1 John 4:19-21)
In a letter attributed by the Apostle Paul to Timothy, while imprisoned and facing death in Rome, we are reminded that in times of adversities and uncertainties, we are NOT given “a spirit of cowardice but rather of spirit of power and love”. Timothy, a disciple of Jesus, who came from mixed heritage (a Greek father and Jewish mother – Acts 16:1-3) believed to have been mentored by Paul, is encouraged by the writer not to be afraid or lose hope in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In this celebration of Martin Luther King Jr., we are encouraged to see the opportunities that lay ahead of us to be courageous prophets and workers in Christ to ensure justice for all of God’s children. For our children are watching us and ready to emulate us in the future. What legacy do we want to leave for them as believers in the one that gave his life for us in the name of the Love in which we were created and meant to be. For those feeling disappointment, now is not the time to lose hope, but to embrace the power of love we possess in our UCC churches in the Nebraska South Dakota Iowa conferences.
Last week I shared my experiences witnessing the tragedies unfolding in Los Angeles due to the destructive fires. Thank you all who have reached out to inquire about my family’s safety, and to many of you that have financially supported the efforts to rebuild communities impacted by the fires. If you are interested in helping, here are the links to the Southern California/Nevada UCC Conference: Southern California Nevada Conference, United Church of Christ or the United Church of Christ National relief efforts: California Wildfires 2025 – United Church of Christ.
May your week be one filled with the love and comfort promised to us by the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus name.
Bendiciones/Blessings and Paz/Peace.
Roberto
Rev. Roberto Ochoa, Conference Minister
Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences of the UCC