It seems cliché to write that I cannot believe that 2015 is already here, but I really cannot believe that 2015 is already here! July 1 of last year, I embarked on a journey as the new Executive Director of FIRM. I have spent a great deal of time learning about the culture of the people we serve and the culture of our organization. I have spent a great deal of time understanding how we might be able to do what we do better. Of course, amongst all of this, I have spent a great deal of time celebrating amongst the refugee population as we eat sticky rice, pho and borscht (amongst many other new foods for my palate!). Amidst all of these new experiences and learning moments, I think that I have most enjoyed experience the incredible provision and goodness of the Lord our God. He has done miraculous things over these last six months that have brought me to tears of joy. I have no doubt that the work of FIRM is His work because He was our very sustenance in 2014.
The Gospel of Luke records a teaching moment between Jesus and His disciples that leaves them responding to Jesus with the only thing they could say, “Increase our faith!” He tells them that forgiveness is to be unlimited between each other and that they should not be a “stumbling block” to anyone. The task was daunting for the disciples to complete, but it would require incredible faith that they knew they did not have. Jesus was the only source of this increased faith and the disciples so desperately wanted faith in the measure that the Lord would require.
We have a daunting task at FIRM in 2015 and it will require great faith to accomplish. I do not have answers for where funds will come from or the logistics of how everything will happen. I do not know how we will engage the youth this year, who our FIRM Youth Pastor will be or how we will move missionaries into one of the largest refugee communities in Fresno. It leaves me shouting and pleading to the Lord to “increase my faith!” I know that He who is the very source of faith will increase our faith as we watch Him do more than we could ever think or imagine in 2015. This year is the year of faith at FIRM.
Luke 7:6 “And the Lord said, ‘If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.’ ”
Peace and Love,
Zachary D. Darrah
Executive Director