Office of the Senior Bishop
3125 West 54th St
Loa Angeles CA 43526

July 8, 2016

A Pastoral Letter to the Saints of the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A., 

“Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.   He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.   Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:28-31

As we prayerfully reflect on our nation and the sad events of this week, our thoughts and prayers go out to all victims of violence, especially those in Baton Rouge, Minneapolis, and the senseless murders in Dallas Texas.  It is continuously challenging to process the insensitivity of our world when it comes to the value or lack thereof of life.  We have family members who are victims of crimes and we have family members and members of our churches who are peace officers who place their lives on the line each day for our safety and freedom. In the 10th chapter of John, Jesus says;”The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” We are aware that there is an enemy, an adversary, a foe, and a force. But we are God’s children, and if God be for us, who can be against us?

Therefore we must refuse to give into the secular mindset that violence will bring peace and that man can direct his own way.  We direct each of our church leaders, and ourselves to pray for the healing and reconciliation of our nation, pray for the Peace that passes all understanding and pray for the Comfort that only comes from God Himself. Let us pray for the families of the victims impacted in the senseless killing of young men in our communities across this country. Let’s also pray and support the many Peace Officers who generally serve us with distinction. They are fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, sisters and brothers and the related list goes on. They are also Pastors, Deacons, Trustees, ushers chairmen of varied departments in churches. They are human beings created in the image and likeness of God.

The Word of God reminds us in the Acts 17:26 that God:”…hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;”

Edward Mote said it this way: “His oath, His covenant, His Blood, Support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope on stay. On Christ, The solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.”  

Finally, as the impacted families, the city, the communities, and the church prepare to go through this period of bereavement and grief.  We ask God; “to comfort us, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” 2 Corinthians 1:4

In His Service,

Emery Lindsay, Senior Bishop
Church of Christ (Holiness) USA