While on my way to India last October, I was staying in the home of some good friends in London. As I was preparing to leave for Heathrow to catch my flight to Bombay, I overheard the wife in the kitchen humming, "What A Friend We Have In Jesus". A few days later in Madras, one of the first meetings we had began with the same hymn. And then a day or so later, I read the verse in John 15:15 where Jesus says, "I no longer call you servants...but I call you friends".

Needless to say, this repetitions caught my attention. "I call you friends". I find we are more prone to consider Him as our Savior, our Lord, or even the "Lover of our souls". However, though we sing about it often, I don't believe we really appreciate this concept of Jesus being our Friend.

Why would this be? Perhaps because we think of a "friend" as someone with whom we have a close sense of identity. There's an affinity that develops between friends that doesn't necessarily develop in other relationships, including some family members. The deeper and more mature a friendship with someone, the greater this identification and appreciation. We become comfortable in their confidence, and they in ours. We're relaxed and free to be ourselves when in their presence, and we sincerely enjoy their company. We look "up" to fathers, but we look "over" to friends.

Therefore, thinking of Christ as our "Friend" is almost too base a concept for us to want to handle. We prefer to consider Him as our "Loving Lord", or even "Heavenly Father". We place plenty of emphasis on His transcendence, sometimes at the expense of considering His immanence. Yet, Jesus wants us also to receive Him as our "Faithful Friend".

Do you see the point? It's Jesus who is calling us His friends. He genuinely enjoys our company. Why? Because He likes us.

Whoa! Stop right there! If you're like me, your first response is probably a bit unsteady at this. "Love" us? Okay. "Like" us? Well... Do you see my point? We're willing to ascribe to Jesus the idea of "love", which, of course, is a deep and rich term pointing to His giving Himself to meet our needs. But when we "like" somebody there's a personal, almost earthy, dimension of the relationship that "love" simply doesn't capture.

Which is precisely the point. The supreme Lord of heaven and earth took the initiative to stoop down to our level and then raise us up, not just because He loves us, but also because He genuinely likes us. He didn't just bring us into His Kingdom, He wants to associate with us. We're no longer servants, we're friends.

Should this idea cause us to lower Him in our estimations and respect? Absolutely not! Although the superficiality of our age has often cheapened human friendships, where true friendship grows so does genuine respect, even admiration. If you have a close friend you know what I mean. You endeavor to learn what they do and do not appreciate, so you can please them more. You communicate with them on an increasingly deeper level, allowing intimacies not granted to others. You prefer them over others, and even over yourself. And, you simply enjoy being with them.

Isn't it amazing to think that all of what I've written above is what Jesus wants with you and me? He wants that close companionship, that friendship, that familiarity. Unfortunately, it's not He who prevents us from enjoying that relationship. We do.

But what a joy and comfort in responding to Him as our friend, and in accepting the fact that He genuinely likes us and desires our company! And unlike even the best of earthly friends, with the Lord there's never a need to say goodbye. His schedule never precludes spending time together. It's not a chore for Him, but a delight. And so it should be with us.

So, just remember this the next time you feel down or alone: Jesus still likes you. He's your closest, and dearest, Friend.

In His Service,

Stephen Tecklenberg,
President / Executive Director

---

Ministry Report

Mission To Japan. On January 8, John Seilback (a member of the Board of ENM) and Steve Tecklenberg departed for Japan, beginning the first ministry journey of this year. They were received by Rev. Isaac Ishiguro, a good friend of Steve's, and a pastor with the Mino Mission in Yokkaichi. Starting the very next day, both John and Steve had a steady stream of church services and other speaking engagements to attend to.

In our previous issue of The Flier, we had specifically asked for prayer for John's meeting with several police officers in the local precinct. Although some time was spent with the men, the meeting itself was cancelled when John and Steve and two of the officers were involved in an auto accident. Even so, God used that event as one of the policemen especially began to ask some serious questions afterwards.

Later, John and Steve traveled to Tokyo, where both were privileged to minister with a group that utilizes organized sports as a means of drawing non-believers to a venue where they will hear the gospel. Though time was short, they each gave their testimony, weaving in them objective truths from the Scriptures that would be applicable to the hearers.

After John's departure a few days later, Steve continued to speak at meetings in Tokyo and near Yokkaichi. Among them, he spoke to a youth group from a local Christian school, and he also had the chance to teach three separate classes in a local State school.

The final weekend in Japan was spent in Osaka, with 16 meetings held in two different venues. It was encouraging to see the responses by those who were in attendance. One of the meetings was a question and answer session, which lasted longer than most of the lectures, and showed that the attendees had really been thinking about what they had heard.

Mission To Philippines. From time to time, we receive invitations for ministry that are a complete surprise. This was certainly the case when, the night Steve and John arrived in Japan, the message was relayed to Steve that a Bible school in the Philippines wanted him to come and minister with them for a few days before returning home. Sensing God's hand in it, the invitation was accepted immediately.

On Monday, February 2, Steve and his friend Dr. Shuji Kondo, pastor of Hamadera Bible Church in Osaka, departed for Manila. They were greeted warmly by Pastor Edward Isidoro of the International Baptist Church and College in Mandaluyong City. As they were being shown the school facilities, Pastor Edward asked Steve if he would speak to the students of the high school who were in chapel at that very moment. So, with just a few minutes of warning, Steve began the ministry in Manila with a brief talk on "The One Thing Needful" with those students.

The next day Steve conducted a larger seminar, with an estimated 400 people in attendance, including high-school and Bible school students, and pastors and teachers from all over the region. Some traveled as far as 5 hours to be there. Their zeal for the truth of God's Word showed in their responses, and was very infectious.

Steve's theme was "Origins and the Christian: A Discussion On The Relevance Of The Creation / Evolution Conflict To Christian Life And Ministry". All four lectures ultimately centered on the supremacy and authority of the Word of God, emphasizing that every area of thought must be subject to the Word, and ideas that don't accord with the Scriptures must be rejected.

As always, the greatest blessing was the fellowship, and the warmth with which Steve was received serves as more than enough enticement to return, in God's will, to the Philippines