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From the Executive Director

9/25/2015

Transformed lives—this is the standard by which the United Christian Ashrams measure our effectiveness. Our mission is clear: To inspire the transformation of all persons to be followers of Jesus Christ and thereby discover, renew, and deepen relationships with God, ourselves, and others.

Through my participation in ten Christian Ashram events in India, two different parts of Canada, and seven different locations in the USA—I can say with humility, wonder and deep gratitude to God—we are achieving our mission.

We are effective because Ashram people are praying (contact us if you are not able to receiving the monthly prayer calendar) and applying the insights contained in the most recent edition of Brother Stanley’s book, Learning to Pray.

We are effective because Ashram people are growing spiritually and inviting others to come and see Jesus in and through new One-Day Ashrams (the newest one will be held in Kansas City on January 30, 2016).

We are because Ashram people are investing their time, talents and financial resources make the Kingdom of God in miniature accessible to others.

Like you, I do not want to spend my time and money on things that are not effective—and like you, I know the Christian Ashram is an investment that has eternal value.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve with you in our common mission.

Tom Albin

My Overflowing Heart

9/7/2015

It’s been one month since the New Brunswick Christian Ashram, the fourth and final 75th celebration. I have had time to process and reflect on my experiences over a summer of deep relationships in communities of faith. This internship was, without a doubt, one of the most valuable doors that God has opened for me in this season of my life and ministry.

In my Open Heart post, I discussed how honesty and vulnerability are foundations to a meaningful community. I admitted to being broken and in need of togetherness, compassion, and family. So I prayed for an awareness of and willingness to receive the blessings and challenges that God would provide through the Christian Ashram. And alleluia! God answered those prayers.

Spirit Sanctification

The Holy Spirit sanctified my soul this summer. Prayer has given me attentiveness to the Spirit’s whispers and willingness to let Christ fill the gaps that only Christ can fill. The deep loneliness that was once heavily upon my heart has been lifted and replaced with contentment, the likes of which I have never before felt. No longer am I clothed in a façade of solitude, now knowing that people around the continent are praying for me meaningfully and intentionally. My needs for companionship and community, along with the understanding that I am not alone, were attended to and healed.

I have learned that we are not meant to be Jesus, but to be like Jesus. The phrase “W.W.J.D.” should really say, “What would Jesus want me to do?” Jesus was perfect and sinless, and he fulfilled his ministry by bearing all divine justice for imperfection and sin. In return, we live not as slaves to sin, but as the free daughters and sons of God! Therefore, let us not dwell on our transgressions—or the transgressions of others—and celebrate the forgiveness of sins through the Word made flesh, because nobody is perfect. We may consign and concede love. But we also consign and concede hate. And if we choose not to treat one another with grace, we choose to treat one another with mercilessness. The Christian Ashram, just like every church, community, and family, consists of broken people. And these broken people welcomed me with benevolence, embraced me with sincerity, and fostered me as kin. They showed me compassion and care, they listened to me, and they guided me to the feet of Jesus. They lived as Jesus would have wanted them: graciously.

Thank You

JT hard at work (posing for the camera, that is)

I want to thank the United Christian Ashram for this opportunity. Specifically, I want to thank Tom Albin for considering me as this summer’s intern, Anne Mathews-Younes and Paul Gohil for sharing testimonies about E Stanley Jones and the Sat Tal Christian Ashram at the four 75th anniversary events, and JT Adkins for walking with me through three of the four Christian Ashrams, for making every moment teachable and laughable, and for a great motorcycle ride through the Minnesota prairie grasslands. Thank you, Evangelists and Bible Teachers, for enriching my faith, expanding my theology, enlivening my spirit, and encouraging my heart. But most of all, thank you, California family, Texas family, Minnesota family, and New Brunswick family, for all your love and support, your prayers and blessings, and your unfailing acceptance of a nervous man always in a baseball cap and behind a camera. Leaving each of the Christian Ashrams was extremely difficult, and it’s even worse to know that I won’t be able to call each of these home. My time with you has deepened my life and faith in ineffable ways. And for that, I am thankful beyond words.

I love the United Christian Ashram. I cannot stress enough that my words do little justice when it comes to the incredible power of the Holy Spirit, a power that you can experience for yourself if you choose to attend a Christian Ashram retreat. There truly is nothing quite like it. Come alone, come with friends, come with family, come with anyone! I guarantee that you will leave feeling alive and more aware of God’s presence in your life. May God bless the United Christian Ashram for another seventy-five years to inspire the transformation of all persons to be followers of Jesus Christ, and thereby discover, renew, and deepen relationships with God, ourselves, and others.

I know no better way to close out this blog series than with a Psalm of David.

1 I will extol you, my God and King,

   and bless your name for ever and ever.

2 Every day I will bless you,

   and praise your name for ever and ever.

3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;

   his greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation shall laud your works to another,

   and shall declare your mighty acts.

5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty,

   and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

6 The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed,

   and I will declare your greatness.

7 They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness,

   and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

8 The Lord is gracious and merciful,

   slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

9 The Lord is good to all,

   and his compassion is over all that he has made.

10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,

   and all your faithful shall bless you.

11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom,

   and tell of your power,

12 to make known to all people your mighty deeds,

   and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

   and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

The Lord is faithful in all his words,

   and gracious in all his deeds.

14 The Lord upholds all who are falling,

   and raises up all who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all look to you,

   and you give them their food in due season.

16 You open your hand,

   satisfying the desire of every living thing.

17 The Lord is just in all his ways,

   and kind in all his doings.

18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,

   to all who call on him in truth.

19 He fulfills the desire of all who fear him;

   he also hears their cry, and saves them.

20 The Lord watches over all who love him,

   but all the wicked he will destroy.

21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,

   and all flesh will bless his holy name for ever and ever.

–Psalm 145 (NRSV)

This is my overflowing heart. Amen.

Tom Dearduff is a student, writer, and coffee enthusiast in Nashville, Tennessee. With a degree in Religion and the Arts from Belmont University, he continually pursues the intersections between culture, creativity, and Christ. Tom enjoys traveling to new places, listening to Eric Whitacre on a rainy day, dancing with his niece, Emily, to the soundtrack of Mary Poppins, and afternoon tea.

From the Executive Director

My Overflowing Heart

Spirit Sanctification

Thank You

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