Sharing Jesus
with friends who don't know Him... yet
A Faith Sharing Moment
Alan Rork is a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church of the Deaf in Indianapolis, Indiana. For a long time Alan has been a servant-leader in his church, helping with worship and Bible study.
A few years ago, one of Alan's fishing buddies invited him to a Christmas party a small town in another part of the state. About 25 deaf people attended the party.
For the entertainment that evening, people shared their favorite stories, songs, and poems -- Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Silent Night, A Visit From St. Nicholas, etc. Some shared personal experiences. Several people told their favorite jokes. Some of the jokes were "not nice." Alan felt that he should say something about the true meaning of Christmas, but he didn't know what to say.
Then the host asked, "Does anyone else have a story? Rork, how about you? Come up and share something."
Now he was on the spot! What should he tell the group? He had an idea. In his duties as worship leader in his church, Alan had memorized the Nicene Creed. So he signed this as his "Christmas story"...
I believe God, Father Almighty.
He made heaven and earth,
all things we see and can't see.
I believe the Lord Jesus Christ,
the One Son from the Father, from eternity-past
before the world was-established.
He is God, united-with God [the Father].
He is Light, united-with Light [the Father].
He is True God, united-with True God [the Father],
They are the same [God].
Did the Father make the Son? No!
He is equal-with the Father.
The Son made all things, for saving people -- for us,
The Holy Spirit came-down,
He touched Mary's womb.
She became pregnant,
and gave-birth to the Son, named Jesus.
During Governor Pontius Pilate's reign,
[Pilate] ordered Jesus' suffering instead of us,
Crucified, died, and buried.
In three days Jesus resurrected
in-agreement-with the Bible.
Jesus ascended into heaven.
[He is there] with God the Father Almighty,
sharing authority and glory.
From heaven Jesus will come-down
and judge people -- living and dead.
His kingdom is forever.
I believe the Holy Spirit...
When Alan finished, he saw that some of the people were crying. He closed with the hymn, Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God Almighty.
The people were hungry for more. They started a Bible study, and every month Alan came to teach them to know God and the Savior whose birth we celebrate at Christmas.
Alan Rork is now studying to become a pastor through the Deaf Institute of Theology. See him sign the Nicene Creed.
A few years ago, one of Alan's fishing buddies invited him to a Christmas party a small town in another part of the state. About 25 deaf people attended the party.
For the entertainment that evening, people shared their favorite stories, songs, and poems -- Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Silent Night, A Visit From St. Nicholas, etc. Some shared personal experiences. Several people told their favorite jokes. Some of the jokes were "not nice." Alan felt that he should say something about the true meaning of Christmas, but he didn't know what to say.
Then the host asked, "Does anyone else have a story? Rork, how about you? Come up and share something."
Now he was on the spot! What should he tell the group? He had an idea. In his duties as worship leader in his church, Alan had memorized the Nicene Creed. So he signed this as his "Christmas story"...
I believe God, Father Almighty.
He made heaven and earth,
all things we see and can't see.
I believe the Lord Jesus Christ,
the One Son from the Father, from eternity-past
before the world was-established.
He is God, united-with God [the Father].
He is Light, united-with Light [the Father].
He is True God, united-with True God [the Father],
They are the same [God].
Did the Father make the Son? No!
He is equal-with the Father.
The Son made all things, for saving people -- for us,
The Holy Spirit came-down,
He touched Mary's womb.
She became pregnant,
and gave-birth to the Son, named Jesus.
During Governor Pontius Pilate's reign,
[Pilate] ordered Jesus' suffering instead of us,
Crucified, died, and buried.
In three days Jesus resurrected
in-agreement-with the Bible.
Jesus ascended into heaven.
[He is there] with God the Father Almighty,
sharing authority and glory.
From heaven Jesus will come-down
and judge people -- living and dead.
His kingdom is forever.
I believe the Holy Spirit...
When Alan finished, he saw that some of the people were crying. He closed with the hymn, Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God Almighty.
The people were hungry for more. They started a Bible study, and every month Alan came to teach them to know God and the Savior whose birth we celebrate at Christmas.
Alan Rork is now studying to become a pastor through the Deaf Institute of Theology. See him sign the Nicene Creed.