October 2011

Dear Friends of the Fellowship of St. Silas, 
 
Over the years I have met some very interesting people. Some are those you might read about in the newspaper that have committed terrible crimes. Many of these crimes do not make sense to the person who lives by the Christian view of life. I recently had a long talk with a man I will call "Champ".
 
Champ grew up in the projects. Drugs, fights and loss of hope permeated the atmosphere of the "hood". At a very young age he had learned to use his fists due to his constant barrage of personal put downs. Champ is small of stature and he made an easy target for those who prey upon the weak. Champ became aware of a gift suited for the projects. . .his fists. Though he was small in stature, he was quick and agile as a fighter. In his teens he ended up with the reputation of being a fighter. He ended up becoming a golden glove boxer and in his late teens (18 and 19) he was ranked as a contender for the feather-weight title. This he achieved, yet it became his downfall.
 
In the early 1980's he got into a fight where a man was killed. He was given life in prison with the possibility of parole. Champ was paroled in 2011. He told me of the sorrow of wasted years, but now in his late 40's Champ has given his life to the Christian way of life.
 
I am convinced where there seems to be no way, God makes a way. It is not a mystery that God can take people like Champ and change from a champion of the ring, to a champion of God’s kingdom.

Our "flock" are following our Lord Jesus Christ, and are living as Christians. Many have made their living areas "prayer cells" where they do the daily prayers of the Orthodox Christian church. They need our prayers and encouragement, especially during this holiday season.
 
"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:1-6)
 
May the beauty of heaven consume you,

Fr. David