Glen Hatcher and his wife, Phyllis, have a history of sharing the Gospel in other countries. They started out at Valdosta University in Georgia, went to Kenya, where they started a school of ministry, and ministered in Cyprus after a vision from the Lord. They discipled many in that country and throughout North Africa.

Glen and Phyllis have known and been a blessing to our congregation for over 30 years! In that time, the world has changed a lot. 2020 lockdowns and curfews during the quarantine have made life and evangelism especially difficult. This has been an era of disruption for individuals, families, and the Church–somewhat like a boat adrift on a wave of turmoil.

We can find comfort and encouragement through many passages of scripture where Jesus and his disciples were going through storms and trials out to sea. When we see Jesus in a boat in scripture, this is a signal that something is about to happen! First, there was the miraculous catch of fish. Second is the storm that rose up while Jesus was asleep in the boat, during which the disciples asked, “Don’t you care?” (Many in the Church have been saying this during this time.) After the storm was over and they were safely to the other side, Jesus met the demoniac of the Gadarenes. The disciples watched from the boat while Jesus ministered deliverance to the man. After the demons were cast out, Jesus told him to tell others what God had done for him. The goal was to make disciples. (Glen also has a vision to have a sustainable business to produce disciples.)

Finally, in Matthew 14, after John the Baptist was beheaded, the time started ticking for Jesus to fulfill his destiny. After the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus tells the disciples to go in the boat and go to the other side of the sea. When the storm arose, they probably had several desperate questions like “Where are you, Lord,” What’s going on?,” and “What are you doing?” In the morning hours, they saw Jesus walking on the water and thought he was a ghost. They were terrified when they should have had peace and joy. We need to look at the story differently. Instead of focussing on Peter’s failure, lack of faith, and sinking into the water, focus on what Jesus does. His words of comfort were, “Take heart; it is I,” even in the midst of the storm. The storm didn’t stop at that point. Peter responds with, “If it’s you, Lord, bid me to come.” We need to be asking the same thing of the Lord in the middle of our storms. Don’t rebuke the storm and decide it’s not of God. Instead, we should ask, “Is that you, Lord?” We need to be ready to get out of our comfort zone…out of the boat and into the water like Peter did. Sometimes, God asks us to go from a trying situation (boat) to one that is even more difficult (water). God is pouring his Spirit out on all flesh, like he did at Pentecost. God is pouring his Spirit out on Saginaw, MI. We need to ask, “If it’s really you, Lord, bid me to come.”

Glen shared a testimony of meeting with a believer in a location in the Middle East. He didn’t know the man was a believer until he asked if he believed in Jesus as the Son of God and if he believed Christ rose from the dead. Those who believe in Jesus in many parts of the Middle East know that to follow Jesus, they are not signing up for safety, security, and normalcy. They are getting out of the boat and into the water, facing persecution from the government, their community, and even their family members.

Jesus is often in the storm and not where we think he should be. He does things we didn’t expect. We should be asking, “Can I be with you and be part of that (what you are doing?)” Where will you be? Are you willing to ask God this question?