by Kristi Muston
I first discovered Elevation Worship’s song “The Blessing” during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic. A friend of mine shared the link to a performance of the song on Facebook, and I immediately fell in love with it. Shortly after that, I heard it frequently played on the radio, and I found myself returning to the song over and over again. “The Blessing’s” lyrics are straight out of the Old Testament—Numbers 6:24-26, Exodus 20:6, and Exodus 33:14, among others— and at a time of social isolation and virtual worship, the words and music of “The Blessing” washed over my soul. Even today, the words continue to fill my spirit with God’s truth.
Several months after “The Blessing” debuted, Elevation Worship released a global choir rendition of the song. Listening to men, women, and children from all over the world praise God together brings me straight to the throne room of God described in Revelation 7:9. Check out the song below.
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb…”. ~Revelation 7:9
This video embodies the unity of the Christ’s Church in worship, and this example of international collaboration is one of the blessings to come out of the pandemic. During a time of worldwide social isolation and fear, the Church came together in new ways to worship God. Just like churches across the world, Calvary also found new ways to continue to build community and share the gospel during the pandemic, and has continued to do so since.
March’s edition of The Stir celebrates the diversity of our Calvary community. Each week, our church also brings together the nations in worship. On Sundays, the Lahu, Anywaa, and Oromo worship communities gather for worship and fellowship. Calvary supports international missionaries and supports the nations here in Rochester through community outreach. In this issue, we will meet two of our missionaries, and learn about Jessica Olson’s work in bringing the Bible to the nations. Several Calvary women reflect on the friendships they have built through their service to local refugee ministries. Mala See shares a traditional Lahu recipe. Our church cares for all people, both in our community and around the world.
Our stories this month reflect God’s faithfulness, even amidst challenges. Caroline Church’s challenging journey to citizenship reminds us to trust in God’s plan, and Melissa Meyer’s reflection on her time in South Asia points to the importance of the simplest prayers. Victoria Akama reflects on God’s faithfulness during her international move and her challenging road to motherhood. Finally, Melissa Meyers and Jill Pearson each share a review of a memoir featuring women overcoming significant persecution.
We hope you enjoy learning about Calvary’s various international ministries and members this month. As we await spring, may God bless you, walk beside you, and fill you with his peace.
Kristi Muston
Kristi Muston has lived in Rochester since 2013. She is married to Michael and mother to Sophia. After teaching English for 9 years, Kristi is now a stay-at-home mom. In her spare moments, she loves reading, running, and eating dessert. At Calvary, she co-edits The Stir blog and is involved with the worship team and Renovare.