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Earthen Vessels
By Bob Carey
The Bible is a record of ordinary men and women who were willing to be
used by an extraordinary God. Despite physical, mental,
or social limitations, God’s power was demonstrated.
These were people to whom the world wouldn’t give the
time of day and yet Scripture says in Hebrews 11:38,
“the world was not worthy of them…”. Notice some of
these examples of how God used the following: Jacob, who
was old an feeble was used to bless Pharaoh, one of the
mightiest rulers on earth. How about Jephthah, the son
of a harlot and rejected by his own people was used by
God as a mighty warrior and deliverer of Israel. Then
there was John the Baptist, a rough and uncouth
wilderness man picked by God to be the forerunner of the
long awaited Messiah, Jesus. Let’s not forget Joseph and
Mary, a common carpenter and his teenage wife, chosen by
God as vessels to parent baby Jesus. Lastly, Matthew, a
despised tax collector was chosen as one of Jesus’
twelve apostles and later became the author of the first
book of the New Testament.
This list is not exhaustive and should encourage every
believer who is sincere about fulfilling God’s purpose
in their life. God will display His power and glory
through earthen vessels who are willing to be used by
Him.
A vessel has one basic purpose: to contain something. If
some flowers are put in a beautiful, shiny, gold vessel,
then all the attention will be on the vessel and not
what it contains. Scripture says in 2 Corinthians 4:7,
“We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the
excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
Jesus is the treasure that God wants to display through
you and me. We are His vessels. The word ‘vessel’ is
very common because it can be something as simple as a
coffee cup. (Can you remember the details about the
coffee cup you drank from the last time you had
breakfast in a restaurant?) If a coffee cup can no
longer contain coffee, it really has no further use to
the owner. I heard it once said, “our great purpose on
this earth is ‘not to become something, but to
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Our great
purpose on this earth
is not to become something,
but to contain someone.
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contain someone.” The Jerusalem Bible brings this out in
translating the above verse: “We are only earthenware
jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such
an overwhelming power comes from God and not from
ourselves.”
Here at Delmarva Teen Challenge, who knows what might
happen to a student we influence for Christ? The next
Billy Graham? A great missionary to a foreign land? A
Godly business leader? The list can go on. If we are
willing to be humble vessels and faithful to the tasks
that God has given, His work can be accomplished through
us. Let’s use what we have and watch God do the rest!
DTC Graduate _ Jason Heil
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TESTIMONY
Jason Heil
I am thirty three years, born and raised in Ocean City,
Maryland. I have an older sister and a younger step brother.
I grew up in a neglected home where my father was an
alcoholic and drug addict. I followed in his footsteps. All
I remember is the rejection and pain I felt. As I grew
older, I wanted to feel accepted, so I started to hang-out
with a bad crowd. When I was fourteen years old, I got
arrested for assault and battery, strong arm robbery, theft,
and conspiracy charges. I was arrested again at eighteen,
this time for a felony possession of a concealed deadly
weapon. The crimes committed under the influence left me
homeless. I was hopeless and wanted a new beginning. I
started attending Emanuel Wesleyan Church Salisbury,
Maryland and eventually gave my heart to Jesus. I got
involved in the youth group ministry and found that I really
enjoyed working with kids. I gave my testimony and I felt
like God was calling me into the Ministry. The battle was
not over though for a few more years. I backslid of course
and left the church and once again ended up homeless.
Quickly, I returned asking for help. My church helped me by
sponsoring me into the Delmarva Teen Challenge program.
Truly, I was transformed by the renewing of my mind. I
graduated the program with a 93.11 GPA and a certificate in
biblical theology. I decided it was time to put the past
behind me and move forward to win the prize as the Apostle
Paul declares. Currently, I am at Lee University a new
creation in Christ studying to fulfill the ‘call’ God gave
to me. To God be all the Glory!
MINISTRY NEWS & NOTES
• Currently, 111-men have graduated our program since
January 2009.
• Please contact Michael Falknor @ 302.629.2559 to
schedule a Sunday morning/evening or mid-week rally @ your
church. We want to be a resource in your community.
• We are accepting quality used furniture, clothing,
appliances, children’s toys, glassware, etc. for our Thrift
Store which is NOW OPEN. Please call 302.629.3733 for large
item pick-ups. Your donation is tax-deductible.
• If you have a used vehicle that is in good running
condition, please consider donating it to Teen Challenge.
The student transportation needs and ministry commitments
throughout each week are great. Please call 302.629.2559.
• We would ask your prayerful consideration with helping us
to purchase some of the materials for our new education
building. We were awarded a grant for $200k last year to
begin the project and have been blessed with close to $75k
in free labor from various Christian contractors. Attached
is a list of materials and if you or someone you know can
assist, please contact us @ 302.629.2559. We are a 501c3
non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible.
Thank you for your faithfulness to us. Looking forward to
many lives being transformed! In His Service,
Bob |