My wife’s sister and brother-in-law moved to the island of Roatan a couple of years ago. Roatan is a beautiful Caribbean unspoiled island off of Honduras. Last year we traveled to see them and enjoy some tropical days on the beach. I’ve always been a beach guy, some time in a beach chair at the edge of the water with my books is my perfect retreat. But I had never been to the Caribbean and the crystal clear water was amazing. I swam with schools of colorful tropical fish in water that was clear to the bottom. I even had the privilege to preach at a drug rehab center.
On the Roatan beach, there are many of the locals who love selling their wares to tourists. T-shirts of every color, jewelry, and children’s beach toys are among the popular things. You can get a massage right there on the beach or ladies can get their nails done right there. But, the salesman who caught my heart, and my stomach, was Mathew who is famous for his homemade banana bread. He walks the beach with his lilting song, “Awwww banana bread, banana bread”. One for three dollars, two for five, five for ten. “Awwww, banana bread, banana bread.” The little loaves are warm, moist, sweet and so good! Awwww banana bread!
Many of the vendors have a vast array of items, it takes quite an effort to carry them all and set up shop on the beach, but Mathew has one thing to sell and one thing only – banana bread!
Sometimes I feel those of us in the Church get confused about our mission. It’s all about Jesus! And while we might use various ways to tell the unsaved about Jesus, we must never stray from, as Jesus’ brother Jude describes it, “the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” (Jude 3 NIV) Music styles come and go, and trends in evangelism get hot and then wane, but the simple truth of Jesus never changes. Who He is as the Son of God. How He left glory to come to earth in human form. How He lived a sinless life. How He died on the old rugged cross as the payment for the sin debt I owed that separated me from God. How He was resurrected in power on Easter as a promise of my resurrection. How He left His Holy Spirit to indwell believers and help them be transformed from their old sinful ways to a more Christ-like life. And how He calls and equips us to tell others about Him! Awwww, Jesus! Jesus! It’s all about Jesus!
Jesus said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 NIV)
Executive Board member, Larry M. Dentler
