Episode 104: Conversation with Jesse Walhof (Part 2)

https://youtu.be/c5NroBD-8Zk

About Jesse

Jesse is a diamond in the rough.  His journey isn’t what you would call straight and narrow.  He grew up in Le Mars, IA and spent most of his adolescence choosing alcohol, drugs and fights.  Jesse turned his life around in college and became an unstoppable force for the Kingdom of Heaven.  He has worked with at-risk youth and inner city ministries around the country.  Soon he felt the call to be a pastor and enrolled in Sioux Falls Seminary.  Jesse started out as an outreach pastor is Sioux Falls and joined the Living Water staff in the fall of 2016.  Jesse loves having honest raw conversations with people, enjoys going to concerts, playing drums, hates onions and wears some sweet chains.  You should ask him about them if you get the chance.

Summary of Episode

We must also inform ourselves of the challenges coming up, be bold in proclaiming truth, and nominate leaders who are willing to stand up for the truth. 2023 will be harder than 2022, but if the Lord is calling us to it, we must trust Him to provide us with the strength, wisdom, and energy to speak. We must be bold and stand up for the gospel truth and our creeds and confessions.

Kuyperianism has been nuanced to the point that culture is now coming into the church instead of the church going out into the culture. This has caused a fear of offending and a lack of clarity in the gospel. Martin Luther called this the 'offensive Christ', and Jesus himself was not afraid to be offensive for the proclamation of the gospel.

There have been positive steps taken in the denomination, such as the HSR, the Abide Project, and the realization that there are many confessional voices in the church. This unity is what will help move the denomination forward.

The CRC has experienced a grassroots movement of local churches and pastors unifying around an issue for the first time in decades, leading to a newfound sense of brotherhood and unity. This unity is especially important as the culture is becoming increasingly hostile to the church, and the CRC will need to have each other's backs in order to withstand the trials to come.

We must be in prayer for God's will to be done and for the church to remain true to the gospel. We must also inform ourselves of the challenges coming up, be bold in proclaiming truth, and nominate leaders who are willing to stand up for the truth. 2023 will be harder than 2022, but if the Lord is calling us to it, we must trust Him to provide us with the strength, wisdom, and energy to speak. We must be bold and stand up for the gospel truth and our creeds and confessions.