Guest editorial by Dustin James Miller

Dustin and Amanda Miller

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:8

In August 6, 1963 in New York City, Bob Dylan began his work on the album “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” His politically charged album became the trumpet blast for the 1960’s social movement in the United States. In his a title track “A Times They Are A-Changin’” Dylan states, “Come gather round people wherever you roam and admit the waters around you have grown.” He addresses the issues unity and solidarity in troubled times in the United States.

On October 1st, 2004 I was baptized in Christ and two days later my fiancée was baptized. I remember feeling much like the lyrics of Bob Dylan’s song, for the times they were a-changin’. I remember the call to admit that the waters around me had grown. My life was a shipwreck; although I seemed extremely spiritual on the outside I did not know God. When I was met by Jacob Beas of Eugene I remembered seeing his courage as he invited me to Bible Talk. When Jacob met me I was attending a men’s Bible discussion on Tuesday’s, a mid-week on Wednesday’s, I was feeding the homeless on Thursday’s, leading my own Bible discussion on Friday’s and attending church on Sunday’s. Yet I did not know God. I had never really sat down and studied the scriptures on what it meant to have a relationship with God. It was in June of 2004 that I really started studying the Bible. The brothers called me to humility for the scriptures and for my life. I was still living in an immoral relationship that I had failed to give up and I never really understand the commands of God. I was a worshiper yet I did not know the truth. In John 4:22 Jesus states, “You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know for salvation is from the Jews.” It was a knowledge of God that separated me from Him. My heart was seeking yet my understanding was lacking much like the Samaritans. Yet Jesus states in verse 23-24, what it takes to be a true worshiper of God. When my wife and I decided to move to Los Angeles in January of 2008 to train to be on the New York mission team we met a lot of worshipers. Almost every person in Hollywood that I encountered was of some persuasion. It reminded me of when Paul traveled to Athens “he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.” (Acts 17:16) In verse 17 it says that because of this he reasoned in the synagogues. For many people it is a lack of knowledge that separates them from God.

“For speak too soon for the wheels still in spin and there’s no telling who that it’s namin’. For the loser now is later to win for the times they are a-changin’.” Bob Dylan

Columbus Circle

Nine months after my wife and I were baptized we were asked to be on a mission team to Corvallis, OR. I believe that it was during this two years that my faith was refined. Many people that we tried to bring to Christ refused. I remember many times getting discipling to dream big dreams. It was during this time my wife and I really started to dream about going to the east coast. I remember during the 2007 World Missions Jubilee it was announced that the church would be sending a mission team to New York City. During the Jubilee we asked DJ and Kacie Comisford if we could join the team to New York. I remember telling them of the failures we had faced in Corvallis, yet to our amazement they were more than excited to have us on the team. Within a few months we sold everything that wouldn’t fit in our Honda Civic and made the journey to Los Angeles.

Los Angeles was most likely the last place in the world that my wife and I wanted to go to but because we loved God and wanted to train we moved into Hollywood. We lived two blocks from DJ and Kacie and not even a block away from the brother’s household. It was during this time that God really refined my heart and my character. During the few months that we were in LA, I finishing my college degree online and working part time at a Yogurt shop. I remember anticipating a formal training for going on the mission to New York. Yet to my surprise my wife and I were asked to lead a Bible Talk that was weak and hadn’t seen any fruit. With tons of discipling I got my heart right and decided to serve God and the Bible Talk in Northridge. There were two main lessons I learned in Los Angeles. One was humility and the other was servitude. I remember getting discipled with the scripture in Matthew 23:12 about God exalting the humble. I learned that it was humble to imitate those who were fruitful. I also learned that a leader in God’s kingdom was the biggest servant and made himself the least (Mark 9:35). So we served the campus at Cal State Northridge. From our few moths leading at CSUN we saw 5 people get baptized. I believe that it was because we learned humility and servitude.

“There’s a battle outside and it’s ragin’, it’ll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls for the times they are a-changin’.” Bob Dylan

On arriving in New York City just a few weeks ago, operation “Love Bomb” was dropped. We made the decision to share God’s love to a city of millions for hours each day. We shared our faith at the campus’ and in the squares, in the subways and in the streets with everyone that we met. With a team of 21 disciples to a city of about 20 million, we reasoned that it seemed to be the kind of odds that God likes. In Judges chapter 7 God tells Gideon to sift the men. God shifts the men from 32,000 to 300 to annihilate the Midianites. I believe that God will use us few to win the battle for Christ in New York City. My wife and I are so encouraged to have been supported by the Eugene International Church of Christ. They have not only given us the knowledge of Christ leading to salvation but also the support to live out our dreams for the kingdom of God. In Romans 13:8 Paul says, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.” Amanda and I are truly indebted to the Eugene church for their tremendous sacrifice in sending us from the Corvallis ministry to New York and all the financial support they have provided. We are also extremely grateful for the all the support from the City of Angels International Christian Church for their tremendous financial support and their heart to give so many powerful disciples to the mission team to New York.

In Acts 2:8 Jesus plainly tells the disciples, “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.” The call for the first century disciples was to witness to the ends of the earth in their generation. I believe that as disciples of Christ by his power we will see the world evangelized in our day for the times they are a-changin.

Dustin James Miller