From the Editor
It has been an absolute honor to see The Cry relaunched after a little over a year offline. For Word Made Flesh, this was a year of transition and change, and it is exciting to once again have The Cry moving forward.
A year ago, shortly before I graduated from Asbury University in Wilmore, Ky., our Executive Director, Clint Baldwin, asked if I’d like to be involved with The Cry. A few days prior to our initial meeting, we had a quick exchange when he asked if we could get coffee (because drinking coffee is what you do with Clint). Once we set up a meeting time, I heard the faint whisper of the Holy Spirit, if you’ll believe it, say, “It’s about Word Made Flesh. I want you to say yes.”
Thus, my journey began with this organization that is reaching the nations with the love of Jesus Christ and the fullness of His Gospel. I first joined WMF as an assistant editor but after yet a few more transitions, I found myself with the immense privilege of becoming the Editor of The Cry.
Editors before me, like Megan McFarland who guided me as I took on this beautiful challenge, aimed to capture the stories of Word Made Flesh, the faces of the people with whom our staff gets to live life, and I trust you will find that this issue does the same. The Cry highlights the Word Made Flesh’s 9 lifestyle celebrations (see page 13), and this edition picks up from where we left off and focuses on suffering.
A few weeks ago, my wife and I were stopped by a homeless veteran. He was not very coherent, and he was missing several of his front teeth, but he was genuine. He asked us if we could spare some change for food. We usually don’t carry cash, but we offered to go with him inside a nearby fast-food restaurant and buy him a meal.
Once we helped him with his food to a table, we asked if we could pray for him. He shook his head and said, “No, I’m not going to let you pray for me.” My wife and I were puzzled. “But I am going to pray for you,” he added.
Through tears and sobs, he thanked God for his meal and for the young man and young lady whom He had sent to bless him that day. He asked that we would always know God’s love, blessings and protection, and that what we gave would be given back to us. After his amen, he hugged us both tightly and said, “Man, I have it easy. There’s so much suffering in this world – children living in poverty going hungry, the refugees from Syria.”
When I reflect on suffering, I realize I don’t know very much about it. I’ve lived a blessed, middle-class American life. We know that in a very basic sense, humanity is bound to suffer – even the Savior reminded us that trials and tribulations are in our paths. But I am eternally grateful and humbled that thus far, when I survey the extremity of suffering even in some of our WMF communities, my suffering has been limited. I can’t even imagine.
I do know this: there’s too much suffering in the world, and those of us who have been touched, saved and transformed by Christ’s suffering carry a hope to light the darkness. It is our call, and it is our cry – the Savior has come, so we must take heart and share this Love with the nations: He has overcome the world.
Peace and grace be with you,
JORGE CASTORENA
Editor of The Cry
jorge.castorena@wordmadeflesh.com
