September 2025 – TORVINKRELLA

God as a Tragic Redeemer

C.S. Lewis once described God as a “tragic redeemer.” By this he meant that God takes even the worst tragedies of human life and turns them toward redemption. He works good out of what was meant for harm. The cross itself is the ultimate example: humanity’s rejection of Jesus became the very means of salvation for the world.

That same principle is at work in our world today. Evil does not have the final word. But if we are honest, evil is everywhere, and it often feels overwhelming.

Evil Is Always Spiritual

When we look at headlines filled with corruption, violence, and hatred, it’s easy to think these are merely political or cultural problems. But Scripture reminds us that the root is deeper. Ephesians 6:12 says: “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

That means every form of evil—whether personal, social, or political—is ultimately spiritual. Laws and policies may restrain evil, but they cannot cure it. Only a spiritual awakening can truly transform hearts and, through changed hearts, change a nation.

Political Violence and Hatred

This spotlights political violence as evil. It doesn’t matter which side it comes from—left or right—it is still an expression of darkness. The same is true of hatred. When we give in to hatred, we allow evil to reproduce itself in us.

God’s people are called to something different. The apostle Paul urged us to “put on the full armor of God” so that we can stand against evil (without becoming part of it). Our weapons are truth, righteousness, faith, prayer, and the Word of God—not violence or venom.

Learning to Rest in the Lord

Psalm 37 gives us a posture for living in an age of conflict. It opens with the words: “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of those who do wrong; for they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.”

This whole chapter is a powerful encouragement when we are tempted to despair. It reminds us not to be consumed with fear or envy. Instead, we are called to commit our way to the Lord, trust Him, and wait patiently. The Psalmist assures us that the wicked will not prosper forever and that God will uphold the righteous. It is this Psalm that brought me into real relationship with Jesus as an adolescent.

Apparently written while David was on the run from Saul, his words stand in stark contrast to the fever pitch of today’s politics. While anger and fear drive people to extremes, the people of God are called to quiet trust, consistent goodness, and hope in God’s justice.

Youth and Renewal

There is a new surge of conservative politics among young people. On many fronts, this is encouraging—it shows a hunger for meaning, stability, and truth. But politics alone is not enough. A resurgence of Christianity is what we desperately need.

If this generation only recovers conservative ideas but misses Christ, the deeper sickness remains untouched. But if young people turn to Jesus, we may see not only cultural renewal but spiritual revival—a work of God that brings lasting change.

The Call to Stand

God is still a tragic redeemer. He is still bringing good out of evil, light out of darkness, and hope out of despair. But He calls His people to stand—not in hatred or violence—but clothed in His armor, confident in His promises, and resting in His justice.

It is actually a call to intercession. After eight decades I’ve still not figured out why prayer works or why it is necessary if God knows our needs before we ask. But it does change the world. God does answer. We must learn to intercede, not just for those in authority but for a rising generation spoon-fed dark lies about our nation and its founders and a “science” intended to bury God. Our hope is in Jesus in young people as it is always a rising generation that foments spiritual awakening.

It’s happened five times in the history of our nation. The culture was on the brink of ruin when Jesus came to the rescue. Let’s call for a sixth awakening.

The turning point for our nation will not come through elections or rallies. It will come through prayer, repentance, and awakening. It will come when we trust the words of Psalm 37 and live as people who know that God redeems even in tragedy.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

** Catch this on YouTube @ralphmoorehopechapel

Ralph Moore is the Founding Pastor of three churches which grew into the Hope Chapel ‘movement’ now numbering more than 2,300 churches, worldwide. These are the offspring of the 70+ congregations launched from Ralph’s hands-on disciplemaking efforts.

He travels the globe, teaching church multiplication to pastors in startup movements. He’s authored several books, including Let Go Of the Ring: The Hope Chapel Story, Making Disciples, How to Multiply Your Church, Starting a New Church, and Defeating Anxiety.

The post God as a Tragic Redeemer appeared first on Newbreed Training.

Radical Advice: How Not to Destroy an Acts 8 Moment

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44, NIV).

Jesus’ words confront our natural instincts when faced with hostility, persecution, and violence. The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk forces us to wrestle with this teaching in personal and practical ways.

What compounds this tragedy is how some celebrated Kirk’s death—reactions that reveal exactly why Jesus’ command to love our enemies remains both urgent and necessary.

The story of Stephen’s martyrdom in Acts 8 offers biblical insight into this modern tragedy. Stephen was among the first Christian martyrs, stoned to death for his faith. His death at first glance appears as a devastating defeat for the early church. Instead, it sparked unprecedented gospel expansion. The church grew stronger and more widespread because believers chose faith and resilience over retaliation.

This demonstrates a critical spiritual principle: the killing of a single individual can galvanize others. Kirk’s assassination, particularly when coupled with public celebrations of his death, creates exactly this dynamic. While his friends grieve, his attackers unwittingly canonize Charlie—doing the very thing they despise. Martyrs inspire deeper devotion and stronger commitment. They unite communities rather than dividing them.

When believers respond to mockers and opponents with anger, they fracture the foundations they seek to protect. Jesus’ demands that we respond in love. Not too ironically, that is what Charlie did for most of his adult life.

True faith reveals itself in times of conflict and testing. To pray for those who persecute us means acknowledging humanity and redemptive possibility in our enemies (think Saul of Tarsus). This reflects God’s own patience and mercy—his desire for restoration rather than destruction.

The assassination of Charlie Kirk challenges every believer to live out their faith with both humility and courage. We must resist the urge to respond with anger which only deepens divisions.

Loving our enemies doesn’t mean ignoring justice or condoning wrongdoing. It means approaching even the darkest moments while pressing for peace and transformation rather than vengeance. When the church responds this way, it is light to the world, a beacon of hope in a polarized nation.

It is the surest path to honoring the memory of those like Stephen or Kirk and furthering the gospel of the kingdom.

For more on this catch a video ag https://youtu.be/8CxlpRdfScY

The post Radical Advice: How Not to Destroy an Acts 8 Moment appeared first on Newbreed Training.

You are a Cog in the Machine

This article originally appeared on Dave Blok’s Substack. Adapted with permission.

“I feel like a cog in a machine.”

That’s what I blurted out in my very first ministry position out of college. I was 22, the energetic and overly dramatic middle school youth director, confessing my angst to the Senior Pastor.

His reply? “Well, that’s what ministry is. You are a cog in the machine.”

That answer didn’t sit right with me then, and it still doesn’t now.

Over time I realized what I was bumping up against: I didn’t fit the box they were trying to put me in. Ministry isn’t one-size-fits-all. God builds some leaders to manage and sustain the institution—to do the same faithful work over and over again. Those leaders matter. We need them.

But there are also leaders God designs for the edges—for the frontier. They don’t fit neatly inside the box. They are starters, explorers, experimenters. Trying to contain them doesn’t work because they were built to move.

In those early days, I didn’t want to become a pastor because I assumed that meant squeezing into the wrong box. What I didn’t realize yet was that my calling was real—it just looked different. Later I came to see that part of my role is to help the next wave of leaders imagine a bigger vision for how God can use them – so they don’t have to wait to figure it out on their own.

A Movement, Not Just an Institution

The Church was never meant to be a rigid system. At its best, it’s a movement with institutions—dynamic and Spirit-led.

Paul paints this picture in Ephesians 4:

“And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.”

The Body of Christ needs multiple nutrients to grow into the fullness of Jesus. It takes teachers who guide us into truth, prophetic leaders who call us back to faithfulness, evangelists who carry the message outward, apostolic leaders who mobilize and pioneer, and shepherds who care deeply for people.

Imagine a superhero team where every member has the exact same power. Four different people—but all of them just stretch like Mister Fantastic. That’s not much of a team.

The Church is stronger when we live into our God-given diversity of callings.

Discovering Your Place in the Movement

I once told a friend, “Maybe you should be a pastor.” He quickly shot back, “Absolutely not.”

But when I asked what he felt called to, he said, “I want to reach people in my sphere and shepherd them.”

Now—he may never stand on a stage and preach a sermon. But does that sound like a shepherd’s heart? Absolutely. The problem isn’t that he lacked a calling. The problem was that he thought “pastor” only meant fitting into a box we’ve created, so he sat on the sidelines.

That’s why we started a rising leaders cohort at the ministry I lead called Plant 616—to help people discover their place in God’s movement.

We believe there are restless disciples in every church—faithful volunteers who feel there’s something more they were made to do. That “something more” often can’t be contained in a program. It usually looks like a burden for the unreached, a gap that needs filling, or a deeply relational calling.

And those callings are as diverse as the people themselves:

“I’m called to reach the people in my sphere and shepherd them.”
“I’m called to be a servant.”
“I’m called to start something new and fill this gap.”
“I’m called to listen to people’s pain and to love them.”

When people articulate their unique calling, it doesn’t usually begin with a bang. It begins with a small, faithful step. A spark of imagination. The courage to move.

A Farm Team for the Future

At Plant 616, we want to grow a farm team of rising leaders. Not leaders who have to wait until they fit the box of someone on a stage—but leaders who are ready to take their next adventurous step into the movement Jesus started.

Don’t wait til you fit into the box.

God made you for something.

Do that.

The third round of Plant 616’s Rising Leaders Cohort begins October 2025. More details here

David Blok helped found and is now the Executive Director of a ministry called Plant 616. His ministry journey has been driven by 3 burdens: a love for the city, a passion for church planting, and a fascination with movements. This has led him through 20 years of urban ministry experience, pastoring and church planting in an urban neighborhood in greater Grand Rapids.

David received his Master of Divinity degree in 2010 from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary with an emphasis on Church planting. He is a certified dean of the Evangel School of Urban Church Planting, a Send Network church planter trainer, and a church planting coach. David has been married to his lovely wife, Amanda, for almost 16 years. Together they have embarked on a journey of neighborhood ministry, foster care and adoption. As a result, they are the proud parents of Anthony, Melvin, and Elliana.

Through his work with Plant 616, David is excited to connect with and encourage mission minded leaders in the 616 area code, equip the next wave of missional adventurers, and catalyze a movement of missionary disciples in every crack and crevice of the 616 area code.

The post You are a Cog in the Machine appeared first on Newbreed Training.

Jeans could never be this comfortable…

*all outfit details above linked here

Ok, I’m officially obsessed—these pants are SO good. They are so good I had to get multiple colors. Cozy but still put-together

They run true to size, I’m a little under 5’7” and wear the regular length. Love that they come in short and tall versions too! One of the best parts they don’t wrinkle.

100/10 recommend these pants!

Mara and I were out shopping this week and I got the softest waffle zip up for her. I ended up loving it so much I got one for me too. I wish I could explain the cozy softness level in words but wow it’s seriously amazing!! And on sale right now! (She got a size xs I got a medium) I also grabbed her this dress and this button up shirt for Wes – he loves it!

I love this striped shirt so much, such an amazing amazon find for under $20! Super comfy with the brown pants. Wearing size small in the shirt & pants. Full outfit linked here.

I love this cashmere sweater paired with the pants! This sweater is such a great length – not too cropped but also not too long. Full outfit linked here.

I’ve been wearing this jacket a lot recently – its such a great pre-fall and fall jacket! So easy to throw on over my sweater with these pants! Full outfit linked here.

This is another new sweater I got recently and love! Been in a major pre-fall and brown tones mood. This makes the perfect travel outfit! Full outfit linked here.

I just got this suede jacket and love it so much. Its a fraction of the price of some viral suede jackets and amazing quality! Full outfit linked here.

Love the pants paired with a simple tee and sneakers too. Makes the perfect casual, every day outfit. Love this for running errands and school drop off. Full outfit linked here.

The post Jeans could never be this comfortable… appeared first on Hello Fashion.

TORVINKRELLA