Today, June 29, 2018, three Titus 2 students joined Bill and me at a reception at The Meeting House at Carillon Beach Community. The reception was a celebration of the success of Carillon Institute’s recent Tour of Homes. They used the event to raise funds for charitable purposes in Bay County. This was the second time the Carillon Institute has done this fundraiser and we were told today that they expect to make it a biennial event. The five featured homes attracted a lot of interest and the fundraiser netted $5000 for charity! Joyce Clark, one of the organizers of the event, called Titus 2 earlier this week to let us know they were dividing the proceeds between Anchorage Children’s Home and Titus 2 Partnership, Inc.! It was a joy to join the celebration today. Joel Booth and I were grateful to receive the financial support from Carillon Beach owners’ charitable event.
Two Titus 2 students shared their testimony with the group. Joel shared news of Anchorage’s work with children and youth, pregnant women 16-22, and aging out foster youth.
After the presentation one attendee asked me about the name of our program. I shared with her how God had inspired me to name it based on the instructions to older Christians observed in the second chapter of Paul’s letter to a mentored pastor, Titus. We have a sense of urgency about the task of making disciples. We have also found joyful fellowship with others who embrace the teaching, values, and lifestyle of Titus 2.
Our task is rooted in these words in Titus 2 from the Apostle Paul:
“….talk to them; give them a good, healthy diet of solid teaching so they will know the right way to live.……here’s what I want you to teach the older women: Be respectful. Steer clear of gossip or drinking too much so that you can teach what is good to young women. Be a positive example, showing them what it is to love their husbands and children, and teaching them to control themselves in every way and to be pure. Train them to manage the household, to be kind, and to be submissive to their husbands, all of which honor the word of God.
…Set a good example for everyone. Go out of your way to do what is right, speak the truth with the weight and authority that come from an honest and pure life. No one can argue with that. Then your enemies will cower in shame because they have nothing bad to say against us.
……Advise all who serve: Work hard for your masters, and be loyal to them. Strive to please. Don’t be rude or sarcastic. Don’t steal or embezzle your masters’ property. Show them you are trustworthy, and all the credit will go to the teaching of God our Savior.
We have cause to celebrate because the grace of God has appeared, offering the gift of salvation to all people. Grace arrives with its own instruction: run away from anything that leads us away from God; abandon the lusts and passions of this world; live life now in this age with awareness and self-control, doing the right thing and keeping yourselves holy. Watch for His return; expect the blessed hope we all will share when our great God and Savior, Jesus the Anointed, appears again. He gave His body for our sakes and will not only break us free from the chains of wickedness, but He will also prepare a community uncorrupted by the world that He would call His own—people who are passionate about doing the right thing.”
Paul’s words are further understood in light of this commentary from The Voice Bible:
At times Paul can be unrelenting. As he challenged Timothy in the two letters he addressed to him, Paul also challenges Titus to live the truth he teaches. People are drawn toward God, not through bold arguments, but by passionate godliness. We must be passionate about doing the right thing. Our actions tell the story. Our lives are living parables, shouting the mystery of godliness. Paul tells Titus to be bold, to teach with authority, and not to let anyone belittle him. We get a clear picture of a strong, courageous giant of a faith. Titus is sent to the people of Crete—a people short on virtue and long on vice—to fashion a church of loving disciples.
“So, Titus, tell them all these things. Encourage and teach them with all authority—and rebuke them with the same. You are one called to serve.”
We believe that by doing these things we will be able to “….employ our talents enthusiastically for the glory of the Lord….” and mentor women into abundant, recovered lives for their own sakes and for their children
We are grateful for those who embrace this task with us through volunteering or through their financial support. We are delighted to partner with the members of the Carillon Institute to make a difference in this beautiful community we all love and enjoy!