Standing Firm in Truth

“We have the obligation to speak the truth, but we don’t have to convince anyone.” -Mother Theresa

 

A recurring theme in Jeremiah is courage. Courage to stand firm in truth and speak up. Jeremiah’s words were unpatriotic, unpopular, and labeled as fake news by the leaders he was speaking against.

 

In our nation today, plenty of issues require the attention of Christians. Our society, politics, the church, are riddled with suffering and evil. What truth is the Lord asking you to speak? Fr. Kevin preached recently, [listen here] “Whenever a church or an organization or a country declines, it gets harder and harder to speak the truth. Doing that costs us more. Wherever evil goes up, truth goes down. It gets harder to live for God, and to speak the truth for God.”

 

I recently found myself in a situation where I had to stand firm in truth. This summer my three best friends and I signed up our kids for a Vacation Bible School in the area. We were all excited to send our children to VBS together for a full week of games and fun and learning about God. The four of us planned to have brunch together when all the kids were gone. Anyone with children would understand that a kid-free mom brunch is so precious!

 

When I signed up my two children, the online form asked what pronouns the children identified with. I thought that was a strange question and it made me a little uncomfortable. As VBS came closer, I couldn’t get the question on the form out of my head. I reached out to the woman who was putting on the VBS, and she kindly sent me the curriculum. I ultimately decided to pull my two young children out of the VBS due to the LGBTQ content.

 

I then had to explain to my friends that we were not going to do VBS. My decision was not the popular stance. All three of my friends listened to my concerns but continued with the program. It was awkward and uncomfortable, and multiple times I had thoughts of, Goodness, Caprice, maybe you are overreacting. The kids are going to encounter this subject the rest of their lives.

 

I took a stand, and honestly it makes me uncomfortable to even write about it here. In our society many times disagreement means hate. What if they think I am a hateful person for the decision I made? What if someone who identifies as LGBTQ reads this and is hurt? What if, like Jeremiah, I am persecuted for the truth that I spoke?

 

The truth that is found in God is not subjective. Just as Jeremiah had to stand firm in truth given to him by God, so should we. The Lord promised Jeremiah, “They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you” (Jeremiah 1:19). The Lord watched over Jeremiah. In Fr. Kevin’s words, “Friends, do not fear. The God who gave you the job will protect you as you do it. He will be with you, and he will rescue you.”

 

Do you feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of issues in the world today? Are you tempted to slink away from the task at hand, to stay silent on an important topic? Speaking out will look different for everyone. What is God asking of you?

Welcome Caprice Miller, Director of Communications

Savior has welcomed Caprice Miller as our new Director of Communication. Get to know her a little better in the interview below!

What is your role at Church of the Savior?
I am the Communications Director. My focus each week is to produce the weekly Order of Service, newsletter, and update our website. I hope to keep the Friends of Savior connected and informed.

Where do you live? Where are your from?
I live in Wheaton with my husband, Ben, and our two children, Dana and Eve. We both grew up in Wheaton. We have tried to leave many times, but we always found ourselves back here. Over the years we have grown to love the area. Our motto is “never make decisions in January!”

What do you do when you’re not at Church (job, hobbies, etc)?
I love to be active, working in my garden, and being with my family and friends. I love long meals and good conversations.   

What is your favorite book?
I have been reading Freedom of Simplicity, by Richard Foster and enjoying it so much!

2022 Good Friday Gift: An Interview with Dc. Sandy Oyler

This year, the Vestry has selected the Employment Opportunity Center of our longtime ministry partner, Outreach Community Ministries. Through training and paid internships, the EOC helps folks get a job, keep it, and improve their lives. Please read more here and watch one participant’s video. 

We are blessed to have our own Deacon Sandy Oyler working at Outreach as a social worker, and value the opportunity to interview her to learn more about the Outreach and the EOC. 


How long have you worked at Outreach Community Ministries as a social worker? And what do you enjoy most about working there? 
I've worked at Outreach Community Ministries for nearly 20 years.  For the first 14 years, I worked at Wheaton Youth Outreach where I oversaw a transitional housing program for homeless young women.  In 2016 I made the switch to our Warrenville location, Warrenville Youth and Family Services, where I serve as the director of their counseling program.  I really enjoy being in a missional, non-profit environment that offers an array of services to people who might otherwise not have access to social services due to lack of income or other barriers.  

 
What caused you to recommend this as our Good Friday Gift?
I recommended the Employment Opportunity Center to be Savior's recipient of our Good Friday gift because I believe the program meets an unique and much-needed niche in DuPage County  It's easy to assume that everyone knows how to go out and get a job; but that is not the reality for many young people who live right here in our community.  The EOC helps young people learn all the skills they need to secure meaningful employment... and then helps them actually get and sustain a job.  

 
What do you think is unique about the Employment Opportunity Center?
The Employment Opportunity Center is unique because it is the only one in DuPage County that serves young adults who are completely unprepared for employment.  There's a growing group of people lacking in the most basic of skills.  It's the only program that doesn't assume the participants enter with a certain baseline of knowledge and abilities.  

 
You’ve worked at Outreach a long time. How do you keep serving people in situations that are difficult?
What keeps me energized the most is seeing change in people that I have the privilege of working with, even if it's incredibly small.   Witnessing those changes, and being part of what can often be a slow, incremental process is also redemptive  and life--giving, and I'm thankful that I get to be part of that.  God is working in me even as he works in my clients.  

 
In addition to giving financially to Outreach, how might we at Savior support and serve those individuals receiving support from the Employment Opportunity Center? 
There's a need for volunteers to drive program participants to/from their places of work.  This can even be just one time a week - it doesn't have to be an everyday commitment.  Tutors are also needed, especially in the subjects of math and language arts, as participants receive help to earn their GED certificate if they don't have it upon entering the program. Visit Outreach’s website to learn more. 

 
Giving Details: 
You may give any time between now and April 30. Online: on our Giving page, click “Choose a Fund” and select “Savior - Good Friday Gift.” Mail: PO Box 507, Wheaton, IL 60187. Please write “Good Friday Gift” on the memo line of your check. 

 

Welcome Steve Dilley, Youth Pastor

Savior has welcomed Steve Dilley as our new Youth Pastor. Get to know him a little better in the interview below!

What is your role at Church of the Savior?
I am the Youth Pastor for 6th through 12th grades. My hope is to help students deepen their understanding of God and His world, grow in their personal (and interactive) relationship with Him, and actively serve others in the youth group and beyond.

Where do you live? Where are your from?
My family and I live in Wheaton. We moved here in the summer of 2021. Prior to that we lived in Texas. As a kid, I grew up in Alaska.


What do you do when you’re not at Church (job, hobbies, etc)?
Professionally (outside of Savior), I work a lot on the integration of science and Christian faith. Otherwise, I enjoy spending time with my family.


Who do you share a household with?
Andrea and I have been married since 2005. We have four kids: Madeline, Eden, Asa, and Julian. We now have two rescue cats as well: Jamboree and Toto.


What is your favorite book?
Recently, I have very much enjoyed the work of Michael S. Heiser.