By Brother Matthew Henson

Preparing for any kind of travel to a new location requires some research prior to departure. I put my starting point and my destination into my mapping app to see the quickest and the shortest routes to get where I am heading. I look at the overview map in my planning because I want to get a general idea of the major roads I will take and to see if I have any familiarity with some of those roads. I look to the overview and then when I depart for the trip, I click the “Start” button to get the detailed map that no longer shows me the macro view of my trip; rather, it moves to a micro view. Step-by-step…mile by mile, I move toward my destination.

In Genesis 12 God spoke to Abram and said, “Go to the place I will show you.” The Lord does not give a clear destination or tell Abram how long it will take to get to the place God will show him; yet Abram goes. Jesus invites people to “come follow me” and calls for us to “not put our hand to the plow and look back.” We are called to follow the Way of Jesus as affirmed in Jesus’ proclamation in John 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” God called to people to follow the way of God in Isaiah 30:21, “And your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”

The Christian Ashram is a way pointing to The Way where our fellowship seeks to provide conversation, teaching, and prayer, helping each person live into the purposes, plans, and way of Jesus. The Christian Ashram serves as a GPS positioning system that does not have the macro plan for all that God will do in our lives but serves to participate in the micro plan for each step toward The Way. E. Stanley Jones writes in A Song of Ascents, “We do not believe that the Ashram movement is the Way. All we can say is that it is a way to the Way. Jesus is the Way. We try to come out at his feet” (Page 233).

As part of our vision for the Christian Ashram, we believe our rhythm, discipline, and heart speaking to heart, seeks to point people to The Way. This increases our ability to impact the world around us. The United Christian Ashram is a way pointing to The Way on five continents. As God opens doors for us, we are expanding to new places through church leaders’ invitations. We are grateful to be a way that the Holy Spirit is using to encourage people in their walk with Jesus, while introducing people to Jesus for the first time.

We confess and profess that “Jesus is Lord” and “Jesus is the Way.” As a ministry focused on discipleship, evangelism, and mission, we keep our focus on Jesus and the Kingdom of God, helping people experience The Way of life that is abundant, life-giving, and hope filled. We are grateful for each person who has laid the foundation for this ministry. We pray for our current leaders and supporters of this ministry. We pray for new leaders and supporters as we seek to follow the Lord’s leadership.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the opportunity to be a way pointing to The Way. Thank you for each person who has been involved in this ministry and those who are presently in leadership. We pray for our financial needs and our courage to be obedient to the places you call us to go. Give us wisdom in each of our decisions. In Jesus’ name. Amen.