Rick Lewers
Rick, tell us, if you could have the powers of any superhero, which would you choose and why?
That is very simple—I would like the power to open blind eyes and deaf ears so that the blind might see and the deaf hear the one who has the power to raise the dead. My reasons have to do with a love of life and the sorrow of a loss of life. I grieve how much we abuse the privilege of life and fail to enjoy its abundance. So why not seek to help people see the one who said “I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly.” Apart from that I wouldn't mind the power of Bugs Bunny to get out of trouble and to cause a bit of a stir.
What about your family, tell us about them and tell us what super powers you think they'd want you to have.
I've been married to Janene for 22 years and we have three children from 10-16. They would like me to have the power to produce endless quantities of money—I know that because they are always asking me for more. Of course if you asked them seriously they would probably say the patience of love. Beyond that Janene and I would like the power to lose weight so we can escape the grip of weight watchers.
You've trusted Jesus for as long as you can remember—what do you love most about being his?
Just that. That I am His. In Him is life and the love to forgive and the grace to save me and keep me in life forever. I must admit that I am staggered by the fact that God is a God who loves me so much that He'd prefer to die for me than to live without me. I struggle to understand that and the only answer I have is the one the Bible gives in 1 John 4, “God is love.”
You're joining us at Uni in week 7; why are you joining us?
I've been asked by ECU to talk about the love God revealed in the person of Jesus Christ and to invite people to turn back to the God who gives life to the full. While not everyone is willing to do that its hoped that in my coming people will have another opportunity to think about where God fits into their lives, to ask questions, debate and find answers.
How are you preparing for the week?
Well, prayerfully. To be honest I am pretty busy with speaking engagements prior to being at the Uni. In fact I will be in Manilla, central N.S.W., for a week before the Uni invitation. I won't get home till the Monday and then arrive at the Uni first thing Tuesday. I hope that part of my preparation will be to get enough sleep and stay healthy. Obviously there are talks to work on and work over so I'll be doing that.
How can we prepare for the week?
At least start the same way I do and that is prayerfully. Beyond that, be working hard to invite friends to the various events. The success of my work during the week is bound inextricably to the partnership I share with those involved at the Uni. Be sharing your faith with people as well. The more often people hear the Gospel the better. Talking about Jesus to those who don't quite understand who He is, prepares the way for people to surrender to Christ when a guest speaker comes. Of course the devil is always desirous of spoiling things and rejoices in poor Christian witness. So keep pure, protect yourself against sin and repent if you sin. Don't let anything bring disunity among you.
What can we be praying for?
That I keep from sin. That I honour all my commitments prior, during and after mission. Pray that I speak well, clearly unpacking for people the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Pray for my family priorities that I would honor them. Pray that I stay healthy and enthusiastic.
Interview by Pete Sorrenson
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