How has Jesus shaken things up in our lives?
This was the question Pastor Tyler Tolbert of Central Christian Church asked as community members gathered for the 28th Mayor’s Good Friday Prayer Breakfast on Friday morning at The Pines Evergreen Room in Seymour.
“We celebrate a savior who artist Zach Williams called a prison-shaking savior, an earth-shaking savior. We celebrate that today, that we can have hope because of Jesus,” he said.
Tolbert shared his message with more than 140 people who listened intently and enjoyed food provided by The Pines.
The event also featured a presentation of colors by the Seymour Young Marines with commander Shawn Riley and Young Marines Nathaniel Green, Dominick Neal, Antonio Viera and Noah Weber.
The Mayor’s Youth Council, Mackenzie Bryson, Macy Casner, Brandon Rodriguez and Alex Sturgill, led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Then the invocation was given by Betsy Christensen from The Tabernacle at Sandy Creek in both English and Spanish, as she gave thanks and asked God to pray over the many community members, Jackson County and the world for healing.
“We give you thanks and praise as we gather together to break bread with one another under one common banner and one common goal that our city may know that Jesus Christ is Lord,” Christensen said.
As the audience joined in a unison “Amen,” the musicians of St. Ambrose Catholic Church followed with two songs, “What Grace is Mine” and “How Beautiful.”
Tolbert spoke about how the death of Jesus shook the world and in doing so gave his people the courage to shake off the hardships and troubles that follow them.
Tolbert shared a quote that impacted him throughout his life as an example of how Jesus uses his people to spread the good news.
“Sometimes, your medicine bottle has on it, ‘Shake well before using.’ That is what God has to do with us sometimes,” he said. “He shakes us well so that we are usable. That Friday, Jesus shook things up.”
Tolbert said Jesus, however, didn’t stop there and shook things up again as he rose again that Sunday as the people celebrated the risen savior.
He told a story about the time he was struggling during a half-marathon and encouraged him to keep going.
“This man told me that the pain we are experiencing right now in our legs, feet and body is nothing compared to the pain that Jesus experienced on the cross,” Tolbert said.
Tolbert encouraged the audience that they can shake things up just like Jesus did by spreading his faith and love with others.
Tolbert then shared the words of a woman whose world was forever changed by the loss of her son due to a brain tumor.
“These were the words of my mother and how she lost my brother,” he said. “I am so blessed that my brother was the one who taught me about Jesus and how he shook things up. Because of that, I was able to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. I am now able to impact others through Christ because of my brother.”
Mayor Matt Nicholson closed out the event with a quick prayer that God is always there even in times of adversity, and the Rev. James Rodriguez, associate pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, gave the benediction.
“May the Lord bless you and keep you, makes his face shine upon you and be gracious to you and look upon you with his favor and give you peace,” Rodriguez said.