Upon the illuminated stage stands a preacher ardently sharing a story of humorous truth. The air carries the sounds of music mixed with prayers and emotion. Young adults from all walks of life have gathered for one purpose: to find identity and understanding in a world filled with mountaintops and valleys. Addressing convoluted questions and the complexity of life is none other than Pastor Ron Sydney, the pastor of The Place SDA in Thousand Oaks, California. As he journeys through biblical narratives, Pastor Sydney brings the stories to life, showing the emotion and relatable details inherent within the original languages. As it turns out, even Bible prophets had mountaintop experiences that soon ended in the valley’s shadows.
Several biblical figures ended up crashing down into the valley. The first night was about David, a man who went from being the king of a nation to once again hiding in the hills. The second was about Abraham sacrificing his promised son. The third was about Elijah fleeing from Jezebel and seeking death, and the latest was the story of Moses. What they all have in common is that they were on the run.
Moses lacked a clear identity. He wasn’t Egyptian enough, and he wasn’t Hebrew enough. Both rejected him, and he was forced to flee after the man he saved from the slaver accused him. But in Midian, he finds a home. Jethro accepts Moses as a son, and for the first time in his life, Moses belongs. He found his identity from a man who was both a shepherd and a priest.
Moses’ testimony resonates with the modern world, a world that feels disjointed from itself. As the multitudes of today ask questions about who they are and where they belong, the answer is the same as it was for Moses: Jesus, who is both Shepherd and Priest. Sydney’s appeal was that all searching find their identity in Jesus, a Savior who relentlessly pursues and loves those running.
Join Pastor Sydney and the team tomorrow evening at 7:30 p.m. to learn why God uses the valleys and mountaintops.
—BENJAMIN LAWSON
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