"Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this." - Esther 4:14b
"“Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; Do not be silent y at my tears; For I am a stranger with You, A a sojourner like all my fathers."
- Psalm 39:12
"Were not our hearts burning within us while He was talking to us on the road, while
He was opening the scriptures to us?"
- Luke 24:32
Vision for the Elgin District
Faithful Disciples Transforming Our District for the Glory of God
He Only is my Rock and my Salvation
Dear Partners in Ministry,
Recently, Joyce and I had the wonderful opportunity to visit our daughter, Sara. She is an attorney for the Air Force stationed at Ramstein AFB in Germany. This was my first trip to Europe so I was very excited. After arriving, Sara had an itinerary planned for us which included Paris, Monet’s Garden in Giverny, and many cities in Germany. One of our favorite cities was Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria.
Rothenburg was given the status of a “Free Imperial City” in 1274. It was among the 20 largest cities in the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation. The history is complex and fascinating. In 1634, the Black Plague came to town and took what many ransacking armies had not. Because of poverty and despair that followed the Thirty Years War, Rothenburg virtually fell asleep. It was because of this 250 years of slumber that the city is so well preserved.
In the 1880s, Europe entered the Age of Romance. German painters discovered this sleeping town. Through their work, the rest of the world discovered this perfectly preserved example of life in a time since passed. The rest of Europe modernized while Rothenburg slept. In the 1900s, tourists came to see this wonder of the early ages. Rothenburg was waking up!
March 1945 brought near disaster to Rothenburg. Nazi soldiers set up shop in the city quarters. Allied forces bombed part of the city at the beginning of the engagement. However, Deputy Secretary of State General John McCloy, who was familiar with the historic importance and beauty of Rothenburg, sent word through the local commander that the city would be spared further bombing if the citizens would guarantee that it would not be used for further resistance. The citizens agreed and the town was spared. The German troops surrendered on the 17th of April, 1945 and a few hours later, the city was again safe by the occupation. This time the troops were bearing the American Flag. In November 1948, General John McCloy was awarded the “Honorable Protectorate of Rothenburg.”
As Joyce and I were preparing to leave the town with our daughter, we entered a small Chapel build in the years 1270’s and still preserved in great shape. As we left, I picked up a small card at the door that read:
Aber sei nur stille zu Gott,
meine Seele,
denn er ist meine Hoffnung.
Psalm 62:6
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress,
I shall not be shaken.
With the uncertain times in which we live, we have to turn to the Scriptures for solace, guidance, and nourishment. The economy of our world has impacted every aspect of our lives. Our churches are facing difficult and seemingly insurmountable financial problems. Yet, like Rothenburg, we cry to our Lord proclaiming that “He only if our rock and salvation, our fortress, and that we shall not be shaken.”
I continue to pray for the Elgin District. I pray for each local church, the pastoral leadership and the membership. I ask that you continue in your faithfulness. I know that God will see us through these difficult times. We must continue to have faith in His goodness. Like the faithful believers of Rothenburg throughout the centuries, God will be our fortress!
In Christ’s Love,
Rev. Oscar N. Carrasco
Elgin District Superintendent
