Is forward a noun, an adverb, an adjective or a verb?

Good question! It’s never been completely clear to me. But maybe it’s all of these parts of speech.

The one interpretation that I do want to use today is the verb form. In other words, as a part of speech that denotes action.

In the Bible the word forward comes to mind in Exodus 14: “And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea’” (Exodus 14:15-16, emphasis added).

This was a command from God at this season of the year, the Passover and the Exodus. The nation of Israel left the oppressive world of Egypt behind them, and journeyed towards freedom, the Promised Land. What a joyous event and moment! But it was also a time for Israel’s acts of responsibility and courage.

Yes, the United Church of God is a forward-looking church in verb mode more than any other. 

The reality was they had the Red Sea to cross. This was an impossible obstacle without some kind of godly miracle. But the charge was still to go forward. In the New Living Translation “go forward” is translated “get moving,” which I think expresses my sentiments more accurately.

I often think of how God directs and leads His work and accomplishes His will through us, His children—much like working with the children of Israel. He gives us a job that also has big challenges—sometimes requiring a miracle to overcome. But these challenges can be overcome by God’s intervention and deliverance. I have seen this in my ministerial journey for the past half century over and over. And I expect God’s powerful hand to continue not only to direct us, but to deliver us and give us victory and success.

We, too, have the Red Sea in front of us. We are an agency of God that is to fulfill this prophetic directive: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

Can we do it of ourselves and of our own strength? Of course not. But can God do it through us? Of course! But what must we do? We must “go forward, get moving!”

And that is what we are fully intent on doing. Our two major operations doing the work of God are our proclamation of the gospel through the tools of modern media, and the development of a dynamic ministry to serve the needs of our congregations. We must not be waiting around listening to discouraging voices telling us “what’s the hurry?”

We are moving forward with the construction of a long-needed media production facility that will be producing a more compelling and diverse variety of proclamation products—ranging from podcasts, streaming radio and documentaries, to studio audience productions. We are moving forward with this and should have them up and running in the latter part of this year. It will be the convicting power of God’s powerful Spirit that will open our “Red Sea.” However, we must fully look to Him to do for us what He did for ancient Israel.

The other major area of our work is the development of our ministry to serve the needs of our congregations. Our long-time faithful ministry is aging and entering a phase where it cannot keep pace with the needs of new converts and supplying what a modern congregation needs. We need to move forward with growing new leadership. This includes the finding and hiring of new ministerial trainees and mentoring them to replace those who are retiring.

A lively and viable ministry is vital for the Church’s growth and we are moving forward with that. God will help us find and place new ministers where they are needed. I see it happening right before my eyes. Once again it is God who is not only opening our “Red Sea,” but is walking us through it.

Yes, the United Church of God is a forward-looking church in verb mode more than any other. Stay with us and pray with us to discern what direction and decisions to make—knowing that God is telling us to “keep moving” forward!