Characteristics of True Church
IllustrationStory★★★★High in the Andes Mountains of South America is a mission station called the Broken Stone Mission. This is how it got its name. Many years ago a chief from this area made his way to a Christian mission station which upheld the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. To the mission director the chief presented the request of his people that a school and a mission be established in their village.
Unfortunately, at that time there was neither the money nor the man available to make possible granting of the request. The mission director promised that as soon as a teacher could be found and a budget provided the request would be considered. Now the chief had come in contact with the work of this mission and was impressed because of the emphasis on man’s mental, physical, and spiritual needs. His village wanted a church that keeps the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
The chief was old. He said, “What if I should die before the teacher comes?
How can my people be sure that he is the true teacher? Breaking a stone in 2, the mission director gave one half to the chief and promised to send the other half with the teacher for identification. If the two pieces of stone fit perfectly together, the villager would know the true teacher had arrived. This is how the Broken Stone Mission got its name.
The point
A mission chief used a broken stone, promising its matching half would identify the true teacher when he arrived. A testimony to faith, identity, and authenticity in faith communities.