Esther Robinson shares her story
“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8
My parents, Morrell and Lois Robinson, served as missionaries to Cuba in the late 1950s. Through some research, I was able to locate their missionary application and acceptance by the Board of Missions in 1954. It is clear from the beginning how committed they were to changing the world. They were 23 and 27 years old.
It wasn’t just their youth which made them idealistic. Throughout their application and their subsequent work, Dad as a pastor and Mom as a nurse, both in Cuba and Florida, it is obvious that Christian service was not optional for them. Peace and social justice were a theme in my dad’s application and became a theme for his whole life.
This frequently put him out of step with clergy colleagues and congregants. I, too, remember debates among clergy if the teaching of social justice was even necessary for the believing Christian. Seats in pews were what counted. I can only surmise that it had been awhile since they had read any of the prophets!
Micah 6:8 is part of the prophet’s larger challenge to Israel to keep a right relationship with God. As in any relationship, a “right relationship” is not just a matter of the heart or mind but also of behavior. Micah is a call to care about the things God cares about and do something about it. It is an equal call for justice, mercy, and devotion.
In seminary, I remarked to a fellow student that I had not been on the front lines of activism as my father had. Kelly Brown Douglas replied that not everybody is needed on the front line. Some people are needed behind the scenes, too, for support and encouragement.
That was a timely revelation for me. There are all kinds of mission work and service in faithfulness to our common Lord.
Let us pray,
Holy God, Artist of all life, deepen our delight and our commitment to right relationship with you for our whole lives. Amen.
Esther Robinson
To learn more about:
Methodists United in Prayer/Cuba Covenant go to flumc.org/cuba
My parents, Morrell and Lois Robinson, served as missionaries to Cuba in the late 1950s. Through some research, I was able to locate their missionary application and acceptance by the Board of Missions in 1954. It is clear from the beginning how committed they were to changing the world. They were 23 and 27 years old.
It wasn’t just their youth which made them idealistic. Throughout their application and their subsequent work, Dad as a pastor and Mom as a nurse, both in Cuba and Florida, it is obvious that Christian service was not optional for them. Peace and social justice were a theme in my dad’s application and became a theme for his whole life.
This frequently put him out of step with clergy colleagues and congregants. I, too, remember debates among clergy if the teaching of social justice was even necessary for the believing Christian. Seats in pews were what counted. I can only surmise that it had been awhile since they had read any of the prophets!
Micah 6:8 is part of the prophet’s larger challenge to Israel to keep a right relationship with God. As in any relationship, a “right relationship” is not just a matter of the heart or mind but also of behavior. Micah is a call to care about the things God cares about and do something about it. It is an equal call for justice, mercy, and devotion.
In seminary, I remarked to a fellow student that I had not been on the front lines of activism as my father had. Kelly Brown Douglas replied that not everybody is needed on the front line. Some people are needed behind the scenes, too, for support and encouragement.
That was a timely revelation for me. There are all kinds of mission work and service in faithfulness to our common Lord.
Let us pray,
Holy God, Artist of all life, deepen our delight and our commitment to right relationship with you for our whole lives. Amen.
Esther Robinson
To learn more about:
Methodists United in Prayer/Cuba Covenant go to flumc.org/cuba
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About the Project
The Florida United Methodist Heritage Center has been on a mission throughout 2002-2003 to capture stories, narratives, videos and original devotions written by missionaries connected to the Florida Conference. These materials will be preserved in the Archives so that future generations can study, learn from and build upon this rich legacy. Click here to learn more
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Clarke Campbell-Evans - World Parish Mission Stories Introduction
When missionaries are commissioned in The United Methodist Church, they have an anchor cross hung around their necks. Early Christian missionaries often traveled overseas to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
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