Anointed... to do good

Rupert Lazar's presidential theme ‘Anointed to do good’ draws from Acts 10:38:

‘... how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the
power of the devil, because God was with him.’

He passionately believes in recognising people’s gifts and reminding them who they are in Christ.

Rupert's Anointed... to do good theme picks up on six key areas:

Watch Rupert introduce his Anointed to do Good theme:

Click here to download this video to share with your church

Rupert says, "My hope is, by the grace of God, that God’s people know who they are in Christ. Jesus knew who he was. And from this he went around doing good. When we know Jesus as a brother, when we know that we’re children of God, and have the Holy Spirit within, when we know I have been set apart, we can move forward and live radiant lives, using all our gifts. We can move forward doing good."

Doing good is a call on every single one of us to go out and be a blessing in whatever situation we find ourselves, ‘being proactive about people’s well being’.

‘Look at people with soft eyes, tender eyes, and do what Jesus would have done,’ Rupert said.

In addition, the theme is a reminder of the gospel power within us. Too many of us have lost confidence in the power of the gospel to change lives, Rupert said.

‘It’s not about compartmentalising, but recognising that we have the example of Jesus to follow, and the power through the Holy Spirit.

‘It’s dynamic, flexible, more about the life we are living, in the moment. Are we filled with the Holy Spirit? Yes. Do we have power? Yes we do.

‘Once we start compartmentalising we run into problems. Let’s not leave evangelism to the experts, as Justin Welby recently said. I don’t think Jesus compartmentalised.’

Consequently, he struggles when people claim they have 'no gifts'. 'Every Christian has at least one gift. There is nothing too small or insignificant. Indeed, we have many gifts to build the church.’

He did not choose the theme, he explained. ‘I was thinking and praying about it. It was in the midst of all that, one night it popped into my head. I knew it was from God, and from that perspective it I didn’t choose, it was chosen to give to our family.’

Born in Trinidad, Rupert is the first Caribbean President of our Baptist Union. There has previously been a Sri Lankan (Fred George 1997-8), and a Ghanaian (Kingsley Appiagyei in 2009-10). In 2006-7 Kate Coleman, who was born in Ghana before moving to the UK aged three, became the first black female President of our Union.

Rupert described becoming President as a ‘tremendous honour, privilege, and who knows where it’s going to take us? It’s going to be fun!’