What’s in a name | Sequoia Mission

Where Did the Name for Sequoia Mission Come From?

The title of this website is God inspired. Prior to prayer for a name for my website, I had no particular interest in or knowledge about Sequoia trees. A quick internet search about what makes Sequoias special revealed the mission for this website:

“Giant sequoia specimens are the most massive individual trees in the world.”

At the time of creating this website I was only a child in Christ subsisting on milk, but now have moved onto meat. “...Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 This blog is a place to break bread and fellowship together; a place to live a Christian life and grow together. If you feel called to grow into a massive, giant sequoia in your walk with Christ, you are invited here to partake in the meals I prepare made of God’s words.

“Giant sequoias only reproduce by seeds which sometimes remain in the cone for 20 years. Forest fires help open the cones which then grow from the burnt, bare soil.”

I was once an Athiest, for 15 years, and at the time of writing this, I’ve been a Christian for 3 years. By that math I have about 2 more years of maturing and preparing before the fire strikes and my seeds of influence are spread. Putting yourself in the public light is akin to being set on fire. I am okay with that if I can plant seeds to save another’s eternal soul. The highest form of love is ‘agape’, to sacrifice yourself for the sake of another. I am willing to do that for you. Let’s go!

“Sequoias are some of the largest and oldest trees in the world. These massive trees can live for over 3,000 years thanks to a chemical in their bark called tannin, which helps to protect against rot, boring insects and even fire.”

The Word of God in us is like the tannin that protects us from internal rot, external persons who try to bore into our souls to destroy us, and even from everlasting fire.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Matthew 24:35

‘How do sequoia trees survive fires? The bark of the tree can be up to 18-inches thick and the fibers help not only resist burning but also insulate the tree from the heat of the fire.”

So, the sheer size of the tree helps it withstand fire, another reason to grow big and to do so quickly. “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” 1 Corinthians 9 24-25

In my words, ‘grow in such a way as to survive the fire.’

“Fires also help prepare the soil for the sequoia seeds to germinate and burn away the undergrowth.”

The fires that I may face (persecution, criticism, loss of privacy and ridicule), may be tough to endure, but it will serve to:

1) Release the seeds of God’s word;

2) Prepare the soil for the seeds germinate (to take root);

3) Burn away the thorns that are life’s worries, riches and pleasures that stifle growth;

4) Create soil that is not rocky, but thick, soft and welcoming so that crows don’t come by and pick the seeds out of place;

5) and to create good soil so that fellow Christians with noble and good hearts can hear the Word, retain it, and by persevering produce a good crop.

The above is in reference to:

Luke 8:4-15

New International Version 4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” 9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see: though hearing, they may not understand.’ 11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.