Shakespeare tells us that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but don’t names tell us something about the object, the person, or at least the family who named them? 

As our 37 volunteers and staff gathered for the first time today in Rome, long-time friends reunited by yelling one another’s names across the room.  Shouts of joy and laughter accompanied hugs and kisses. And first-time volunteers weren’t excluded. Veterans had made a commitment to learn names and faces so that everyone was welcomed personally - and by name!

Within moments, all 37 of us - including the three who were delayed in route and joined by Zoom - were worshiping the Lord by calling out His many, many names.

King of Kings

Lord of Lords

Abba - Father

Prince of Peace

Wonderful Counselor

Jehovah Rapha - God our healer

Jehovah Jireh - God our provider

El Roi - The God who sees

And on and on and on they went! Dozens of names of God, each revealing a piece of His character - and personally meaningful to those women, each declaring a testimony of God’s faithfulness and goodness as they identify how they relate to our Creator.

So what’s in a name?  Sometimes, everything!

Melani, who declared God’s name as Adonai - Lord or Master, can attest personally to the value of a name. Teaching the rest of us how to spell and pronounce her unique and precious name, she humbly quipped, “Call me anything you want; just don’t call me late for dinner.” But having lived in various countries and cultures for work in her adult life, Melani knows that learning people’s names can be a bridge to understanding who they are, building relationships, and sharing the truth of Jesus.

Melani also knows the reality of Adonai as her sovereign Lord. She originally applied to join the Thrive volunteer team for the first time several months ago, but at the time, the Rome team was full. So she graciously waited on the waitlist. She had lived in Italy for three years and loves the Italians! She saw how the Italians hung onto God when so many peoples were walking away from Him, and she couldn’t wait to get back. But after not hearing anything for several months, she surrendered to God’s plan and timing.

And then three weeks ago, the email came. Her name had been called.

And with only a few hours of processing and planning, she realized that Adonai, her Lord and Master, had all of the details already worked out. With last-minute preparations underway, Melani left on a three-day mission trip to Mexico, returning home just this past Sunday. She did her laundry, repacked, touched base with work, and headed back out the door for Rome.

And upon entering the volunteer meeting room this afternoon, she was greeted with hugs and calls of her name - even if they were mispronounced at first.

Like Melani, the entire volunteer and staff team are eagerly awaiting God to show up in new and meaningful ways this week! And who knows? Maybe we’ll walk away freshly identifying with names of God that reveal His true character in our personal and corporate lives.

“But now thus says the Lord,

he who created you, O Jacob,

    he who formed you, O Israel:

‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

    I have called you by name, you are mine.’”

Isaiah 43:1