Recently I reconnected with some old friends of mine from Michigan and I was hearing how in despair they are over the situation in their congregation.
Their congregation just started in 1999 and it is already on the verge of closing. My friend told me that some members are convinced that if they were able to afford a high profile pastor from the area that would save them.
The more I listened to his story the sadder I became. You see the congregation was looking for a saviour and had already forgotten that they had one, Jesus! They are relying on people and their own abilities to save themselves and the water gets more and more cloudy every day. My friend and his family are thinking of leaving there. I said Hold On! Don’t leave! You can be a voice for Christ in the congregation.
What is the heart of their issue? The heart of their issue is that they all need to change from within before they can see the change on the outside. If you recall from Sundays sermon I spoke about changing the mind and you can change the will. If you can put on the mind set of Christ you can change how you act and see things all around you. Their churches issues on the surface only reflect what is happening below the surface.
I explained to him that we at St. John’s have had our share of surface issues but we are healing from the inside and that is reflecting a tremendous movement on the outside.
We at St. John’s are seeing for the first time in a long time just what we can do with faith in God and hope for a blessed future. We are people that are hopeful, caring, compassionate, loving, generous, funny, blessed, encouraging, faithful, hard working, and sensitive! We are a congregation where things are happening and people want to be apart of the wonderful mission that we have here!
Our story at St. John’s was encouraging to him! He was going to take this message of hope back to his congregation to help uplift them!! I said with a positive attitude and faith in God all can be accomplished!
Not only do we touch the lives of people in our church and community but we are now a blessing to a congregation who needs hope 4 hours away! What a blessing! What a grace filled moment from God! Praise the Lord!!!!
Blessings,
Pastor Shannon