GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
  • Welcome
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Calendar
    • Contact Us
    • Directions
    • Grace Notes Online
    • History
    • Memorium
    • SOAP Readings
    • Staff
    • Worship Schedule
    • Worship Service Recordings
  • Ministries
    • Education
    • Mary & Martha Circle
    • Ministries >
      • Ministry News
    • Music Ministry
    • Secret Prayer
    • Super Seniors
    • TV Ministry
    • Women of Grace
    • Youth Ministry
  • Pastor's Message
  • Giving
  • Forms
  • Welcome
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Calendar
    • Contact Us
    • Directions
    • Grace Notes Online
    • History
    • Memorium
    • SOAP Readings
    • Staff
    • Worship Schedule
    • Worship Service Recordings
  • Ministries
    • Education
    • Mary & Martha Circle
    • Ministries >
      • Ministry News
    • Music Ministry
    • Secret Prayer
    • Super Seniors
    • TV Ministry
    • Women of Grace
    • Youth Ministry
  • Pastor's Message
  • Giving
  • Forms

Pastor Ron's Message

September 2018

9/7/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Dear Friends -

Acts begins with Jesus sending his followers as his witnesses, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses... ” It ends with Paul, imprisoned in Roman still proclaiming the gospel. Acts 28:30, 31, “For two whole years Paul stayed there (Rome) in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance.”

The role of Jesus’ followers has not changed. We still live under Jesus’ command to be his witnesses.

It may seem harder to fulfill that call today. I once asked Rev. Sam Knappenburger what he did in the 1960's to attract so many people. (Sammy had served Franklin First UMC when they built their education wing.) He said, “Our problem wasn’t getting people to come. They came in droves. Our problem was to figure out what to do with them once they came.”

It’s different today. Visitors do not come in droves. Families do not move into our area in great numbers. Those who do move here often aren’t looking for a church. We have to go looking for them.

But this does not mean that the Lord is not drawing people to himself. The good shepherd still roams the hills in search of lost sheep he may bring back to the fold. No, the change is not in the Lord. The change is in our culture, and in our church. Reaching people for Jesus Christ requires different skills today.

That is why I want to encourage you to attend the outreach seminar “See All the People” on September 28 (See related article). I believe the seminar will both inspire us and provide practical training for success. If a number of us attend, perhaps 6 or 8, we will be able to bring back ideas that will help the entire congregation.

Many people who don’t attend or even like the church, think highly of Jesus. Many are looking for a purpose in their lives. Many are seeking something or someone through whom they can make a difference in our world. All this makes successful outreach in our time possible.

So please mark your calendar and plan to attend “See All the People.” See what God may do through us when we see all the people he is seeking today.

​
- Pastor Byron

0 Comments

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Archives

    March 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Home
welcome

ABOUT US
MINISTRIES

​PASTOR'S MESSAGE​
​

GIVING
​Forms

©2021 Midnight Tractor Design