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June 2009 The week of Holy Trinity
found an old document in my files that asks the question, “Does your congregation have it – that forward look?” It also states: “Ask the people of your community sometime, what they think about your parish. How would they describe it? Do they perceive that you are a group of concerned Christians who know what your purpose is and who also look eagerly to the future for opportunities to fulfill it?” In my mind I tried to answer these questions. In my heart I know the answers I want to give. I want to say that because of Redeemer congregation in Waterloo, by the power of the Gospel of Christ, more and more men, women and children are restored to life in all its fullness through faith in Jesus. All the members of your congregation are called by God to nurture one another in their trust toward God, and to equip one another for bearing witness to Jesus among the unconverted, unconvinced, spiritually disinterested, apathetic and lazy. So then all the members of your congregation are also involved in the process of planning and carrying out of the ministries of nurture and witness. Everyone in your congregation does some kind of planning every day. Every person chooses to start some task and to leave others undone or postponed. Each member plans to get involved in parish activity or to spend time during the day in prayer, Bible study, and conversation about the Saviour, or in other personal and group efforts. We know that people plan. They choose what they want to do with their time and energy. We can’t do it alone. No single person can do it alone. The parish does its most effective work when as many people as possible, leaders and members, share their ideas on what they are learning from God, from other members, and from the people of the community about their work for Christ. Get involved! Pray for your church. Do something! You cannot be a faith-in-action Christian and just sit there and do nothing. Being a Christian demands action from you! You have to live the life of faith or you are not living at all. Do you know what’s going on at your Church? Do you care? What is the purpose of your congregation? Why does your congregation exist? We have to be able to answer these questions in a positive powerful way. We have to learn afresh that we are God’s kings and priests appointed to carry out His work, assured of the success He promises whenever His Word is preached and taught. You, you need to reaffirm the unique nature and mission of Christ’s church on earth and your part in it. We all need to become convinced that our congregation can make a difference in our community and in the world. Rejoicing in His days
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