Last week was a lot of work, but it was also one of the most fruitful days in our church’s recent history. Last Sunday night we spent some time celebrating what God had done and even reviewed some of the statistics that went into the day—including 700 pounds of pumpkins, 40 pounds of ice, and 121 registered guests! I was so thankful to see 12 people saved, and that really is what it is all about, isn’t it?
Our main purpose on earth is to keep people out of hell. We exist as a church to fulfill the Great Commission and see people saved, baptized, and discipled.
Now the next step is for all of us to be more devoted Christians, whatever that means in our lives. For some, it means being baptized, and Pastor Ball preached a little bit about that last week. For others, it means getting into our discipleship program and spending time in God’s Word every day. For others it means serving.
Events like this are so good because they’re outreach focused, but as a pastor, it does my heart good to see the church serving our community. As much as you GIVE during an event like this, I’m convinced you GAIN just as much through the process of giving.
Pastor Ball told me that after Covid his church had to stop ministering for a while at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. His church went from hosting soldiers and giving of themselves every Sunday night having no soldiers for about two years. With chaplain and leadership changes on base, it has taken several years to build back to what it was, but they are still not giving of themselves every single week and he feels like more problems have sprung up through this “downtime.”
Interesting. When people are faithful and aggressive with the great commission, Christians are happier. When there’s no outlet for useful, productive ministry, it fosters a selfish mentality. People start looking at their own needs instead of the needs of others, thus neglecting the example of Jesus Christ in Philippians.
Find a ministry. Serve people. Be a witness. Live out the great commission every day!
-Pastor Ryan