Evangelism

As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully. (2 Timothy 4:5)

Luisa and I are prayerfully reaching out to United Methodists in the Metropolitan District of the New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Our desirable outcomes are:

1. Encouraging the leadership in the local churches within the district to work with pastors in carrying out the mission of Jesus Christ in New York City and beyond.
2. Equipping clergy and laity in the district with more tools for the work of evangelizing in urban ministry.
3. Evangelizing in the boroughs of the Metropolitan District as to grow the church membership numerically through strong leadership, dynamic worship, committed stewardship, faithful discipleship, and participatory fellowship.
4. Enlarging the target areas of the local churches in the district through partnerships in ministries, and cooperative witnessing for membership growth.

What is evangelism? George Morris, a leader in evangelism within the United Methodist denomination, was my professor of evangelism at Candler on the campus of Emory University in Georgia during the late 70s. He emphasis was on the fact that definitions for evangelism are born out of the nature of the Christian mission. In essence, everything done for Jesus Christ is evangelizing, when the desirable outcome is the "making of disciples for Christ."

Evangelism has always been the FLAGSHIP of winning souls, when such is bringing persons into commitment to the Christian faith. United Methodists at the 2006 General Conference made a bold step in the right direction for evangelism by adding to the local church (denominational) membership vows. Persons joining local church are asked to vow to "uphold the local church by your presence, prayers, service, gifts, and witness." This was done as a result of the denomination having lost members over the last two decades in enormous numbers. Whatever brought it about, it is the right request for the people called Methodists. The primary call of Jesus is for his disciples to the disciple people throughout the world, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The church is not a playground for secular ideas, it is a place for spiritual grounding in sacred ideals. Secularism seeks relationships and memberships, because the very nature is to form social clubs. Spiritualism in the Christian faith has to do with worship, discipleship, fellowship, leadership, and stewardship, which has as its outcome reconciliation leading to sacred relationships and memberships by products of the mission not the primary purpose. Turning our mindset from secular thinking and to the spiritual disciplines, we will grow the local churches. Therefore, the denomination will witness an increase in members again for the right reason. The reason of speaking up for Jesus Christ convincingly, rebuking naysayers, encouraging the faithful, and teaching with patience the seekers.

FLAGSHIP EVANGELISM IN THE NEW YORK ANNUAL CONFERENCE

1. Worship
1. Praise
2. Prayer
   
2. Leadership
1. Convince
2. Concise
   
3. Stewardship
1. Time
2. Talents
3. Treasures
   
4. Discipleship
1. Missions
   
2. Ministries
   
5. Fellowship
1. Encourage
2. Enrich
   
6. Reconciliation
1. Relationship
1. Renew
   
2. Rebuke by speaking the truth in love
   
2. Membership
1. Evangelize
1. Witness
   
2. Endure
1. Working for Christ
   

Luisa and I are praying for you to join us. For more information on when you may dialogue with us, please contact Shirley Pinckney at 718.671.0955 and ask about our clergy/laity gatherings.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, be with our spirit. Amen.

Let There Be Peace!

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2)

What happened to the weekly singing of Let There Be Peace on Earth? The peace that was meant to be for the future good of the world. Where is it? It was to begin with the person in the mirror. What happened?

People come to church wanting a place of peace. A place where people may be fitted for the world. The church should be the place of shalom. The church is for ordinary people, but it is an extraordinary place. The Body of Christ is extraordinary, yet existing for the comfort of ordinary people. It is the place of worship.

In accord with the teachings of Paul, the spiritual place of worship is with each individual. The intentional giving of the yourself to God daily. Our church facilities and corporate worship becomes the place where we are fitted for the true worship in daily living. One commentator writes in wording that is so pronounced: "The entire existence of believers should be sacrificial worship of God, in response to the sacrifice of God's Son (3:24-26). This requires choosing to be transformed in the mind by the Spirit of God (8:14; 1 Corinthians 2:12) rather than conforming to 'what everyone else does.'" (pg. 1939, The Discipleship Study Bible)

Come dwell in a place of peace. Each day, when you awake, give thanks to God and clothe yourself in the study of the Bible. Wear righteousness as your garment of protection by living in holiness. Be an intentional maker of peace throughout each day, until it is unintentionally habitual. Memorize Scriptural verses every morning, so as to be equipped against the challenges of evil. Shield yourself from the temptations by standing firm in the faith. Know without doubt that you are saved by grace, which is efficiently sufficient. Pray in the spirit of asking God for all things good.

When we all carry the daily deportment of children of God, then will "peace be to the whole community, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 6:23)

We are body builders for Christ, so be strong in the Lord. Amen.

Comfort One Another

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 4:14)

We don't have to ask if Jesus is coming back, because He is coming. We are not sure of when, where, or how. The fact is that the Lord is coming and on His return those who are asleep with the belief in Jesus will see the Lord, before those yet alive when He comes. He is coming back.
Rebecca Gibson died on Sunday, August 31, 2008. When persons die in our community of faith, the minister turns to the Bible for words of comfort. Some times those words come easy. There are times when words of comfort are difficult to find. In the case of Ms. Gibson the Word jumped into my mind without opening the Bible. Easy, I would say! Not amazed? Well, check this out.
I did not know Ms. Gibson. I do not know her life at this moment. I cannot tell you the numbers of years, months, weeks, days, etc. of her life. Nothing has been presented to me to say the number of moons and sunrises or sunsets she saw. Yet, the Word of God for her service came easy.
Paul in his elderly state of life wrote to churches, which embodied people that he loved. He left with them through writings his theological believes and wishes for the children of God. In one of his messages to the church of the Thessalonians, Paul encourages them to love one another and those beyond their city. A city, very much, like New York City having major Jewish influence and people worshipping various gods in the midst of the existence of God. Boldly the champion for the cause of Christ asked that those yet alive believe in the second coming of Jesus. In by so believing, increase in the love of people, strive to live in peace as you mind your own business, and work and walk right toward others as you prosper in life. What a message!
The comfort to be found in the death of Rebecca or a love one is in the message they leave. The comfort may be found in the message from their experience of time on earth. A message that reflects love above hate, peace to replace war, self-reflections as oppose to false accusations, an attitude of do unto others as you would have them do unto you, so that you prosper without harm to another soul. What is the message of Rebecca? It is a simple one. How do I know? I have just told you. Her message jumped right into my mind as though her spirit placed it there. Ready? It is real simple, because she died as she lived - in comfort.

Her message is this: "Comfort one another!"

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, bring peace to our souls and love through our lives, one person to another. Amen.