VBS evangelism – taking things seriously!

Last Wednesday night sister Lo Richards led the Prayer meeting with a special emphasis on praying for the upcoming VBS program.  The few nights before we talked at the Board meeting about our evangelism planning, and what is very obvious to all, is that we cannot and should not see a single event at the end of the year as THE evangelism.  The real evangelism is happening everyday as we meet and mingle with people.

The text chosen by sister Richards was taken from 2^nd Corinthians 2:14-17.  The metaphor of being “God’s perfume” – in Christ God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. 

Our presence is evangelism! Holy Spirit’s work in us produces Christ’s presence, and, according to Apostle Paul, people could “smell it” and it turns them to consider Jesus.  No need for gimmicks, mass media advertisement, PR campaigns, or any other stressful deeds to produce an event we call “evangelism.”  As we go about daily lives meeting people, serving people, just being Christians, they would notice THE WAY to God in us.

Starting tonight volunteers will set up and continue through Sunday preparing to serve kids.  Monday-Friday night scores of children from the community would pour into our church to learn about Bible, about Jesus.  Pray for all involved to experience true evangelism.  By the way – the theme this year is “Spiritual Warfare!”

10 “stations” are designated on this “way of VBS,” please pray for each this week:

1.      Registration team – first faces kids and parents meet.

2.      4 teams and their leaders, who will organize kids into groups.

3.      Praise Team

4.      Audio-Visual support team

5.      Drama team

6.      Bible Story

7.      Food & snacks team

8.      Games

9.      Crafts

10.  Graduation service – at which we connect with parents

And the follow up after the program is over, inviting kids to Adventurers and Children’s church.

Let’s take seriously this opportunity to present God to children!

Send to serve....social justice!!!

With this blog I am following up on the question raised last Sabbath.  Worship service sends us into mission.  Do we know where and for what we are sent? Has last Sabbath’s church service and time of worship sent you to go somewhere this past week?  Did you get engaged in the mission this past week? 

We had spent this whole week in Spanish town, Northern Ontario, serving, helping a local congregation.  I read through the book of Isaiah for personal reflection and revival.  What impresses me is that Isaiah “sending” was not for church liturgy, services, gatherings, seminars, training, rituals...  Prophet Isaiah may not have been the most popular speaker in his time.  He was certainly not a celebrity, as his message was “Thus Says the Lord!  I hate your church services, I cannot stand your worship rituals” (Isaiah 1:11-15)

The “sending” that Isaiah was passionate about was the lifestyle of God’s people, the social justice of taking care of people.  The “lifestyle” - what comes to mind when you hear this word, “lifestyle”?  For many the term came to mean how we dress, not having studs in our ears, or tattoos in visible places; for others, “lifestyle” means giving up meat, for some putting cheese in “sin” category, for others “lifestyle” means being vegan, or fitness, or ..... and the list may go on. There are “Lifestyle management” companies which provide personal assistance and concierge services to cater to all areas of an individual´s life ranging from family to professional matters.   The new trend is “life coach” profession.  Yet, for our worship to be acceptable before God, it is not about how we appear on Sabbath, but about taking care of oppressed.

Isaiah’s concern was the lifestyle of service, lifestyle of caring for people, lifestyle of restoring social justice.  Righteousness to Isaiah meant not solemn assemblies, or rituals.  Righteousness = Justice.

We all, at different times in our lives, memorized Isaiah 1:18 - “come let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet, they will be white as snow, red as crimson – white as wool”  Now consider the context!!!  The very next verse, 19 invites to obedience.  Later words “send me” of Isaiah 6 are response to this call for obedience.  When you leave worship is not about emotional high and hype of “we had church today!” feel good, but it is about leaving the assembly to do something in changing injustice around you. 

Another prophet, a contemporary of Isaiah, Amos, gives a vivid metaphor “let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream” (5:24).  Imagine the waterfall – Niagara!  Or the recent flooding in Alberta!  Not just doing something once a month for a few hours, at the Ark Aid, or community service – but letting your life be a waterfall of social care, your presence to be like a river of blessings for powerless, weak; flooding those around you with loving kindness, care and remedy for people pain.

As you sit in worship today, having praised, prayed, being forgiven. Hearing God’s word, are you moved by God’s Spirit to go and establish justice where it is absent?  Are there weak and marginalized people you know that you could make a difference for?  God sends you to serve.

True worship liberates!

My attention was attracted this week by an article entitled "The Effects of Liberating Worship: 'Here I Am. Send Me!' with a link to a Pedrito Maynard-Reid's closing presentation at the 2013 Andrews University Music and Worship Conference.  I just had to listen, because it resonated with what I always want to communicate with churches I serve – the reason we come to worship is that the Word of God would move us into mission.  We come to worship to be reminded that our mission is to bring others to worship God.

Our worship is not about us, but about God.  We do not worship our accomplishments but the Great God who blesses us.  We do not celebrate our inclusiveness, but the God of Love who is welcoming to all.  We do not showcase our talents, but offer our best praise to the Awesome God.

Isaiah 6 has been the model for liturgy.  It starts with adoration of God, moves into confession and admission of our sins and need for God, followed by receiving forgiveness “your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” The ancient Hebrew concept/word for message/oracle was same as “burden.”   To have an oracle, was to have a burden (Malachi 1:1).  When a person is burdened by sin, guilt, doubt, blame – one cannot bear God’s burden, cannot hear God’s oracle!  That’s why first sins are to be forgiven, and liberation from guilt and doubt is to be received. This liberation from guilt prepares worshippers to hear the proclamation of the Word.  Do you hear the Word of God in worship, or are you plagued by your guilt, doubts, anxiety, worries?

When we receive the Word, unhindered by our burdens, then it produces the dedication “Here am I, send me!”  Isaiah’s  vision is a descriptive paradigm of all worship.  Notice that success of church worship is not the responsibility of the pastor, or the praise leader, or the prayer leader.  These have all their role and place.  Our praise and music leads all participants to focus on God, to adore God’s majesty and greatness, to see the true God enthroned.  Our Praise time has to move your attention from the world to the heavenly Sanctuary where angels bow down.  You!  Join the praise!  Adore the Lord God Almighty with all your being, your heart, mind and strength!

Our prayer leaders invite you to confess, to lay down your burdens, to receive forgiveness and freedom.  Pour your heart in prayer, let the Holy Spirit search your inner thoughts and let go of all entanglements.  Be free!  Receive by faith God’s forgiveness and justification.

The preacher delivers the word for you!  Hear the word!  Pay attention! So the Spirit can move you into mission.  At every ordination service we sing “So send I you!”  Here’s the question I want you to ponder “Send where and for what?”  Do we know where and for what we are sent?  I’ve heart from some of you, and had seen some responding in prayer of recommitment after the sermon.  Many have felt and responded to the appeal of change. Yet, not many are on the personal mission. 

When you leave the time of corporate worship, are you engaged in the mission?  Has today’s worship moved you to respond “Here I am, send me?”  Thing about your mission as a response to today’s worship!

On being a missional church

Today many members are attending the Mississauga Camp-meeting.  It is a one-day-celebration event to encourage church in Ontario to go beyond our comforts, as we look upward awaiting the coming Lord Jesus in Glory.

How’s your “going beyond” been lately?  This past Wednesday I had an opportunity to share with those gathered for our mid-week service on being a missional church.  Read following verses: Acts 9:2, 19:9,23; 22:4; 24;14,22 and you will see that the early church was called the WAY.  Jesus called Himself “the Way, the Truth, the Life” (John 14:6) and his followers understood that they were to be Jesus to the world, after He ascended.

“Go Make Disciples” to the early believers meant “Go Do Me!” says Leonard Sweet.  It is an interesting rendering.  Very true paraphrase.  That’s what the church was and did – being the Body of Christ, being Christ to the world around them.  We would like to claim the “remnant” status – returning to the radical roots of apostolic faith.  Then this mindset is not optional.  The Church of Jesus is the Way, is on the Way, is going.

Some say we are ON a mission.  Yet, if the “ON” means a switch, like “ON/OFF” then the church could be either ON or OFF the mission, which is false.  The true Church is the Mission, not part time, not when convenient, not when half-empty and need new people, but all the time, 24x7!!!  If our church sign would read “London Seventh-day Adventist Mission” how would that change our dynamics?

As a child you may have played the game of TAG. You are being chased, and then “tagged” with words “you’re IT!” and now it’s your turn to chase.  As soon as you say to Jesus “I’m in” He says back at you “you’re out!”  GO, make disciples, “tag” people with the Kingdom of God message!

The Church of Jesus is not about “keeping God in His Holy Temple,” the building.  On the day of Pentecost the Mission fell on the church!  We are the Temples, and wherever we go – Jesus is manifested.

What is your Personal Mission?  Christ’s church accepts His vision of priesthood of every believer, implying personal ministry of every believer.  Prayerfully check your personal ministry and mission.  Are you GOING?

Mission next door

First day of summer! J... Some are dreaming of going to the beach, time permitting.  Others are being evacuated (in Calgary) from flash-floods due to heavy rain.  Some are going to stay in doors, away from the heat wave (btw, the Medical Officer of Health has issued Middlesex-London’s first Heat Alert of 2013 from Sunday, June 23, and continue until into Tuesday, June 25).   Others are planning mission trip up north to support smaller church communities. What’s your plan for this summer?

During the snowy winter people find excuse from doing witnessing in the cold weather.  It’s not convenient to go door to door when wind is chilling.  Summer time is too hot.  Spring – too busy with yard work, clean up and getting ready for the summer.   Fall – too wet.  Seems there is no season fit for active witnessing.  Or, maybe, every season should be an opportune moment!  I heard a comparison of evangelism as “flashing.”  Walking in long coats hiding what’s on the inside, and then, for just a moment, “flash” of the inside: “here’s my Jesus, ta-dah!!!”  Really?

The only way witnessing really work, is Jesus’ Style of evangelism: “Christ's method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, "Follow Me."--Ministry of Healing, p. 143.

This kind of evangelism, mingling with people, works year-around!  Last Church Council (Board) meeting, June 10, I shared the summary of our 3 months discussion, which followed the rally in April on evangelism as a process.  It makes sense to expect the harvest from an event in October when through the year we are actively planting seeds of friendship, and Jesus’ love in peoples’ lives.  The Fall Harvest event, which some call a “crusade” J has one purpose – to transition people from spectators to being disciples, from consumers to producers.  But first – they need to be consumers and spectators!

We affirm that our homes are the front line of evangelism.  It is in our households among family and friends that first interest for knowing Christ is developed.  We affirm that our multiple ministries are venues for evangelism.  As groups of interest, like Pathfinders, Adventurers, men’s and women’s ministries, CHIP alumni, task force groups of Community Services, and other small groups interact with people – first introduction to Christ and His Gospel Message takes place.  We affirm the Church School, A.C.E.S. of London, as the most effective tool of evangelising our children, transmitting Biblical values and forming most impressionable characters.  Most of all, we affirm that every believer is to lead someone to Christ, every believer is to minister to one another in Jesus’ Name.  It is this process that makes a year-end event of ‘reaping” effective.  Without year-around process no “crusade” will do, no matter how much fight we put up!

This summer, consider who it is that you are evangelising, who it is that you are mingling with and witnessing about Jesus.