From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 As United Methodists, we are to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” How good are we doing with this mission? I believe, when it comes to making disciples, we do an excellent job within the church of forming faith of the disciples we have. We have a rich heritage of education and faith development. We also do an excellent job at engaging in mission within our communities and world. These are all things that we can be incredibly proud of. They are certainly things I am proud of as your pastor. Matthew 28:19 -20 are the last instructions Jesus gives his followers. You have probably heard it called the “Great Commission.” In Christendom, these final words of Jesus are the impetus for Christian evangelism. How are we, as Methodists, doing when it comes to inviting folks into the Faith and into the church? As a whole, pretty tragically. Consider this statistic: “the average United Methodist member invites only one person to church every 38 years.” That is a LOW bar for living out the Great Commission! So what are we to do with this reality? I know that you each love your church. I know you have experienced blessing upon blessing because you are part of this faith community. The confronting question must become, “Is my church and my faith good enough to share?” I believe in the power of faith in Christ. I also believe in the power of being part of a faith community. In addition, I believe that the Methodist message of a God of grace and a faith that becomes action in ministry to the world, is exactly what people want and need. We just need the courage to invite. We don’t have to have all the answers, just offer the invitation. So may this be our prayer today and in the days to come: “Lord, give me the courage and the words to invite someone to church. Help me share the bountiful blessing that faith has brought me.” Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter October 2021
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