Reflections

Reflections from Bro. Rudy –

April 25, 2012

IN WHAT DIRECTION ARE WE FOCUSED?

The General Conference for United Methodist began yesterday (Tuesday, April 24^th) in Tampa.  This morning Bishop Peter Weaver gave the Episcopal address.  Many have been passing on quotes from his address by Facebook and Tweeter.  In the words of Adam Hamilton, pastor at the Church of the Resurrection in Kansas, “Bishop Weaver nailed it!  Stirring Episcopal Address! Resurrection Revolution!”

Dr. Leonard Sweet passed on this statement of Bishop Weaver’s address: “Too many have swapped the ‘Let's Go!’ of the Great Commission for the 'status quo' of no mission.”  That is the reason many churches are not growing.  They have made the church all about themselves. 

Years ago Dr. Herb Miller shared that he was challenged to ask his congregation to raise their hands if they had brought someone to Christ.  Then he backed off, fearing no one would raise their hand.  But that is the critical question – have I introduced anyone to my Savior? Since the early days of the church, people have brought people to Jesus. 

In today’s culture, it often begins with an invitation to worship or some event at the church.  We send a questionnaire to all first time worship guests.  One of the questions asked; “How did you hear about Gardendale-Mt. Vernon UMC?”  Over half of those who return the questionnaire say they were invited to our church.  Sometimes they even write in the name of the person who invited them. 

In Second Corinthians, Paul calls us to be Ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:19).  An ambassador is one who is sent out.  We cannot be ambassadors without going.  Yet, as Bishop Weaver said, we are often more interested in the “status quo” than in Christ’s mission of reaching the world.

 Shortly after we began the 9:45 service, one blamed me because his family was no longer sitting together during worship.  Some were going to the 9:45 service instead of sitting on the family pew at 11:00.  Today, the 9:45 service is not only our largest, but more baptisms and professions of faith take place in that service than the other two.  It is accomplishing what Bill Easum said, when he challenged us to begin a contemporary service at that time frame.  For those who don’t know the name Bill Easum, he is a United Methodist Church consultant who worked with our church about a decade ago.     

Bishop Weaver, in his address to General Conference also said; “None of this is for the preservation of the institution! But all of this is for the transformation of the entire world.”  Yet, the preservation of the institution, as we like it, is often our focus.  We tend to forget that this is not our church.  It is Christ’s Church.  And this church of Christ exists to make disciples for the transformation of the world.

I encourage you to continue to pray for General Conference as the business part of the Conference will soon begin.  It is my prayer that the mission of Christ will become the dominating theme of the congregation. 

Thanks to everyone who gave items, purchase items and served during the Mission Yard Sale.  Over $5,000 was raised to help send our Volunteers in Missions Team out.

Don’t forget, the CEC Golf Tournament is Saturday week, May 5^th.  The money raised will go toward the next phase of making the playground handicapped accessible.  You can go to the website www.gmvumc.org for registration and sponsor information.

    

As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome.  You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.