Pricey Pal,
As I appeared out on the crowd that had gathered for the CMS Summer season College in Katoomba, Australia, this previous January, quite a few ideas have been working via my thoughts. I used to be humbled by the invitation that had introduced me to the occasion and by the upholding prayer from my very own congregation, which was, at that second, so far-off. I used to be additionally struck by the extent to which these attending have been engaged in CMS’s imaginative and prescient to hunt “a world that is aware of Jesus.”
John Newton was one of many founding members of the Church Missionary Society (CMS), a gaggle of evangelicals keen about worldwide Gospel outreach. I feel he may scarcely have imagined the worldwide affect of CMS in the present day. You’ll not be in any respect shocked once I say that a few strains from a hymn got here effervescent up:
Elect from ev’ry nation,
But one o’er all of the earth,
Her constitution of salvation
One Lord, one religion, one delivery
Sitting beside the archbishop of Sydney in a congregation that was largely Anglican, we sang to God’s reward, and I rejoiced within the fellowship of the Gospel, which in Christ transcends denominational distinctives. Evangelical unity is what marked the ministry of George Whitefield within the eighteenth century when he preached no less than eighteen thousand occasions to huge crowds. As we come to the top of our research in John 17 at Parkside, we’re challenged and inspired to suppose, pray, and act alongside these strains.
On the coronary heart of God’s plan for the world is the Church, which Jesus is constructing all through the nations. We obtain many calls asking for steering about what to search for when selecting an area church. I often say, “Should you discover a good church, don’t be a part of it, as a result of it should then not be good!”
Should you’re searching for route, there are important attributes that mark a congregation faithfully adhering to the muse given within the guide of Acts: The church believes that the Phrase of God does the work of God via the Spirit of God within the folks of God, Christ is supreme, the sacraments/ordinances and prayer are honored, and the fellowship is humble, joyful, beneficiant and welcoming. “Is the pastor a Gospel man?” is a vital query to reply.
I’m vastly inspired to listen to from many pastors who’re satisfied of our dedication at Fact For Life to see native church buildings strengthened. The ministry of TFL exists to see this occur increasingly more. My ongoing involvement at Fact For Life after my redeployment from the Sunday-by-Sunday preaching at Parkside will permit me time to be of assist and encouragement to males in pastoral ministry.
Quickly, the snow right here in Cleveland will likely be gone, and you may pay us a go to at Fact For Life and attend a worship service at Parkside! For now, this comes with the expressed gratitude of our total crew on your partnership within the Gospel and with my love within the Lord Jesus.
Alistair
