"Taking a Bold Step"

 

“Taking a Bold Step”

 

While driving through Lakeland earlier this summer I was listening to Chicago Pastor Mark Jobe’s radio program “Bold Steps”. He told of a retired Christian businessman who came to him several years ago to ask for help for the church he’d been part of for several decades. The once-thriving church had dwindled to about 30 people, almost all senior citizens. As their discussion continued Pastor Mark offered to assist under one condition: that the church alter its ministry style to meet the needs of its changing surroundings. The members agreed and the results were phenomenal—younger families began attending, people were coming to know Christ and the staid old church experienced a new enthusiasm. After observing what God was doing the man who’d spoken to Pastor Mark said to him, “I love seeing the nursery being used again, Sunday School rooms filled with children and families worshipping together, but I hate the music! But,” he continued, “I can listen to the hymns I love on my way to and from church.” He and other long-time attenders had taken a bold step by putting their own preferences aside and God honored their willingness to change. (As a side note, this gentleman and I served on our Church Association’s Board together in the 1990’s and I saw him then as a man of great faith and commitment.)

While serving in New Hampshire our church, which had split in the late 1980’s, was reunited in 1992. With this miracle of God’s grace came changes in our approach to ministry. As new people became part of the fellowship a dear older couple (both now with the Lord) came to me and said, “The church may not be doing things the way we’d like but if it brings younger people to hear about Jesus we’re all for it.” And God blessed them and others like them who were willing to take bold steps to reach out with His love.

As we read through Acts we see many bold steps taken as the new church took Jesus’ parting command in Acts 1:8 seriously (“…You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”). At least thirteen times Dr. Luke states that the believers were “together”, suggesting they were willing to put personal desires aside and fulfill Paul’s later admonition, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4).

Am I/Are we willing to take such bold steps to obey Jesus’ Great Commission?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan