|
|
Dear Friends.
First, you will notice that we have
a new format for the Church Magazine.
Pat Adlam has been our editor over the last two years. Thank you Pat,
for your diligent service in producing a valuable communication tool.
Our new editor is Alicja Cieniawska and she has worked hard on this
first edition. The magazine will be produced bi-monthly so if you have
any items or material you wish to be included for the October/November
edition, please pass them on to Alicja.
If you have been coming to recent services at South Street, you will
know that 'Mission' is in the air! We have invited 8 people from Through
Faith Missions to join us for a Mission week in September, the details
of which will be found elsewhere in the magazine.
It is vital for us as a Church and people to understand that Mission is
at the forefront of all that we do. It stems from a number of biblical
principles, first and foremost of which is COMMISSION. Jesus said to his
disciples prior to his ascension: ..go and make disciples of all
nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe everything I have
commanded you. (Matt 28:19,20) It is in obedience to the Great
Commission which Jesus gave his disciples that we 'go' to a needy
community with the gospel.
It is Mission borne out of COMPASSION. As God has had compassion on us,
so we should have compassion on those around us who do not know Jesus as
Saviour and Lord. Paul had this compassion when he said of his
contemporaries: ..my heart's desire and prayer for the Israelites is
that they may be saved (Romans 10:1). Jesus when he saw the crowds on
his final approach to Jerusalem before his death wept with compassion:
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it (Luke
19:41)
And there is also a sense of COMPULSION. Not of burdensome duty but of
loving service recognising that God has saved us by his grace and that
we therefore are his 'ambassadors' to bring the good news to our
community. Again Paul says: For the love of Christ compels us....we are
therefore Christ's ambassadors as though God were making his appeal
through us. (2 Cor 5:14,20)
May I encourage you not only to pray as we approach the September event,
but also to play your part in whatever way you can to share in this
outreach event. Please have a chat to Peter, Tony or myself as to how
you could help.
Your friend and pastor,
Philip
|