And immediately they
left their nets and followed him. –Mark
1:18
I have spent the last week or so doing “one on one” visits
with some of the rostered leaders of the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod. While I have visited individually with our
pastors and deacons in the past, this is the first time we (myself and our
Director of Evangelical Mission) are intentionally attempting to visit with
every rostered leader serving in a congregation or other ministry in the synod. What a delightful week or so it has
been! While I feel I know the folks I
have been visiting, I have learned a lot about them that I didn’t know. I have heard stories about the significant
ministry they are doing and the joys and challenges of leadership in the church
today. But mostly, I have heard stories
about peoples’ passion for the Gospel, about people who, like those first
disciples, left their nets and followed Jesus in some cases to the far corners
of the globe… including Oklahoma and
Arkansas. Once again, I have been
reminded that this is holy work that we are about in partnership with the
people the Holy Spirit has called us to serve.
For that, I can only say, “praise God!”
As the baptized people of God, we are all called upon to
participate in Jesus’ work of proclaiming the Good News of God and declaring
that the Reign of God has come near.
Like disciples before us, we are called to call people to turn to God
and believe the good news that God loves them enough to die for them on a
cross. We are called to love God, love
one another and love our neighbors as ourselves in Jesus’ name. This is not meant to be pushy or judgmental
or “holier than thou.” It’s meant to be
done with humility, compassion, kindness, mercy, forgiveness and care modeled
after the way of Jesus.
Church work can be a fishy business. But it is also a blessed one. Churches are far from perfect. In fact, they are always populated with
sinners… from the person in the pulpit
to the newcomer sitting alone in the back row.
But churches, when they are at their best, and sometimes in spite of
themselves, can also be conduits for God’s grace. Places where people hear and
experience God’s call to follow Jesus out into the world where God is already and
always at work loving the very people the Church is called to serve in Jesus’
name.
Peace,
Bishop Mike
I invite you to join me in a prayer of thanksgiving for all
those who are called to serve others in Christ’s name. Thanks for reading!
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