Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
"If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin."
1 John 1:6-7
Our city recently celebrated its first Mayor's Prayer Breakfast. As a part of the program, we invited pastors to tell us a bit about how their churches are helping the people of Farmington. Quite often people do not know about all the ways our churches help people in need.
Sometimes it's through a Christmas coat drive. Sometimes it's through a Back to School event. Sometimes it's something as simple as an appreciation dinner or as complex as an ongoing food pantry. But in all cases the church is where thousands of people each year go when they are in need.
The church is the only place I know of where ideas for helping people through sacrificial giving are born. Whenever a new ministry is born there is always someone who says, "I've been thinking how I can help."
Have you seen a neighbor in need and wanted to help in some way but didn't know how. Chances are the church has a way to help.
We provide most everything a child needs to go back to school.
We work to make sure people have presents to give during Christmas.
We provide clothes to those who have none and food to those who have nothing to eat.
We provide backpacks and coats for kids and we celebrate our police and fire departments with gifts of appreciation.
We are the ones at the ribbon cuttings for a new business and grand openings of a new building.
We help those with addictions and support those who are suffering through grief.
We pray for our leaders and we write cards to our troops.
We knit prayer blankets for children undergoing an illness and put together disaster kits for those suffering from nature's fury.
We're not a place where you go for judgment, but a place where you go for support.
We don't point our fingers, but instead we provide a helping hand.
We worship together, we cry together and we laugh together and we do it all with the knowledge of the tie that binds everything together.
Are you hearing the cry of the needy?
Do you want to help the least and lost in society?
Do you feel the pain of those suffering in our world today?
Then look no further than your church. Find a community of believers today and help make our city, state and world a better place to live.
Let us pray.
Our gracious God. Today we thank you for the opportunity to come together as a family of God united in praise and worship of your holy name. Even though we may be long-time church members or seekers of the faith, we know that we can find community in your place of worship. And for this, we give you thanks. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
PASTOR TROY CONRAD IS MINISTER OF THE FARMINGTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.
Religion on 03/25/2015