Greetings from the Moderator JUNE 2024
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Children of God,
Last month I ended with questions about how we bring the Good News to people, particularly the "None of the Aboves," where they are. I happen to have had a conversation with Dawn Neff shortly after those questions and she had a story to tell. She was involved in a ministry that was very much on the street level where the ministry was to those who were food, housing, and often spiritually insecure. The ministry of fellowship and worship was not limited to just a service once each week but rather every day. Dawn told me she learned a lot more about God and the Word of God from the folks who came than the knowledge she had to teach them. There was interaction and worship. The church soon had a building and was able to offer limited services to its congregants. One of the other positive by-products, according to Dawn, was that all the people who live and work in the towers could look down and see activity at that church building all the time. Some of these tower dwellers soon showed up. So, how do we find people where they are especially when they have the time and the energy to devote to hearing the Word of the Lord? Let’s ponder that in conjunction with something new to me: The Central Florida Pledge. I became aware of The Pledge in April. The pledge is simple, and it looks and sounds like Christ’s ministry to me. Of note: after I signed up I received one(!) e-mail from them acknowledging my signing and no other related e-mails. This pledge (and its message) is home-grown to Central Florida. Dr Joel Hunter is leading the effort on this. He spoke recently at Park Lake, and I am sure he would be happy to come share his message with your Church, too. Here is the pledge. THE PLEDGE I WILL lead by example, treating all people, especially those with whom I disagree, with kindness and respect I WILL refrain from inflammatory words and actions, and actively support those being attacked I WILL report threatening incidents of hate and violence to 800-423-TIPS (8477) I WILL educate myself about antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, homophobia, and all other forms of discrimination, and help others in my circle of influence to do the same For me I see these actions as helping me to try and fulfill the second of Jesus’ great commandments, to love my neighbor as myself. I/we cannot keep all the Children of God safe, but we can abide with them as God abides in us and us in Him. We can let the unchurched, the discriminated against, the hated, all know God and know that God loves them, and we love them. We can go to these Children of God and show up with a cheese sandwich, a bottle of water, a prayer, and listen … just abiding with them. May the Lord bless you and keep you. Blessings, John
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Ruling Elder John Rogers
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