Hello Folks,
Just this past Saturday our youth Sunday School class sponsored an outreach. They washed cars for free, gave hot dogs and bibles away. They had a lot of cars stop and the approximately 35 people who washed cars were busy. We had families helping with small children as well as some of our older adults. I am not sure how many people stopped for the free car wash and hotdogs but many of them were curious about the congregation and willing received the material that was given. What a joy it is to have people who are willing to do what they can in an effort to present Christ to our world.
I wonder how many of us are willing to wash cars or do something that is inconvenient for us in an effort to let our world know that there is a Savior who came so all of us could be saved? Is that not the crux of the issue for us as followers of Jesus? We may be willing to go to church but are we willing to try to reach people outside of our doors. What opportunities could be given us if we were willing to be inconvenienced? Maybe we could feed a family that said they were hungry like the folks did here this past Saturday. Maybe we could get folks to tart thinking about their need of Christ like some of them did this past Saturday. Maybe we could intersect with someone who really did not attend church and finally admitted that they only went every now and then. Could it be possible that a car wash will be used by God to help people to consider their eternity?
Well, maybe this week you and I could decide that we will watch for someone that God will bring our way for us to witness to about Jesus. Or, maybe we could find some way to witness to someone by our actions toward them. What about it will you watch for someone that you could share Christ with?
Have a great one,
HGRudd
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Hello Folks,
I must celebrate that there are times when it is a great joy to be able to point to the efforts of God's people to reach into the world. This can be done in numerous ways. There are times when personal evangelism is the means by which the church attempts this then there are various ways that they attempt to do this as a body. This past Sunday in our congregation I saw people who were willing to make a step of faith by committing to God through Faith Promise. Charles Heater was our special speaker and God used him to point people to the needs of those around us and to our responsibility toward them. At the end of the day our folks promised to give $27,735 to missions and to believe that God would give them the amount of their pledge through the year. There will be people in Haiti, Ecuador, Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Nicaragua who will have their needs met because this congregation has placed trust in God to use them as a conduit to provide the resources these folks need. I am thankful for the willingness of people who sit in our pews to be used by God.
Every year congregations all across the U.S. and the world have "Annual Business Meetings". It would seem that most folks do not believe that it is needed due to the fact that most of them do not bother to attend. There is a sense in which I understand because we should be people who are saying that we trust God to perform His glories as He will. Yet there is a need for financial transparency that will allow anyone who desires to see where money is used and whether the leadership is being faithful. I wish I could figure a better way to give this information allowing people to give input rather than having a business meeting. Until then I will keep attempting to provide all the information that I can to the congregation and look forward to the way we invest our resources in the Kingdom.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
I must celebrate that there are times when it is a great joy to be able to point to the efforts of God's people to reach into the world. This can be done in numerous ways. There are times when personal evangelism is the means by which the church attempts this then there are various ways that they attempt to do this as a body. This past Sunday in our congregation I saw people who were willing to make a step of faith by committing to God through Faith Promise. Charles Heater was our special speaker and God used him to point people to the needs of those around us and to our responsibility toward them. At the end of the day our folks promised to give $27,735 to missions and to believe that God would give them the amount of their pledge through the year. There will be people in Haiti, Ecuador, Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Nicaragua who will have their needs met because this congregation has placed trust in God to use them as a conduit to provide the resources these folks need. I am thankful for the willingness of people who sit in our pews to be used by God.
Every year congregations all across the U.S. and the world have "Annual Business Meetings". It would seem that most folks do not believe that it is needed due to the fact that most of them do not bother to attend. There is a sense in which I understand because we should be people who are saying that we trust God to perform His glories as He will. Yet there is a need for financial transparency that will allow anyone who desires to see where money is used and whether the leadership is being faithful. I wish I could figure a better way to give this information allowing people to give input rather than having a business meeting. Until then I will keep attempting to provide all the information that I can to the congregation and look forward to the way we invest our resources in the Kingdom.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Hello Folks,
I returned this past Saturday from preaching at the Whitehall camp meeting in Pennsylvania this past week. What a joy it was to be there. The people were open and kind to me as well as wanting to seek the Lord in our time together. The leadership and pastors treated me as if I were one of their family and gave me great cooperation in all that I did. I pray that God spoke to hearts and that people were able to hear from God.
Ruth and I drove home on Saturday and then preached our regular worship services this past Sunday. I must admit that I am tired but also have to admit that I found it a great honor and joy to get to proclaim the gospel of Christ as frequently as I did. We live in a world where people are presented all kinds of options where religion is concerned and we must lift up Jesus as often as possible. It might be in a church building or it might be at the gas station as you wait in line. Is there a greater message than Jesus' saving grace? I would contend there is not! No one can proclaim a Savior like Jesus except Christian folks! Praise be to Him!
We are coming to a close where summer is concerned. Two of my grand daughters started back to school on July 29 while the area schools started back last week. It seems to me that time moves at a blur and if we are not careful we will miss out on what God has for us! I pray that all of us will have our hearts open to what He has for us and for the opportunities that He provides us to speak about Jesus to those we come into contact with in our life. May He bless you all.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
I returned this past Saturday from preaching at the Whitehall camp meeting in Pennsylvania this past week. What a joy it was to be there. The people were open and kind to me as well as wanting to seek the Lord in our time together. The leadership and pastors treated me as if I were one of their family and gave me great cooperation in all that I did. I pray that God spoke to hearts and that people were able to hear from God.
Ruth and I drove home on Saturday and then preached our regular worship services this past Sunday. I must admit that I am tired but also have to admit that I found it a great honor and joy to get to proclaim the gospel of Christ as frequently as I did. We live in a world where people are presented all kinds of options where religion is concerned and we must lift up Jesus as often as possible. It might be in a church building or it might be at the gas station as you wait in line. Is there a greater message than Jesus' saving grace? I would contend there is not! No one can proclaim a Savior like Jesus except Christian folks! Praise be to Him!
We are coming to a close where summer is concerned. Two of my grand daughters started back to school on July 29 while the area schools started back last week. It seems to me that time moves at a blur and if we are not careful we will miss out on what God has for us! I pray that all of us will have our hearts open to what He has for us and for the opportunities that He provides us to speak about Jesus to those we come into contact with in our life. May He bless you all.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
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