Last Encounter?

When was your last encounter with someone who is far from God?  When was the last time you were actively engaged in praying for the salvation of a specific person in your life ?  When was the last time you applied what you know to be true about Jesus and His call on the Church as part of His redemption plan?

I ask these questions because there seems to be more information of "how to" do Church these days and not a lot of stories about what Jesus has done and is doing.  I mean think about it.  When was the last time you read a blog or twit that moved beyond principle and into practice?  If you know of some guys/gals that are writing about that, hit me up!  That's the stuff I want to hear about.  That's the stuff I want to be challenged toward!

Comments

[David Helton]

Pace,

I agree. I always hope my blog is read by people far from God and I spend alot of time trying to write about, not only what I'm struggling with spiritually, but I try to bring a "lesson" to the writing in hopes of reaching people who've never had much exposure to God's Word or a personal relationship with Christ. But ultimately I don't spend enough time writing about people like Don Oldfield from my church hometeam who tirelessly spends all his free time working with addicts in the recovery group, or providing toiletry items and towels to the homeless at the Day Resource Center or delivering Christmas giftcards to struggling moms with kids. Or Michael Hatcher, the "street preacher" for the homeless of Ft. Worth who helps the homeless get ID cards, food, clothing, shelter through his innovative drive to get Ft. Worth to buy cheap and available shipping containers that can be converted into affordable and safe temporary homes, and who has worked hard, with Don Oldfield, to get clients from my substance abuse treatment center brought to church on Sunday at our new Fellowship campus in downtown Ft. Worth. These guys are living examples of how to reach out with grace to those who need a helping hand in a way that is a sharp deviation from "drive-by" charity. I plan to write more about those who are out there right in our backyards bringing the gospel and other tangible resources to those in need. Thanks for the wakeup call!

David Helton

[woody]

www.withoutwax.tv
specifically Jan 22 post.
changed our small group.

[Paul Sinar]

I am with you. The balance can be 'skewed' at times. Two weeks ago Victor John, a native missionary from the Bhojpuri region of Northern India spoke to our church about the two million people who have come to know Christ during the 14 years of his ministry. Together with other churches, our church partnered with him 9 years ago to reach this people and our Pastor has visited twice. Two million sounds like a lot, but compare that with a population of 1.2 billion and it's not. They meet in small house churches, some walking up to 5 miles to get to a meeting place through rough terrain and heavily populated areas of extreme poverty. In addition each house group has been targeted by Hindu extremists who are very actively persecuting the new church movement. I want to hear about that, but I don't know what to do about it. We are travelling to India at the end of this year to document the work on film, and I am excited, but daunted by what we will find. We spend many, many hours creatively forming services and executing the technical side with excellence, but we measure our success by a message communicated, and hearts stirred to commitment. Last Sunday 2000 met at Crossroads, 5 were baptized and 7 came to Christ. What a day! I wonder though if we will ever see the type of mass turning to Christ as in India, where they are just as excited to be given a bible in the Bhojpuri language as we are to see a great light show. It is all a matter of perspective.