From Gary and Tamara Moore
Warm greetings from Canada. It is hard to believe it is now 2000. Most long-time members of our fellowship (including me) would have expected that Christ would have returned by now--but here we are!
Of course, the promise of his return still stands, but along with past generations of Christians, we have had to acknowledge that we have not been given to know the time of that return.
Along with the promise of his eventual return, the commission to the church still stands. We in the WCG Canada recognize that we must be about our Father's business. The gospel must be preached, those who respond must be discipled, and those disciples must pass along the good news to others.
Our congregations in Canada have had to make similar adjustments to those required of our sister congregations throughout our fellowship.
We have been asked to change on three levels. The most obvious level is that of our theological teaching. The second is the operational level. The way we do our work has changed significantly from our past reliance on media as the primary engine of accomplishing the commission. The third level is cultural. Our church culture has had to adjust in response to the theological changes. Just working through one of these three levels of change by itself would be challenging, but we have been working on all three.
It would be fair to say that in Canada we are still a church in transition. We are far from what we once were, but are still not fully where we want to be.
Our national vision is essentially a description of a healthy congregation. Our efforts are directed toward helping our congregations become strong and healthy Christian communities. Our national office supplies core functions in support of the pastors and the congregations--doctrinal integrity, denominational connectivity, communication (through our magazine, Northern Light, and our Internet website, primarily), vision casting, governance, central accounting, human resource support, ministerial education and training, and legal support.
As the members yield themselves to Jesus, they become extensions of his kingdom in this darkened world. As our congregations become settled on the centrality of Christ, and are increasingly places where genuine discipleship is taking place, they will be places to which God will draw those he is calling into relationship with him. This is happening here and there, but over time will no doubt increase.
Evangelism--the sharing of the gospel--is the primary job of the church. Healthy congregations are congregations that reach out both in service, and in the sharing of the precious gospel to the world around them.
Healthy churches tend to grow. They are places in which people are drawn to Christ. These may be our own youths, as they grow in Christian maturity. They may be others who come into contact with a member, or with the congregation as a group.
Another way that genuine church growth takes place is through the planting of new congregations. Many Christians in Canada are beginning to realize that planting a new congregation is quite possibly the most effective way to help draw non-Christians to respond to a calling. We are seeing several new congregational plants across the country, and will be anxious to see the fruit of such efforts that God may have in mind.
The number of baptisms is up over last year. This is the first time that number has been higher than the previous year since 1992. Financial contributions from non-members are up substantially as well.
Though other statistics are down, we see real positive change in the lives of many. That change is not just superficial. It stems from a renewed and much deeper and richer relationship with God, and a greater perception of the grace of God that has been extended to us through the work of Jesus Christ. From that flows a greater passion to serve Jesus, and a burning desire to see others come into that relationship.
As many preachers have said, sharing the gospel is akin to one beggar telling another beggar where the bread may be found. We are all beggars who have been made rich through our Lord and Savior. There is simply nothing more valuable than that. It is the pearl of great price. From that flows the desire and the energy that will make our members and congregations increasingly effective instruments in the hands of Jesus Christ.
One critical indicator of growing spiritual health is that prayer is taking a higher profile both in our congregations, and in the lives of our members. In various places across the country prayer groups have formed. At the national office, we begin such tasks as preparing the budget with a period of prayer in which everyone at the table expresses themselves to God.
We give thanks for the rich blessings and benefits we enjoy, and then petition God for the wisdom, help and guidance we will need throughout the day.
Seeking the will of God through prayer has a powerful effect on all we do. The Christian church can make real progress only when it marches on its knees. As we increasingly turn to God in prayer, we are clearly seeing him answer, and are seeing the fruits of his involvement in our lives and our activities.
Please keep your brothers and sisters in Canada in your prayers. I know that you are regularly in the prayers of many of them.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2000