By Thomas C. Hanson
Members in Honolulu participated in rededication and recommissioning services April 26 and 28, and members in Pasadena had a rededication and recommissioning service June 21.
The services were modeled after similar services conducted for pastors and wives at ministerial conferences this year.
"Rededication and recommissioning are not a rebaptism," said Curtis May, pastor of the two churches. "It is simply asking God to bless us to go out and evangelize and properly represent Jesus Christ. It is done in the spirit of 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (where Paul tells Timothy to stir up the gift that is within you), asking God to stir up our spiritual gifts, to send us forth again in his name to do a more powerful work. First Peter 2:9 says that the church is a priesthood of believers, and Mr. May said that we believe that it is every member's responsibility to evangelize.
Mr. May used the analogy of the Temple being dedicated and the New Testament church being the spiritual temple of God. He then prayed a general prayer of rededication for all the members.
Appropriate music accompanied each part of the service. Selections included Ron Kenoly's song on the dedication of the Temple; "Come Holy Spirit, Fall Fresh on Me," by Joseph Garlington; the Rejoice Africa tape; and Instruments of Your Peace. These are available at Christian music stores.
At services in Honolulu April 26, Mr. May called the elders and their wives on stage and laid hands on them to rededicate them to service. Then the deacons and others who perform certain duties came up on stage, and the elders took turns rededicating them to service. They were followed by the small group facilitators and then the members who make up the advisory council.
Then at the next service, April 28, the whole church broke up into small groups and prayed. Then the elders came to each group and dedicated everyone to special service.
Esther Texeira of Honolulu said: "It was inspiring and uplifting to see the leaders and members be recommissioned. They were saying to everyone and to God that they were committed to whatever they were called to do, and that they were acknowledging God's guidance and blessing in all their efforts."
Patti Phears of Honolulu said: "The rededication was a moving and powerful service for me. I had been asked by Mr. May to be worship coordinator, and after one of the elders laid his hands on my shoulder and prayed for me, I felt the immense weight of the job as well as a secure knowledge that God is right there to help me do it. It was refreshing and renewing."
Leonard Ballard, an elder in Honolulu, said: "I have not the slightest doubt that all these years the Holy Spirit has been with our church, dwelling in our people, but to a large degree, we suppressed our emotions and were concerned with the keeping of the law to the point of being so rigid that the Holy Spirit was hindered from doing his work in our lives. It is so nice to be out of bondage and into the freedom that Jesus said that we are to have. I have experienced more joy and peace this last year than ever before."
Aug. 19, 1997, WN, page 11
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