* Worship. God is bringing new life to our weekly congregational meetings, helping us sense his presence and be energized by his Spirit to be vessels of his love throughout the week. This fresh experience of God's presence is not primarily a matter of any particular form or format of the service. It is a matter of increase in faithful, praying hearts coming together ready to worship.
* Prayer--as individuals, small groups and congregations. There is so much more praise, confession and seeking of God's help. There is a greater awareness of our dependence on God, and of his loving concern for us.
* Bible study. God has given us a fresh framework for understanding the Old and New Testaments, and we are learning what Christ would have us be and do. In our sermons, in our small group studies and in our personal study, we are beginning to hear more personally and more clearly what God is saying.
* Fellowship. We have a wonderful tradition of lively conversation before and after our worship services. Small group prayer and worship along with a greater commitment to private prayer and worship are helping our conversations bring glory to God as they become more spiritually meaningful and minister God's grace and love to one another.
* Equipping the saints. More pastors are becoming comfortable with the responsibility to equip and facilitate members in serving according to their God-given spiritual gifts. Members are being taught how to discover their spiritual gifts, and how to use their gifts to build up the body of Christ.
* Ministry--not just pastoral work, but godly, edifying service in the name of Christ given by any member. This includes comforting the brokenhearted, helping the poor, serving the sick, making friends and bringing them to Christ, encouraging others in their particular ministries.
Sometimes our ministry in Jesus' name is known by others, and sometimes it's done completely anonymously and known only by God who will reward his saints. Some are serving by themselves in a small and love-filled ministry for which God has equipped them. Others are reaching out together as small groups or as congregations to make a difference in the name of their Master. And it's being done in unity, in cooperation, in harmony, in humility, to bring glory to God, not to bring glory to oneself or to seek admiration or to get control of something.
* Evangelism. There is so much that could be said here! God has given us such wonderful news and has filled our hearts with such thanksgiving and joy for his love, his mercy, his forgiveness and his great salvation that we can't wait to share it with eagerness, without bashfulness.
We are hearing the gospel in our worship services, discussing the good news in our small groups, finding ways to express how Jesus Christ has blessed our lives. And more of us are finding that there is no greater joy than sharing the amazing story of God's love and seeing another sinner come home to their Savior.
* Baptisms. Each month in our church, more than 100 people are baptized into Jesus Christ. We rejoice with the holy angels for these new lives!
Jan. 21, 1997, Worldwide News, page 12
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