Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Evangelism (11/01/07)
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TITLE: Point To Jesus | Previous Challenge Entry
By Noreen Ophoff
11/08/07 -
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The congregation stood to sing a boring old hymn, while Anne longed for something more uplifting. The church just seemed dead.
Then five people were walking up on the platform. She knew one of them to be a shy person who always said he would NEVER go up front to make an announcement. Mary Crannon introduced herself as the Chairperson of the Prayer and Evangelism Ministry Team. She introduced the other people on the platform as committee members, and said they were up there to kick-off the new ministry Acts of Kindness, ---- Reaching out to the people of Plainsville, with the love of Jesus Christ, by doing kind things.”
Hmmm, thought Anne, maybe this is something interesting after all.
Then Tim spoke, in his rich baritone voice, “We stand on Galatians 5:22 & 23 “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” “During VBS we put an item into the take-home bags of each of the 72 kids, including a glow-in-the-dark cross, to be a reminder of the ongoing love of Jesus.”
“We claim the scripture of the Parable of the Sower”, Leigh said, “Some seed fell on fertile soil, and yielded a crop 100 times more than what was sown.” Rachel read from a book about how a kindness done to someone can have a rippling affect on the lives of others.
Steve, the quietest man of the congregation, said, “Now, please watch our skit showing what an Act of Kindness might look like in our town.”
Three of the group members sat in chairs pretending to be at the high school’s tennis match, on a very hot day. Mary and Leigh came up to them, and Leigh asked, “Would anyone like a cold bottle of pop or water?” Rachel said, “Oh, I’d love one, but I didn’t bring any money.”
Mary said, “Oh, you don’t need any money, these are free, a gift from us.”
Steve, laughed while sarcastically saying, “What? Nothing is free anymore.”
Leigh smiled and replied, “Oh yes, we’re from Plainsville Community Church and we’re giving away these free cold drinks as an Act of Kindness. It’s a practical way to show the love of Jesus.” With that, everyone asked for a can of pop or a bottle of water from the small cooler Leigh was carrying. The two friends, Mary and Leigh, walked away content with the knowledge they had perhaps, pointed the way to Jesus.
Anne thought about how easy the skit made it look to approach strangers. If there was a sign-up sheet for this ministry, she knew she would like to do this type of thing. Later when she walked to the bulletin boards, she saw there was indeed a sign up to give away helium filled balloons before the Old Fashioned Days Parade in two weeks. She smiled as she read the other names above her own: Mary, Rachel, Steve, Tim, and Leigh. All the members of this new ministry had already signed their names on the list.
Evangelism had always seemed like such a scary word to Anne, but “Acts of Kindness” made it look easy to show people the love of Jesus. Anne realized how quickly a ho-hum Sunday morning had turned into a highlight Sunday with new ideas rolling around in her mind. This was a ministry she could sink her teeth into. She loved to do projects for other people; at last, perhaps she’d found a niche in this church family. Maybe Plainsville Community Church wasn’t so dead after all.
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