Ministries Encouraged !
By Roberta Lashua, Publisher Believer’s Bay
How many individual ministries are in the Tampa Bay area? Does anyone know? Well, I imagine God does. He is probably the only one who does.
Do we need to know how many or who they are or where they are located? Why would we need to know?
It is the belief of Believer's Bay that, YES, we need to know. We need to know how many, who they are, where they are located and what they are doing for Christ.
Do we need to know so we can gather statistics and put another feather in someone's hat? No. We need to know so we can grow in unity. It is real hard to be joined with someone, if we can't find them. It is real hard to support someone, if we have no idea they are even there.
Christian Outreach When I was in Cincinnati, Ohio last month, I visited the Vineyard Church with a friend. I learned about an awesome outreach they have done there. They go to street corners and hand out free car wash tickets, or free Cokes etc. They invite other churches to join them in this outreach effort. They supply the materials, the cokes, etc. and they even print flyers for the other churches that join them. Each church hands out flyers to invite people to visit their own church. Some of the people of Cincinnati are shocked that there are things truly free, as would many people approached at a street corner. Too often we only find at the street corners peddlers with their wares. Sharing the gospel at the street corner with a free Coke, what a novel idea. What I found to be so precious about all this was ... how some of the other churches are amazed that another church would want them to join them in outreach. It truly is an awesome witness when we can join hands and work for the kingdom, side by side. Jesus said: “They will know you are my disciples if you LOVE one another.” Hallelujah! |
You see we are all one body. We are the body of Christ. We are fitly joined together. Scripture says so. Why is that? So we can work together. Fitly joined together is like being made for each other.
It is like finding the right puzzle piece. The color matches so well. It fits snuggly and it makes the whole picture much more enjoyable. It builds wholeness and strength. Have you ever seen a puzzle that was all done, however, there were 3, 4 or 5 missing pieces? I have. I have done a large puzzle before only to find that there were “just a few” pieces missing. You know what happens when there are missing pieces? It takes away from the picture. Our eyes are drawn to the missing pieces. The picture has lost it's beauty and splendor.
Has the body of Christ had missing pieces to the puzzle? Have we had holes in the beautiful picture of salvation?
Working together we can make that picture of salvation shine like the sun. Hallelujah! When we work together, all of the individual pieces blend into one awesome picture. We are still individuals, however, the whole picture is so much more valuable and enjoyable.
When the puzzle is put together, the picture that we all make together is an awesome sight. It is true that when people see us they should see Jesus. However, it is also true that there is power in numbers. There is something so powerful about many who gather for the same cause. We can show an awesome picture of the glorious plan of salvation so graciously provided for us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You see, it is truly NOT about US. It is ALL about HIM. Hallelujah!
Believer's Bay is here to provide a vehicle so Christians can become known for what is truly in our hearts. The love of Jesus.
Jesus said, "How will they know you are my disciples? If you love one another." The world has not always seen unity and sometimes not a lot of love. However, there is a fresh wind and a fresh fire in the land. The Lord wants revival and HE is going to have it! He wants us to love one another and show the world what JESUS looks like, individually and as the whole body of Christ.
Hallelujah!