Are You Up to the Challenge?

by: Rev. Richard Izzard, Congregational Revitalization

       A song on Christian Radio begins with a frustrated person screaming at God over the problems of the world, yelling “Why don’t you do something?”  God’s response is provoking, “I did! I created you!”

       Personally, I believe we spend too much time talking about “the way it once was,” while wringing our hands in despair and not enough time reminding ourselves that we worship One who even raises the dead and promises to walk alongside of us.  We are created and equally as important our churches have been commissioned to let the “glory of God be seen” and the atoning life, death and resurrection of Christ be known.

       One of the greatest challenges we face today is being as zealous about people who do not know Christ as we are about truth and righteousness.  Christ crucified is the only message that the world cannot duplicate. St. Paul had it right, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”  (2 Corinthians 2:2) We are the future that we have been hoping for, created by God to passionately and actively make Christ known in our communities all that God has done and is doing. 

       Here’s the challenge, let’s call it “a Presidential and New Jersey Leadership Challenge.”  We are looking for congregations who are willing to commit themselves to grow by at least 10% of their current average Sunday Morning Worship attendance over the next triennium.   

   Would your congregation be willing: 

• To accept the challenge?  
• To do “whatever it takes” to make it happen
• To creatively and adaptively “color outside the lines” to win others to Christ?   

      
       If we strongly believe that God can do great things through us when we turn to Him for guidance, strength and direction, this challenge just might be what you’ve been waiting for.  Let me know if you are up to the challenge and how the staff of the NJ District can help. Keep us posted on what God is leading you to do.  We will gladly share with you ideas and the creativity of other NJD congregations.