I was honored to sing in the morning worship services at Friendship UMC in Donalsonville, Georgia, on the 4th of September. I answered a special request when I sang, “There Is a River”.
On the 7th I made my usual singing time at the Seminole County Senior Center at 11:30 am. I do appreciate the opportunity they give me to minister among the people there twice a month. I will be returning near the end of month.
On the 14th I was back to Columbus, Georgia, our home base for 25 years. I went to East Highlands United Methodist Church at noon to give a mission message where it has been my privilege many Wednesdays in the past. I sang 4 songs from the new CD in memory of the late Dan V Gates. Then on the evening I was again at St Paul UMC to do a program for their weekly Family Night supper. It was a wonderful day for me to be at these two special places and to see so many special people.
ARE WE THE SENT ONES?
Recently in a prayer meeting for our church someone mentioned that we had many different churches in our community where people could freely worship, but the pastor responded, "However on any Sunday we have more people who don't go to church than do go.? I have noticed that the church seems to have lost its evangelist thrust and a big part of its missionary passion. I wonder if it is not noticed by God that we carry on the ordinary business of life as if we are not the sent ones. Have we not realized that the One whom we claim to follow is the One who carries in his body the marks of his total surrender? He is willing to give all that He is and all that He has for one purpose that is to redeem his Father's world.
Jesus Christ is the one who has said to us, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you" (St. John 20: 21) So it seems to me that we are the sent ones. But we have either not heard or not chosen to understand. The task is impossible unless our lives are given in total surrender and filled with the Spirit of the One who has called us.
If we understand our mission and do it, then the world will be a different place.