Articles
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
Evangelism
I have just re-read a book about Evangelism written by Lionel B. Fletcher, a famous Australian evangelist who ministered from before until after the Second World War. Here are some quotes. See what you think.
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The central aim of the real Church of Christ should be evangelism. It is certain that, in proportion to the absence of evangelism in any church , that church is not fulfilling the whole will of the Master. We may have had blessing in past days, and built up an organisation which is now carried on by sheer weight of its own machinery, and yet that church which was once alive may now be dead.
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Prayer and power interlock. Prevailing with God comes before prevailing with men. The hardest part of spiritual development is to keep consistently to your prayer life, yet everything else depends on this, for prayer is to the spiritual man what the mainspring is to a watch.... I would plead with you above all things to become men and women of prayer.
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
New congregations: The story so far
We have been thinking, praying, and talking about starting two new congregations since around Easter. Our beginning question was: “How can we win more people for Christ and allow more people to become part of Christ the King church?”
Part of the reason for thinking of making two congregations from the one, is the well known research that says that when a building is 80% full it is practically full. Our own statistics show that the 9am congregation has averaged around 70 – 80 attenders for most of its life.
The question we are asking now is whether this is the time to start two congregations instead of the present 9am congregation. So far, the survey we did, the discussion at the Annual Meeting and the subsequent conversations, have indicated that if we were to do this the best times would be 8.30am and 10.00am. And if we went ahead September might be a good time to start.
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
New congregations?
Soon after Easter we began thinking, talking, and praying about whether we should launch two new congregations out of the one morning congregation we have now. We have conducted a survey, had a very helpful discussion at the Annual Meeting, and more recently had a series of conversations over morning tea after church.
What does the Lord want us to do? Lots of people have put forward good ideas, concerns, and questions, expressed their enthusiasm, doubt, wisdom and encouragement.
It seems that we have got to a general consensus that if we were to go ahead, two congregations meeting at 8.30am and 10.00am would be the way to go. Whether we have sufficient agreement to go ahead is yet to be determined.
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
The goodness of having no control
What would it be like to live in a world where we have no control? To have no power. To be not allowed near the steering wheel. Not very nice? Frustrating? A recipe for high blood pressure and lots of anxiety?
It might depend on whether anyone was in control, and, if someone was, who it was. Sometimes we are grateful enough if things seem to be under control, if the regular pattern of things is undisturbed, peaceful, going along as usual.
Our world – ah there’s a term – the world in which we live – it is not really our world - is not under our control. Little bits of it may be from time to time. And we may wish we had more of a say in how it works, even take assertive action to wrestle bits of it into submission. But overall it is not under our control.
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
Where to find friends
A few weeks ago I attended a seminar in the church where I was made deacon (St Edmund's Wembley) 39 years ago. Although I was ordained here in Perth, I grew up in Sydney. I remember arriving, newly married, on the train into Perth and looking at all the houses along the railway line and thinking how scary it will be to start ministering among them.
It has been scary. And exciting. And frustrating. And mystifying. And growing. And sad. And wonderful.
I have been involved in at least five major building projects in different parishes, and so have learnt bits and pieces of architecture, engineering, building, local government law, politics, and so on (oh, and finding money too). All very interesting.
Of much more importance, I have been involved in the lives of lots of people. Some of them I first met as unbelievers. Some I met as experienced and committed believers. Some were not sure what they were. Quite a few had messed up lives. In this job, one does not get to choose one’s friends.
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
Come, or join?
“We have a range of services so that people with busy lives can choose their times and style of worship.”
If you read this in a church’s welcome leaflet would you be attracted to the church? Would you find this a helpful statement for your involvement in a church? For many of us this is just what we need. Flexibility and choice.
What if you went to a different church and read this:
“We are a community of disciples of Jesus who meet to pray, give thanks, listen to God’s word and share fellowship together.”
Would you be inclined to join that church?
Or what about this:
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
Being there
I thought the Annual Meeting last Sunday was an excellent time. The discussion was friendly, respectful and lacking any bitterness or ill-feeling. I felt very thankful for the way we were able to talk about matters that are very important for each of us.
Overall there seemed to be a strong affirmation for the idea of moving into two congregations, although some felt that it was not the right time or the right thing to do. Others were not sure they were ready to make up their mind yet. So we will take time to talk some more.
A question was asked at the meeting about the difference between “services” and “congregations” since we have been talking about starting two new congregations.