God’s church in action

Published 8:31 am Thursday, May 9, 2019

Nick grew up in the church but walked away. Years later, Nick wanted to reconnect with God but couldn’t find the help he wanted at nearby churches. So, taking matters into his own hands, he started a group on Facebook called “God With Us.”

Within days dozens of young adults joined the group sharing hopes and dreams as well as struggles with faith. They were studying Bible passages, offering encouragement and praying for each other. “I just had a feeling that starting a group on Facebook was what God wanted me to do, so I thought about it, prayed about it, got up the next day and started the group. I have really enjoyed and been blessed by how everyone responded. I need a group of believers to hang around but since I’m not currently attending a church, I found my own group. I guess we are a church in our own way.”

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” — Matthew 28:18-20

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Jesus himself provided two major priorities for the church and one very important promise: 1. Go and make disciples. 2. Teach them. The promise? I will be with you. Wherever you go, whatever you do … God will be with you. Go and make disciples. Teach them. God will be with you. Then … expect a miracle. This is what the church should and could be.

A school administrator asked his Sunday school class for help. Many children were coming to school with no winter coat. One class member happened to sell winter coats to retail stores. Another owned a business and agreed to organize business leaders to raise funds. Teachers volunteered to set up the distribution. Within weeks more than 200 students received new winter coats. Every winter since then, the “Coat Project” insures that no student goes without a coat for winter.

A Sunday school class with the priority of making and teaching disciples was given an opportunity by God to make a difference in their community. A ministry is established. The result? A miracle! One evening a woman from Korea walked the church halls, looking confused and upset. A women’s prayer group stopped to check on her. “I desperately need prayer,” she cried out. She was returning from the doctor’s office. “The doctor says I have breast cancer.”

She had no way to contact her husband, a Christian missionary recently arrested and believed to be held in a North Korean prison. She had no relatives or friends to help her and no funds for the treatments ahead. The group surrounded her and prayed for God to provide healing. But that was only the beginning. Within days the group organized rides to the treatment center. Meals were furnished. Letter writing campaigns were organized to urge better communication with North Korea. Other churches became involved including a Korean church which soon formed a partnership with other churches in the area. Go and make disciples. Teach them. God will be with you. Then … expect a miracle. This is what the church should and could be.

One young man starts a ministry on Facebook. A Sunday school class provides badly needed winter coats for children. A prayer group notices someone needing help and becomes a catalyst for bringing churches and cultures together. God’s church in action. Thank you, God. Amen.

REV. LARRY E. DAVIES can be reached at larrydavies@vaumc.org.