My wife and I usually seek a church to attend on Sunday when we are away from home. We usually do a computer search to find a church nearby and how to get to it, however many travelers may not be able to or may not want to take the time to research it. Searching usually requires going through the phone book to get names and addresses. Then you have to access a travel site to get directions. You may have to research a lot of churches before you find one close to the motel. Then you have to look up their websites or Facebook page to find service times. That is a lot of work. Unfortunately, many churches do not have addresses on their websites or Facebook page. I may look up First Church in Columbus, Oh and it will pull up a list of pages for First Church. Many of them may be in New York, Texas, Florida, or someplace else. If the site doesn’t list the city and State, you don’t know if it is the right one. Obviously, travelers are not going to visit them. Putting addresses on websites and Facebook pages would also be a big help.
Archive for the ‘Pentecost’ Category
Twelfth Sunday of Pentecost-A-August 24
Few people think about those that travel, yet a large portion of our society travels at one time or other. Many travel by car and by plane but many also travel by bus. Many spend only a short time at their destination before returning home. Many people traveling stop at hotels and motels but do not know their way around town. Those who regularly attend church at home may or may not seek a church to attend while they are away. If they do, they may look up churches in the phone book but not know the times of services or how to get to the addresses listed. Calling the numbers listed in the phone book often doesn’t help since few churches offices are staffed on weekends. Motels used to have notebooks in each room with a list of nearby churches, directions from the hotel, and service times, which was compiled by local ministerial groups, and included a map to show directions, however I have not seen any for years. It would help visitors find a church to attend. It would also help people moving into an area to find a new church home. Local ministerial groups can compile the list, organize the notebooks, and distribute them to local motels.
Eleventh Sunday of Pentecost-August 17
Truck Stop Ministry-Few people take any thought to the many trucks that travel our highways day and night. Many truckers have families that they don’t see for weeks at a time. Often they are alone for long periods except for stops at truck stops to fuel, eat, and sleep. Drivers have long periods with nothing to do but think as they drive, or while they rest over layovers and while they may have passing conversations with truckers they pass, they often have little meaningful conversation. Truck stop ministries are springing up where truckers can stop and visit and where volunteers are glad to minister to their spiritual and social needs. Many ministries are getting trailers to use for worship services where Christian drivers can worship while they are on the road, since it is difficult for drivers to drive around town on Sunday morning looking for a church with a parking lot big enough to accommodate their rig.
Eighth Sunday of Pentecost -B- July 27
Public schools also are facing increased pressure to use liberal textbooks and teach false and misleading information to support liberal causes. Many have banned the Bible and moral teaching in favor of sexual license, sexual disorientation, and racially divisive teaching. In addition, many seek to turn kids against their parents to counter moral teaching. Many also allow those who are sexually confused to use the bathroom of their choice, endangering women and girls. An increasing number of parents, both Christian and those with no Christian background are turning to homeschooling and Christian schools to remove their kids from such an environment. Some schools are allowing release time where kids can leave the school property to go to churches nearby for voluntary Bible training. Other schools still allow Christian organizations and churches to have Christian clubs on campus. Churches can start Christian schools and support homeschoolers, as well as supporting Christian clubs on campus to help counter the secular teaching the kids face in class.
Eighth Sunday of Pentecost -A- July 27
Dealing with issues-teens. Host discussion nights for teens to deal with social issues and help educate about them. Too often the church has been silent and many church members hold liberal ideas because that is all they hear. The church cannot convince the world that God’s way is better simply by claiming God said it, because those who don’t believe in God feel it is just your opinion and no better than that of anyone else. God created us and knows what is best for us but we must back our defense of Christian values with facts and demonstrate through our lives and the witness of the church that God’s ways are best. I have done a series of courses on social issues dealing with the values laid down in the Bible and how they differ from those who do not know the teaching of the Bible. It is good to have such sessions with adults also.
Seventh Sunday of Pentecost-July 19
Jails-Sunday Services, Bible Studies, and counseling are greatly needed in jails and prisons. Many in jails are short term and more minor offences while prisons are more long term and more serious offences. While ministering in jails and prisons is a very difficult ministry, it is very rewarding to see inmates turn to Christ. Many who have broken the law feel guilty and want to find forgiveness. They need to know that there is forgiveness and redemption through the shed blood of Christ. Others realize that what they did was wrong and want to mend their ways. They feel that they can’t change so why try. They need to know that we can become a new creature in Christ and there are people willing to help them. Often those let out of jail face problems they don’t know how to solve. Getting back home, reestablishing a residence, getting a job, etc. Many are afraid to face the unknown ahead and are encouraged that someone who understands the process is willing to walk with them through the process. Families of inmates also struggle and need encouragement. Often they face the loss of the
Fifth Sunday of Pentecost-July 6
College Students-Students, brought up in the church, are often away from home for the first time when they leave for college. The decisions they make will affect the rest of their life. They are bombarded with secular teaching causing them to question what they believe and often do not get any support for their Christian beliefs. Without support from their parents, many drift away from church and their Christian beliefs. It is important for them to connect with a church near campus and a Christian organization on campus to support them in finding adequate answers to support their faith. Parents can research what organizations have branches on campus and what churches are nearby. In addition, parents can notify a church near campus and Christian organizations on campus that their child is on campus so they can attempt to contact their child. You can support Christian organizations on campus and churches that are near a college campus can provide Christian activities for students. Liberals are trying to prevent Christian organizations on many college campuses from using campus facilities and such organizations may soon have to turn to churches near campus for facilities to meet.
Fourth Sunday of Pentecost -June 28
Trailer park/apartment complex ministry-When I was first starting out, I was asked to help a Presbyterian Church that was dying. After I got the church back on its feet and it felt it could call a full time pastor, my wife and I bought a small trailer and moved into a nearby trailer park while we sought the Lord for direction. Several in the park knew I was a pastor and asked me to start a Bible study. We started visiting those who lived in the park and within three months, we had three small house churches started. Many residents have no friends or family nearby and are seeking fellowship but there is nothing for them. Families living in the park or complex can start small groups in their home by getting to know their neighbors and inviting them to join them. Children in such parks and complexes often have little to do and eagerly attend outside Bible Stories. However, residents and managers are often very suspicious of groups outside the park who come in and try to get residents to come to their church so it helps to have someone living in the complex. Such parks and complexes now often have community rooms available for residents to meet in when the group outgrows an apartment or trailer or when residents want to hold activities for children or families.
Second Sunday of Pentecost-June 15
Put out into the deep. Jesus challenged Peter to put out into the deep water and cast down their nets. They had been out all night and caught nothing so why should they go out again. Peter was a career fisherman and knew how to fish. He figured that Jesus was a teacher and probably didn’t know a lot about fishing, yet he was willing to trust Jesus and do as He said. As a result, they caught so many fish they had to call for help to haul it all in. The church today feels that unbelievers don’t want to know Jesus, yet many have never heard of Him and are seeking something that doesn’t move in our unstable society. The Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and even satanic societies reach out to them and they join them in search of help, but none offer them what they need. Jesus asks us to put out into the deep and reach people where they live. He said, “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel.” He knows where the people are that need Him and He wants us to go tell them about Him. If Jesus asks us to do something that doesn’t make sense, maybe He just wants to teach us to trust Him.
First Sunday of Pentecost-B-June 8
Organizing For Ministry–We often think that the church cares for its members and decades ago that was true in small churches but today, even small churches have problems ministering to their members. Previously, small churches usually drew from a small area and everyone knew each other outside church as well as in the church. In addition, many members were active in a lot of church activities. As a result, they felt free to call on each other in times of need. Now churches draw from a wide area and few know each other outside church. In addition, because of the distance, few members are active in church outside of Sunday morning. As a result, many do not feel they know other members enough to call on them in times of need. The church needs to group its people by area and provide activities in the small groups where members can socialize outside Sunday morning.