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June 2003 "...(E)arnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." That is the motto of the Methodist Protestant Church. We have it on our car tags, t-shirts, and hats. It is our guiding principle. It states who and what we are as a denomination. It says to those who read it that the Methodist Protestant Church is fighting vigorously for the faith that was handed down to us by our godly forefathers: Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Peter, Paul, John Wycliffe, Martin Luther, John Wesley, Francis Asbury, F.E. Sellers, C.N. Graham, and Z.V. Crawford. What is that faith that we as a denomination are struggling on behalf of? From my readings of Scripture form Genesis to Revelation, my belief is that “the faith” is composed of two fundamental principles:
Every book of the Bible emphasizes those two principles, They are inseparable. God tells humanity “I want you to know me AND have a relationship with me. Here is how to do it.” According to our motto, that is what our denomination is earnestly, vigorously struggling on behalf of … Or are we? Are we carrying out principle one? Are we as a denomination (pastors and lay members) battling to win souls for Christ? Are we actively sharing the gospel in our communities in words and deeds? Is the gospel being spoken and lived outside the four walls of the church? Are we carrying out principle two? Are we fervently preaching/teaching/exhorting Christians how to have a relationship with God that goes beyond Sunday morning? (Examples: prayer, fasting, individual Bible Study, small group Bible Study, music, etc.) Are we making disciples? Are we going out of our way to bring Christians in our churches to maturity so that they can discern right from wrong, live a life pleasing unto God, and be a witness for God in the world? With that said, is the Methodist Protestant Church (pastors and lay members) earnestly contending for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints? If so, is there evidence to support such an argument? Can we look back on the past 25 years and honestly say that our denomination has been contending for the faith? If not, then what is it we are contending on behalf of? What will it take to shift our focus back on “the faith”? Greg Crawford Dear Friends in Christ, Most of you know me. I’m Martha Smith and Pleasant Hill Methodist Protestant Church is my home Church. At the Branch meeting of the Women’s Missionary Society, I was elected as Secretary of Benevolence. To be honest, it was rather embarrassing to stand in the front of the church, being sworn in to a job, with my name in the minutes, under Benevolence, on Sharp Stewardship, with zero dollar amount beside it. I want to thank the women for their vote of confidence, it was a real eye opener! Let me explain. I don’t have a lot of money, but I love Missions and have always wanted to help anyway I can. When I accepted my traveling dollar, I was honored and thrilled to be a part of helping our Missions. At first I worked to have money to turn in each year. But as the years passed I began to forget. At the last minute I would give a donation of $10:00 or $20:00, what ever I had to give at the time. For the last couple of years or so, I had nothing to give. Because I waited until the last minute, because I didn’t do one fund raiser, because I was lazy about God’s work, I had nothing to give. Does this sound familiar? My point is that we all have God given talents. Are we using those talents or are we being lazy about God’s work? Let’s all get busy doing God’s will, God’s work, and make 2003 the best year yet! Prayerfully,
Comments Andy, I just finished checking out the web page. It looks good. It presents the church in a positive way. Good work. Thomas Calhoun Bro. Andy, I visited the web site of our church today..I was very impressed. A lot of good reading. Thanks. Doris Kelley (Springfield church) Thanks for the great work on the web site!! Paul Jackson (Springfield MP Church) Bro. Andy, the website looks good. Is it going to be just a forum for relaying information or will the general public be able to post messages? Mark Lambert Hey, this is great… looking forward to more info on the site…God bless you Andy for all you do!!!! Love, Wayne and Darla Hunt Hey, I just looked the site up again, and it’s really nice. Keep it dusted! Love, Guinevere Young, Bangladesh. Andy, I have finally gotten the web site up and able to look at it. It does look good and the information is good. LaDon Bro. Andy, I found the web site, it is very nice. Bobbie Giles Hello Folks, Just a note that on the Blitz. A couple of dates that you need to know about and some deadlines that must be met. The cost for the summer blitz will be $700:00. The deadline on having monies in for tickets will be at boot camp on June 7th. I have to have the tickets paid for on June 9th which is the Monday following boot camp. The remainder must be paid before we depart. We will leave on July 18 and return on July 25. We have several people that have said they are going. However, we still need you or someone you know that wants to go. If you are going you need to be working on your passport if you don’t already have it. The tickets have to be in the name that is on your passport or the airlines will not let you on board. The exact time of flights we will share at boot camp. There are some folk who will not be able to go, but would be willing to help financially. If you are one of these or know of someone, please pass this message to them for their consideration. All monies for the Blitz should be sent to: Byron
Carlisle, I am attaching the forms that need to be filled out and signed and returned (see home page of site). You can send these forms to me at: LaDon
Dawson We look forward to hearing from you. Your prayers and your support are needed to make this 2003 Blitz all it must be for the Lord. LaDon Dawson |
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