News from Faith United Presbyterian Church

Are We Sharin
Our "Bests"?

On Sunday afternoon, I visited a local congregation's session for their Triennial visit. Each of the congregations in our presbytery receives such a visit with their session every three years, as a means to renew our ties as a connectional church. Our session's triennial visit was completed a few months ago and proved to be a good opportunity for us to reflect upon our relationship with the presbytery.

With the session I met with on Sunday, we spent a few minutes discussing 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5a. Paul gives thanks for those to whom he is writing for they have received his preaching of the gospel, not as words alone, but in the power of the Holy Spirit and with full conviction of heart and mind. After reflecting a little on what might Paul might say today, I asked the session to discuss their best experiences in the life of their congregation. Where are they receiving and proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and with full conviction of heart and mind?

At first, they struggled with this task. This is not a conversation they were used to having with one another. However, in time, they came up with some good answers. The "bests" in their life together include the family orientation of their congregation, especially the love, care and concern they share with each other. When it comes to Christian nurture, they try to live and lead by example. They are an intergenerational congregation with plenty of opportunities for people to be involved. They are a small congregation with a significant heritage and much shared experience. They work well together, when their is a common cause and they are blessed with good pastoral leadership. They have demonstrated tenacity in difficult times and are willing to reinvent themselves. In many ways, they are the center of their community.

In spite of their many blessings and the position they hold in their community, they are challenged by evangelism. The community appreciates their presence and relies on them for many things, yet, when it comes to supporting and sustaining the congregation, few in the community feel called to share in their life together. In light of this, they offered three wishes for their future. First, how can we reach the people? Second, how can we bring back folks who have left our congregation? Third, how can we have a future?

In the course of our discussion they realized, there is a connection between the difficulty they have speaking about the "bests" in their life together and the lack of the community's response to their ministry. They have some wonderful and unique experiences of Christ's love in their community. The more comfortable they become sharing these experiences with people outside of their community of faith, the better their evangelism will be and the more vital their congregation will become.

People of faith, the love of God is universal. Our experience of God's love in our life together is unique and worthy to be shared. Are we sharing our "bests" with those with whom we share this precious gift of life?

See you in church!