Yes, I am aware that not everyone appreciates what we have at Grace Christian Fellowship (the church I pastor) and that is quite fine with me; however, I am also aware that we are experiencing a genuine move of His Presence. On the one hand, it seems that we are being engulfed by adversity; however, on the other hand, it is obvious that we are being bathed in His Presence.
We call what we have “Simply, Simple Church.” It is our intention that people attend because they are attracted to the gospel, not to any program or ministry or worship style. I learned long ago that “what we attract people with is what we attract them to, and when that is gone, so are they.” I remember a question I raised soon after becoming pastor of this part of the Body of Christ: What would happen, if we removed everything that appeals to the flesh? The people laughed and said, “Nobody would attend.” I disagreed.
You see, I believe the gospel attracts God’s elect and offends the masses; whereas, the programs and ministries and worship styles that appeal to the flesh, attract the masses, but they offend God’s elect. I realize that this is a stretch for some, but in my opinion the church needs to get back to its calling to preach the gospel and out of the “business” of trying to attract the masses with whatever might appeal to the flesh.
If you take even a casual look at Jesus’ style of evangelism, you will quickly realize that He was “short” on things that appealed to the flesh and “long” on the preaching of the gospel. He spent more time trying to talk people out of becoming His followers, that He ever spent in trying to coerce them into doing so.
Anyway, it is my prayer, my earnest prayer, that whatever is happening at Grace Christian Fellowship is contagious, as contagious as the measles, and that soon it will be widespread, even to the uttermost parts of the earth.
"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29 NASB).
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