Christ's Example
By the looks of the world around us the ministry of our church is desperately needed.
Our goal has been to educate people in the grace of God found in Jesus Christ. This happens at every phase of the ministry: from the pulpit to the Children and Youth programs, to the Life Groups and Bible Studies, even at Staff and Elder meetings. The center piece of our ministry is experiencing and sharing the love of Jesus Christ.
Our practice has been to extend the hands of Jesus Christ to others. Martin Luther said, “God does not need our good works, but our neighbor does.” A core value to Community Presbyterian Church in Celebration has been caring for the lost and broken. That is why we devote so much attention to projects like Kenya, Haiti and the Community Hope Center (now the HOPE partnership), which we established to address the poverty on 192 outside of our bubble of affluence.
While debates swirl about how to deal with the violence and brokenness of our world some suggesting gun control or a more robust police force, what is necessary is the core of human hearts being healed from the taint of sin.
Tom Petty said in an interview, “ No one has misinterpreted Jesus Christ more than Christians,” claiming, “religion was at the base of all wars.” Such an all-encompassing statement of history is not accurate. Furthermore, I have been part of the church my entire life and never been taught to kill, hate, or start wars with anyone. Yes, there are the extremists who don’t represent the truths of our faith, and sadly get all the press. The church has been the primary civilizing force of humanity, emphasizing grace and forgiveness and honoring the image of God in others.
The call for the church today is to correct the misinformation promoted about Jesus and His church. As the population is weary and fearful about being vulnerable anywhere at any time, this is our moment to talk about an eternal peace that impacts the present way we live. Let’s leave a church legacy of saving souls and start talking to people about Jesus Christ!
-Rev. Dr. William Lewis
