Encouraged
This past weekend my husband and I attended the New Connections class at the church we have been attending regularly. The class is a prerequisite to becoming members.
The class was good; there is another 4 hour session on the 19th in which more talk about the actual church itself will be covered.
I really like the church. But I like the church community even more. Every single time we have gone, we have been greeted by one person or another with a smile. Someone has always extended a greeting. Which is something that the pastor encourages because it is such a large church community that it would be easy to become just another "face in the crowd".
One of the homework assignments for the class is to fill out a "gifts" questionnaire. It helps to determine your God given gifts so that you can find your ministry within the church community. My gifts are Hospitality, Administration, and Prophecy.
It was really interesting, and from what I can see, they use these questionnaires to place people in certain areas of service within the church, if you so desire.
Then on Sunday we went to our normal church service, and the Associate Pastor talked extensively on the work that the church will be doing in the surrounding communities. I was really blown away, and encouraged.
Being a part of an active organization that helps others has been one of my personal hopes for a long time.l I have volunteered for the Red Cross in the past, and I have endeavored to do volunteer work for the Lions Club, as well as other organizations...I had never really considered church prior to becoming a Christian. And then when I was saved, the church I was attending was so stagnant.
I am happy that the church I am attending is so active with helping others. I am excited to be a part of that body of people who want to really make a difference, and not just sit in a pristine white world, ignoring the needs of others. To me, this is what church really should be about.
The class was good; there is another 4 hour session on the 19th in which more talk about the actual church itself will be covered.
I really like the church. But I like the church community even more. Every single time we have gone, we have been greeted by one person or another with a smile. Someone has always extended a greeting. Which is something that the pastor encourages because it is such a large church community that it would be easy to become just another "face in the crowd".
One of the homework assignments for the class is to fill out a "gifts" questionnaire. It helps to determine your God given gifts so that you can find your ministry within the church community. My gifts are Hospitality, Administration, and Prophecy.
It was really interesting, and from what I can see, they use these questionnaires to place people in certain areas of service within the church, if you so desire.
Then on Sunday we went to our normal church service, and the Associate Pastor talked extensively on the work that the church will be doing in the surrounding communities. I was really blown away, and encouraged.
Being a part of an active organization that helps others has been one of my personal hopes for a long time.l I have volunteered for the Red Cross in the past, and I have endeavored to do volunteer work for the Lions Club, as well as other organizations...I had never really considered church prior to becoming a Christian. And then when I was saved, the church I was attending was so stagnant.
I am happy that the church I am attending is so active with helping others. I am excited to be a part of that body of people who want to really make a difference, and not just sit in a pristine white world, ignoring the needs of others. To me, this is what church really should be about.
posted by Kassi Gilbert | 8:19 AM
