Pastor: Rev. Paul Prochazka

Pastor Paul's recent Fellowship Letter Article:   (to read entire recent Fellowship Letter, please click here)

With Open Hands

      I don’t know about you, but I have seen a lot more commercials put out by drug companies promoting some new fangled medication to fix our aches, pains, cholesterol, asthma, coronary artery disease, stress and depression.  After they tell you to ask your doctor, they then quickly list some mild side effects and then tell you about the signs of allergic reaction.

     Our culture pushes us to answer that question in terms of product.  “What can this product do for me?”  Doesn’t matter what it is, medications, doctors, cars, vacations, clothes, even menu items in a restaurant, we want to know, what can this do for me.

     In today’s world, where people are hungry for the message of the Gospel and churches to be a part of, they come into our doors asking, “What can this Pastor and church do for me and my family?”

     People who come and visit FBC Dearborn are asking that simple question, “What can FBC do for me?”  And the answer should be simple, “We can Minister to you and We can teach you to minister to the world”. 

     And if they ask, “What is ministry?”  We should  answer with full awareness that Ministry, its sole aim, is to make disciples of Jesus Christ, allowing a person to have a personal relationship with God and fellow believers. 

     And should they ask, “How do you accomplish this?  What are your ministries?”

    We accomplish this by allowing the power of God’s love flow through us.  This means that all our ministries, all our programs, classes and skills taught, empower and enable, find their ultimate purpose, meaning and goals in Jesus Christ  not tradition, preference, or previous leadership (pastoral, staff or volunteer), Jesus Christ. 

     But the optimal word here is WE.  This includes you.  Neither I nor any succeeding pastor can do this alone.  The leadership cannot do this alone.  Only the power of the Gospel can point us and those in our care to provide ministries of Jesus Christ.

     While ministry today—like life— seems to be a bit messier than before,  I believe that it can be equally, if not more rewarding than in years past.  This means that we must rediscover what it means to be Christ’s disciples in this world.

     Discipleship of yesterday in many churches meant, come to church and enjoy yourself.  Today (especially in an Interim period) discipleship requires us to get up out of our seats, kneel down and get our hands dirty —dealing with the mess in our own hearts and helping our current and future brothers and sisters deal with the messes in theirs.

     In dealing with the messes of our hearts God enables us in unlikely ways.  Through sharing, singing, teaching, preaching, testimonies, gathering, study and intercessory prayer. God uses church communities to minister to the world.

     As we come into our summer months, I invite you to think deeply about the nature of discipleship and how it plays out in FBC-D church.  I also want to invite you to think deeply about how we can take the current environment and see how Jesus can make it better.

I’m asking if you are ready to get a little dirty?..... I am.

I’ll see you Sunday

P3

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