A.C. Mitchell Church…..Pastor David Hobbs writes…..
Mitchell in the Community…Relationship Building
A book by Dallas Willard titled, “The Great Omission” regarding the church’s mandate to make disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ has been challenging me recently. Simply put, we often are attempting to make Christians church attendees rather than distinctive disciples.
A disciple is an all-out committed apprentice of Jesus Christ Himself. Mere outreach programmes without a concentrated effort on one-to-one relationships for this purpose will miss the mark. God continues to grant the fellowship at Mitchell opportunities to begin relationships with people through the weekly toddlers group and children’s club - both of which have waiting lists. In the children’s club parents sign an acceptance form agreeing that their children will be taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Bible as the Word of God and that they will have boundaries of behaviour shaped by practical Christian truth. The parents acceptance of this (and it is explained one to one) is the beginning not only of our ministry to their children but also to them as well. It requires prayer, the fruit of the Spirit and more prayer!
The Lord builds trust through the integrity of the work with children and our encounters with their parents. As our long time children’s worker Alan Culley said recently, “It is marvellous to meet adults out in the road in and around and about the shops with a connection through Mitchell that is Jesus.” In the toddlers group the barriers of scepticism and caution melt further away week by week as relationships of trust grow with these families. Our prayerful effort must be to invest our lives into these relationships and let the aroma of Christ draw them towards trusting in Him as Saviour and Lord. 2 Corinthians 2 v 14-17.
Mitchell in the Community…Relationship Building
A book by Dallas Willard titled, “The Great Omission” regarding the church’s mandate to make disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ has been challenging me recently. Simply put, we often are attempting to make Christians church attendees rather than distinctive disciples.
A disciple is an all-
The Lord builds trust through the integrity of the work with children and our encounters with their parents. As our long time children’s worker Alan Culley said recently, “It is marvellous to meet adults out in the road in and around and about the shops with a connection through Mitchell that is Jesus.” In the toddlers group the barriers of scepticism and caution melt further away week by week as relationships of trust grow with these families. Our prayerful effort must be to invest our lives into these relationships and let the aroma of Christ draw them towards trusting in Him as Saviour and Lord. 2 Corinthians 2 v 14-
