Did you minister to the live-and-dying . . . before it was too late?

Did you do it?     
     Did you tell someone about the lasting love of Jesus . . . before it was too late?

What impact is your ministry making on the kingdom?

Once a month, the teaching ministry at my church meets to review the lesson for the upcoming month and review what went well, what didn't, etc., and in general, find ways to be more effective and proactive --- as always.
     Many suggestions were given and comments made, but the one being impressed on my spirit right now is this:  Just how effective has my ministry been this year, for all people with whom I come into contact?

Are you 'too busy' for God?

CASSOPOLIS, Mich. — Are you too busy for God?

This question was asked during a Women’s Day program in mid-October 2009 (Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009) at Calvin Community Chapel in Cassopolis, in southwest Mich. Calvin Community Chapel is pastored by the Rev. Russell Haines.

The person asking was the Rev. Ora Burns, the guest minister who challenged the audience to “Model Mary in a Martha World” (Luke 10: 38-41). Rev. Burns is a minister and outreach specialist at Kalamazoo, Mich.’s Mt. Zion Baptist Church, pastored by the Dr. Rev. Addis Moore.

Rev. Burns noted that the average Christian is “too busy” to spend much quality time with God. She cited from a 2007 survey — “The Obstacles to Growth Survey” — of 20,009 Christians from around the globe. According to the survey, about 6 in 10 of the Christians surveyed indicated that their “busyness” got in the way of them developing a more meaningful relationship with God.

“You have no time to sit at the feet of God,” Rev. Burns said.

“When you do, you are divinely consecrated,” Rev. Burns continued. “When you sit at the feet of Jesus, you get what you need. When you sit at the feet of Jesus, He tells you what to do with your ministry. By sitting at His feet, He will let you take your ministry to the next level.”

“If you’re tied up, tangled up, bound up, how are you gonna free somebody else?” Rev. Burns asked. “Some people say they’re filled with the Holy Spirit, but they don’t want to spend time with God.”

Once time has been spent with God, believers will know how to go and produce fruit, by witnessing to others and making disciples of them (Matthew 28:18-20), Rev. Burns said.

“Look at how many people you have won to Christ,” Rev Burns said. “Fruit is bringing souls to Christ.”

Also, once a person rests at the feet of Jesus, he or she will discover their purpose, know their purpose and connect to their purpose, she added.

“When I obey, I will produce within my purpose,” Rev. Burns said.

How comfortable does you church make its visitors feel?

Plans have been announced for the "Drive Conference 2010" — from May 3 to 5, 2010 — for church leaders; the event is hosted by Northpoint Comomunity Church, 4350 Northpoint Parkway, in Alpharetta, Ga.

For more information, visit http://insidenorthpoint.org, or visit www.driveconference.com.

Northpoint's "Church for the Unchurched" video

Loving the graffitti artists

A funny thing happened in church the other day . . .

The weekend before Memorial Day 2009, some graffiti-spraying vandals struck the church where I worship, leaving evidence of their presence in stark black spray paint — their 'tags' — in at least three areas.

Our pastor was livid — announcing from the pulpit that we would not just sit by and let that continue. In fact, he said, we were all invited back to prayer service that evening and — after prayer —would hit the streets to get those involved saved.

Sure enough, that Sunday evening's prayer service was a lot fuller than normal, with more than 300 people showing up — at least 200 of whom hit the streets.

And while part of the focus was to find the perpetrators, the greater focus, as our pastor said, was to offer salvation to those who deemed it necessary and fitting to deface God's property.

As my prayer cell ended our prayer, I was reminded that "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called, according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28, NIV), meaning that even this bit of vandalism was leading our church to do exactly what we as saints had been commissioned to do: go and make disciples of the whole world' (Matthew 28:18-20).

Our hour-plus long trek throughout our neighbor bore a lot of fruit: neighbors and residents happy to see the throng out, church members from other congregations wishing up well and inviting us back, contact with at least two of the offending gang members and — best of all — during that following Wednesday night's prayer service, the conversion of one young gang member from the 'enemy's camp' to God's camp! I can't wait for this coming Sunday to see what other fruit was harvested!

I thank the Lord for 'compelling' me and others out of our complacency!

Got Christ?

Got Christ?

Do you know what it means to have Christ in your life, to be saved?

One of the purposes of His Hem Ministry is to introduce those who are unsaved toJesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who is the son of God.

Did you know that Jesus Christ came to this world to create a way for us to reunite with God, our Heavenly Father (John 3:16)? And that His Word says that nothing you've ever done is so terrible that it will separate you from That Love (Romans 8:38-39), that Jesus' blood washes you clean and restores you like new?

Please know that God the Father loves you more than anything — and that if you had been the only pitiful soul on this earth, He still would have sent His son Jesus to earth to die for you — yes, only YOU!

(And for those of us who already 'have Christ, how did we share Him today?)

To accept this gift of salvation, please pray this prayer:

"Father, I don't know You as my Lord and Savior, but I want to. I want to understand and believe in my heart that You died for my sins, that you had to, to make a way for me to be with You and the Father one day, once again. I want you to come into my heart, to rule as my Lord and Savior — to be the 'boss of me.' Please forgive me for my sins, and live in my heart, forever, as I repent and turn from my sinful ways. In Jesus' name, I pray, 'Amen.' "

If you've prayed this salvation prayer in all sincerity, you need to next find a Bible-preaching, Bible-teaching church in your area to join — one that you will commit to attending regularly as you continue to 'grow up' in God's Word (2 Timothy 2:15, Hebrews 5:13-14).

His Hem Ministry would also like to know about those who accept the Gift of Salvation as a result of this message:

Please share your good news, or questions, with us at: HisHemPraise@yahoo.com.