MINISTERS LETTER

Dear Friends 

The joy of Easter is behind us, now it is time to look forward to the POWER we are promised at Pentecost. Jesus promised his disciples they would receive Power (Luke 24:49).

The power to preach the message of repentance and forgiveness, for this is what Jesus said his disciples would receive power to do.

When we read the Second Chapter of the Book of Acts we find that after Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost about 3,000 were added to their number (Acts 2:41). I wonder when the last time was that 3,000 people were added to the church in a single day!

So often we find folk coming to church, perhaps for a Baptism, or a Funeral, or a special occasion, and how welcome do we make them feel? So often we say good morning and hand them a book or two, do we take time to ensure that they understand which one is which, just because we know doesn’t mean they do. The Ship of Fools.com since 1998 has been sending Mystery Worshipers around churches up and down the country, all denominations, all sizes. If they came to YOUR church what would you do.

In the sketch below entitled ‘If Jesus Came To Your House’ we get an idea of how we might react.

If JESUS came to your house to spend a day or two –

If he came unexpectedly, I wonder what you’d do.

Oh, I know you’d give your nicest room to such an honoured guest,

And all the food you’d serve him would be the very best,

And you would keep assuring him you’re glad to have him there –

That serving him in your own home is a joy beyond compare. 

But – when you see Him coming, would you meet him at the door

With arms outstretched in welcome to your heavenly visitor?

Or would you have to change your clothes before you let him in?

Or hide some magazines and put a bible where they had been?

Would you turn off the radio and hope he hadn’t heard?

And wish you hadn’t uttered that, last loud, hasty word?

Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymnbooks out?

Could you let JESUS walk right in, or would you rush about?

And I wonder – if the saviour spent a day or two with you,

Would you go right on doing the things you always do?

Would you go right on saying the things you always say?

Would life for you continue as it does from day to day?

Would your family conversation keep up its usual pace?

And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace?

Would you sing the songs you always sing, and read the books you read,

And let him know the things on which your mind and SPIRIT feed?

Would you take JESUS with you everywhere you’d planed to go?

Or would you, may be, change your plans for just a day or so?

Would you be glad to have him meet your closest friends?

Or would you hope they’d stay away until his visit ends?

Would you be glad to have him stay forever on and on?

Or would you sigh with relief when at last was gone?

It might be interesting to know the things that you would do

If JESUS CHRIST in person came to spend some time with you.

If this is what we would have to do if Jesus came to our house, what would we have to do if he came to HIS house, the church.

May he find that ALL are made welcome, that ALL can find prayerful care and concern, or would he and they find people who talk in cliques and don’t to talk to the stranger.

May the power of God’s Holy Spirit abide in us and shine through us.

God Bless

Mark

Top of Page