Witness

This morning when I arrived at the church I witnessed the following; A long line of parents and children along the sidewalk on Cox waiting to get into the church all wearing masks. Parents were crying and the children were eager. The YMCA staff was full of energy greeting everyone with warm voices, but yet smiles were covered with a mask.  I witnessed our campus being a witness. All of our employees were inviting and accommodating. The cleaning staff had the hallways smelling fresh, trash cans empty, and hand sanitizer out everywhere. Everyone greeted this new school year in a different way, well because everything about the day was different.

Many times during the past 6 months I have struggled with one simple question; “How does the church continue to be a witness?” "Witness" is from the Greek root word martys. A witness is one that can give testimony, whether it legal or historical, to something that was seen. In regard to Christianity Jesus placed the role of a witness upon the apostles. Peter, James and John witnessed Jesus' transfiguration (2 Peter 1:16–18). Hundreds saw Jesus after the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:6). This more than fulfills the Mosaic requirement of two or more witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6). Then in Acts 1:8 we read “'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

At UABC we still have the same mission statement and ministry objective, but how can I…we still be “My witnesses” in the midst of a pandemic?  Together we have read, via worship, the books of Jude and Ezra. In Ezra we were reminded to join together in unity to rebuild/regather and as a result celebrate the “dedication of the house of God with joy” (Ezra 6:16). Jude wrote to believers that had a “common salvation” (Jude 3) and he called on the church to be unified while looking out for false teachers. In both of these narratives the church needed to be unified in order to be a witness to the areas around their gatherings. In both books the believers rose to the occasion and I believe we can do the same!

Friends, over the past 6 months we have continued to be unified in our mission. I have witnessed your continued giving, heard your concerns, embraced your joys, all while continuing to seek the answer to my question “How does the church continue to be a witness?” The only answer I can find is by following the example of the early church in the book of Acts. Jesus has come and accomplished redemption through His death and resurrection. Now we await His return from heaven, but God’s plan is not finished. Jesus established and commissioned His followers to take His message to the rest of the world. He commanded us to be “My witness.” For the next few weeks we will see how we as the church of Jesus Christ fit into that plan, and what resources God has given us to accomplish His mission…even in the midst of a pandemic.

Serving Him,

Pastor Jeff