Mission Trip to Kentucky

 

A group of 23 from Mt. Olivet spent a week in Big Laurel, KY working through Laurel Mission to help a few of the elderly in the community. Several worked organizing the clothing store operated by the mission. Some painted a handicap ramp for an elderly lady while others worked on completing a new house for a widow. It was a great blessing for all who participated. Thanks to all who offered help through prayers and gifts of food, money and clothing. This was the 15th consecutive year a group has been able to go from Mt. Olivet to Laurel Mission.

One of Kentucky's 10,000+ elk

Pastor's Penpoint - "Be the Church" - August 2015

When most people hear the word "church" they probably think of a building. But biblically speaking, a church is much more than a building. In fact some would say the church is not a building at all, but is all about the people.

The early Christian church had no buildings, at least not in the sense of what we would consider church buildings today. First century Christians were often persecuted and, as a result, often met in secret usually in homes. As the influence of Christianity spread, eventually buildings dedicated to worship were established and became what we know today as churches. Fellowship, worship and ministry are all conducted by people, not buildings.

When speaking of the church, there is the visible and local church as opposed to the invisible and universal church referred to in the Apostle's Creed as the "holy catholic church." The visible and local church is the physical local churches that we see around us and around the world. The invisible and universal church, however, refers to all believers everywhere and is one church, united in Christ. Everyone in the universal church is a true believer, but such is not necessarily the case with visible and local churches.

The church is not a building, but a body of believers with a specific purpose. The purposes (or ministries) of the church are many, but key to any church are foundations in worship, discipleship (education) and evangelism.

•  Worship is God-centered, and Christ-centered. It is not about entertaining with flashy displays or presentations, but about expressing our love by worshiping our Creator.
• Discipleship is also a role of the church. It involved educated believers, but also nurturing, building or helping believers to mature in Christ.

• Evangelism is also a key role of the church. This means reaching out to a lost world with the Good News about Jesus. But beyond evangelism in the sense of reaching out with the gospel, the church must also express compassion and mercy plainly by helping others.

In following Christ's example to help others, the church, too, must seek to make a real difference in the world while not neglecting to share the message of Christ.

If a church fails to fulfill any of these key roles - worship, discipleship and evangelism - then the church is not functioning as God intends. Granted, there are times when churches face challenges and struggles to one degree of another, but a healthy church seeks to overcome such challenges in a way that honors God and His intentions for the church.

Friends, its time to stop GOING to church. We need to BE the church!

~ Pastor Todd