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From the June, 1999 edition of The Doulos monthly newsletter by Joe Fitler The
hallways are full. Elbows are rubbing. The air is filled with
voices. Greetings, fellowship, laughter, punctuated with the
occasional “excuse me”, “pardon me”, or “oops.” Sound
familiar? It’s Sunday morning at The Chapel in North Canton. The
Lord has truly been good to us, and our present building (which was
so spacious when compared to the YMCA), has been at its capacity for
some time now. We’ve learned to cope with the crowding. Now, as we
look at the beautiful new facilities on the architect’s rendering,
we’re probably tempted to say, ”Ahhh! Breathing room at last!” It
should be our prayer, however that by this time next year we will be
nearing (if not at) “capacity” once again. I truly believe that
this is not only possible, but is likely to be the case. God’s
hand has moved consistently in this body of believers, drawing
people from many areas, many backgrounds, many walks of life. This
diversity in turn presents countless opportunities for our
individual and corporate witness to reach many facets of our
community with the good news of Jesus Christ. You
may feel uncertain or apprehensive about the church growing to this
degree; perhaps worried about getting “lost in the shuffle.” Please don’t. “Bigger” does not have to mean
“impersonal.” A growing church reflects God’s blessing,
evidenced by active, vibrant, Christ-centered ministries. As Pastor
Bennett has shared many times, a church that is not going forward is
actually moving backwards; there is no such thing as standing still.
If we “stay just the way we are”, we are in fact slipping back
and missing out on the continued blessings God has to offer. When
this 9.8 acres of suburban North Canton is fully developed for the
Lord’s use next year, we will be more than ever “in a
fishbowl” to our neighbors and community. What will they see? Will
it be our witness and unity, or just our facility? What can we do to
prepare for this next step in the growth of the church?
“They
broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere
hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And
the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
(Acts
2:46b-47) Believe
it or not, there are many each Sunday who feel that they “don’t
know all that many people.” You’re not the only one! Adult Bible
Fellowships (ABFs) and Home Groups are among the excellent ways to
get acquainted and grow with others in the church. Prayerfully
consider becoming involved in one of these ministries. If you
already belong to one, please pray for the Lord’s help in
constantly seeking new members.
“...so
in Christ we who are many form one body...” (Romans
12:5a) As
the members of the body are many, so too are the ministry needs
within the body. Using our gifts in the service of the Lord is
something that is rewarding beyond words. Please prayerfully ask for
the Lord’s leading in this step for becoming involved as well as
encouraging the involvement of others, for now and for the year
ahead.
“But
in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give
an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope
that you have.” (1 Peter
3:15a) Please pray for the many witnessing opportunities that present themselves for our neighbors and community around us in the months ahead. Remember that God’s grace is allowing us to build more than just a structure; He is presenting an opportunity for us to participate in the building of His kingdom through the building up of the body of believers in Christ.
In
Him, Joe
Fitler
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