Part Of The Team?

People know me as the ‘Minister of Faversham Baptist Church’ but I’m not. ‘Oh yes you are!’ I hear you shout. Oh no I’m not! The truth is that YOU are the ministers of FBC. I am here to support, encourage and help you in your ministry. Ministry means serving one another in the name of Jesus. There are many good things you can be involved in that aren’t going to be worth anything five years from now. Developing your ministry, following Jesus’ example, will have an eternal impact.

In John 5:30 Jesus says, “I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” When he was only 12 years old Jesus said, “I must be about my father’s business.” (Luke 2:29) Some of his last words recorded in the Gospels were, “I have completed the work you gave me to do.” (John 17:4) Rick Warren points out that these are ‘bookends on a successful life. At 12 Jesus knew his purpose in life, and near the end of life, he says that purpose has been completed.’ Jesus’ sole motivation for ministry was to serve God.

At our recent Church AGM we noticed that there were many areas of ministry within the church with the word ‘Vacant’ next to them. These are not jobs to be done, or something I need help with. These are ministry opportunities for you! Someone with a passion to lead children to Jesus to coordinate our children’s ministry. Someone with a heart for introducing teenagers to Christ to coordinate our youth ministry. Someone with a vision for releasing others in ministry by developing admin support. And there are plenty of other opportunities. A love for the Lord Jesus and a desire to serve him are all that are needed. The only ability God requires is availability.

When Jesus says he had completed all the work God had given him, had he healed everyone, had everyone become a Christian, had everyone even heard the Good News? Of course not. And God doesn’t expect you to do everything, but he has given you just enough time to do all that he wants you to do. Jesus called 12 others to partner in ministry with him. Now he is calling all of us to join his team.

Church Office Ready For Action

It has taken many months, but at last the church office is ready for use. Grateful thanks to those who have worked so hard renovating, redecorating and equipping the office so that it can be used as a hub of communication and administration supporting the ministries of FBC.

The Lifeboat Station

I’m sure many of you have read this parable of the church before, but it still remains a challenge to all of us.

On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur there was once a simple little lifeboat station. It was just a hut, with one boat. The crew members were very brave, and at great risk to themselves, often put out to sea to save lives. They became famous. People who were rescued, and others of goodwill, began to help. Money was donated. Many others joined and an organisation was formed. A bigger boat was built.

Some of the new members felt that the station deserved a better building. A nice big one was built, well furnished and decorated. It became a kind of club. Photographs of lifeboats and rescue operations were hung on all the walls. As time went on it became harder to get members to go out to sea on difficult missions, so the members hired a lifeboat crew. The club became a hive of activity.

One night while a big social function was taking place a large ship was wrecked. The lifeboat crew managed to rescue many people. They brought them back to the new building. They were wet and sick, and not at all like the club members. The place was in chaos and got very dirty. At the next meeting a decision was taken to build a shower room outside where shipwrecked victims could be cleaned before coming in. Some proposed the motion that the lifesaving activities should be suspended as they were playing havoc with the other important club activities. A small group insisted that lifesaving was what it was all about. They were voted down. This group left the club and built a humble lifesaving station further down the coast where they did heroic work . . .

If you visit that seacoast today you will see a number of exclusive clubs along the shore. Shipwrecks are still frequent, but unfortunately most of the people drown.