The "E" Word

What do you think when I say the word, "Evangelism?"  Maybe you think about a street-corner preacher, holding up his Bible and telling you that the end is near.  Perhaps you think about a good old-fashioned revival where the preacher stands on the back of horse-drawn carriage or in a barn with sawdust on the ground.  You could think of big-name preachers, like Billy Graham, who would preach using every piece of technology possible, followed by thousands of people coming forward to be saved.  Whatever your picture of evangelism, it probably stirs up thoughts, both good and bad, about God and His Church.

I ask the question because I just spent a week in school studying evangelism once again.  Many of the concepts were ones I had already learned.  Others were new to me.  It was good to read about and discuss some of the ways God has used throughout history to reach people with His Good News that brings great joy.  It was also good to learn about ways that do not work, either.  It was a good week learning how to empower one more to walk together with God.

I share all of this because you may have noticed some of the changes that are going on at Life Bridge.  Building changes only scratch the surface of the things that are happening behind the scenes.  These changes are not being made just because we want to lower our NIPSCO bill or make the worship center have a more open feel.  We are making these changes because they will help us all reach out to our family, friends, neighbors, and even enemies.  We are making these changes so we will all get better at empowering one more to walk together with God.  By the way, that's why I'm going back to school, too.  I'm learning how to better empower, equip, and encourage you in your ministries and create an environment where we all work together in unity as God's team...Christ's Body...The Church.

This Sunday we get to celebrate 12 years of God working in and through His people at Life Bridge.  The next Sunday, we will complete our series on the Holy Spirit, finishing with the list of Spirit-Fruit described in Galatians 5:22-23.  Then, it begins.  Sunday, October 11, we will begin to unveil where God is taking us next.  It's an exciting time to see God at work.  It's an exciting time to be God's Church.  I hope to see you there.