GC Day 5

A creative worship experience opened the day with a "tent" set up for the Scripture Reading from Genesis (Abraham's visitors). Bishop Minerva Marcano then preached a wonderful and passionate message on our true allegiance, God over country and people over laws. As a Hispanic woman, she helped us see the responsibility of the church to care for people over law; to be compassionate to those who seek to better their lives, to care for their families and are dying to do it.

It's such a contentious issue. We are supposed to keep the law of the land, yet our laws seen to be lacking in compassion for some immigrants (called illegals). There is a sense that even our language (calling these people "illegal") is problematic, because we know that God doesn't view any human being as illegal. Jesus came for the least, not the greatest and even goes so far to say that to become the greatest we are to become the least. It seems to me that when we make such distinctions, we are then alienating not them, but ourselves.

After worship, I hopped a cab to Fellowship Church for worship. They have a new Fort Worth Campus that is only 2 miles from downtown and it just opened on Easter. A very welcoming place, in a very simple building that is still not completely remodeled, but had a great children's area, welcome center and The Source bookstore. (stuck in a corner and very creatively done.) An awesome worship band led the singing and gave way to a video message from the main campus. Today's message was from one of the pastors from the Miami Campus. His message I Got It! Was a challenge to allow ourselves to be engaged with the scripture, to own it and to share it. Not just this Sunday, but every time we hear the word of God.

His suggestion is to pray this:

(you) be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful [in your] (area of life). Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everyting written in it. Then you will beprosperous and successful. (name) have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged (by …source of your discouragement), for the Lord your God will be with you ( time and place of discouragement). Joshua 1:7-11.

So the brisk walk back downtown allowed me to think deeply about my own ministry. I wondered what it is that makes Fellowship Church so successful and I've come up with several things:

• Hospitality - In the 50 feet between the cab and just inside the foyer doors, I was welcomed by no less than 7 people with smiles and handshakes. Doors were held open and I was asked if my family was with me, then I was given a short tour of the building by another greeter. (even taken to the coffee area for a free cup!) I ended up spending most of the time before worship talking with a couple at the welcome center.
  
• Facility - It wasn't a starbucks décor, rather it was more like a store at the mall, plain cement floors (waxed, shiny and clean, though), warm colors, comfortable furniture. The children's area was bright and exciting, a radical shift from the muted colors of the foyer to brighter hues and simple cartoonish graphics, a separate children's welcome center (check in) and various classrooms led to programming for kids during each worship service. ( I watched many parents enter the sanctuary with security stickers matching their children instead of name tags. It revealed quickly who had kids in the kids area.) The sanctuary was simply, but packed with chairs. The stage was simple, black floor and walls with 3 screens side by side across the back. I only saw one empty chair in the front half of the sanctuary.
  
• Simple, Biblical Teaching that has obvious life application - There is no pretense, just practical life teaching. Even though the graphics were excellent, there were few of them. There was only one video and it was unrelated to the message.
  
• Worship - Excellent, and relevant. Simple from beginning to end with the core of it (one hour from beginning to end) was the message. (about 30 minutes)
  

The last time I came to Fort Worth I returned home with a new resolve to make the appropriate changes to my own ministry. Some of them have begun, but I have let some of the slide. I simply cannot afford to let them slide anymore; the ministry is too important. It's not that the church has to become something different, rather it is I who has to change. I have mentioned the goal of excellence, but I have allowed less from others and especially from myself.

The rest of the morning I listened in to the last part of the morning plenary. The rest of the day will be in legislative group and an evening of a "Taste of Texas." (Or to retire early to catch Desperate Housewives!)

Another busy day. I'll give you more of a report later. I have many things to think and pray about today.

Peace ><>

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