A Note from Our Guest
Important to us is to linger after the Sunday gathering, and to start conversations that form new and deepen existing relationships.
This note changed my view of success. In today’s fast-paced world of text messages and emails, just receiving a handwritten letter is extraordinary. What caught my attention was the author’s perspective of our church. Earlier this year his family visited us, connected well, and yet did not return. While God led his family to join another ministry, he wanted me to know something important about Anthem Church. This is what he wrote:
“Our family was incredibly blessed by our time at Anthem. We felt more engaged with other believers in our one visit than we have in years at other churches. While I don’t think we are going to land at Anthem, I would not be pursuing [this new house church] if we had not experienced the community in your church.”
Here is the point. God used Anthem Church to help this family reimagine a new kind of church community. While they did not continue with us, we encouraged them to go and help their good friends form a new house church. By God’s grace, we helped them step forward on their spiritual journey.
God is working through Anthem Church to influence people towards God’s purpose for them. Even if someone visits us just one time, we have an opportunity to encourage them to take a step forward on their spiritual journey. Just last week another guest shared how God led her to Anthem to find a renewed purpose in life. She read our book and wants to grow closer to God as a part of our church. And this is not for her benefit, but to fulfill God’s purpose for her by doing His good work here on earth. In my words, she is interested to make God’s mission a greater priority in her day-to-day life.
Our church is committed to fulfill the mission of Jesus. We are here to help every follower of Jesus learn how to help others follow Jesus so that they can in turn help others follow Jesus. For me, this is as simple as sharing with others what we are learning about Jesus in the Bible and then to encourage them to learn more about Jesus by reading the Bible. For the Christian movement to continue for future generations, our church must help each other take initiative and live out what Jesus commanded of us in Matthew 28:19-20. I believe as we follow His will for our lives, then we can not only live a life of meaning and purpose, but help others find a life of meaning and purpose as well.
God is doing a special work in and through our Anthem Church family. I’m so grateful to be a part of this work with you all as you pray and support us. Let’s continue to seek God’s will for our lives both individually and collectively. Let’s be faithful with the small and big opportunities that God is giving to us. Let’s step forward on our spiritual journey and invite others to join us. There is nothing more fulfilling than living a purposeful life with God and His Church!