OAKWOOD 2010

Dear Friend,

What is mission? Well, if we are going to do it, we had better be clear what it is! There are so many words based on the building block of ‘miss’. You may think of a few, but it will not help very much. The root meaning we need to get a hold of is ‘send’.

In our understanding of the purpose of the whole church throughout time and around the world, and therefore the purpose of our own local church today, especially in OAKWOOD 2010, we need to know about sending and being sent.

A missive is something which is sent containing a message. The mission of the church is that it is sent with the message of Jesus. Just as, in the first place, Jesus was sent into the world by the Father.

Jesus said, ‘As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ John chapter 20, verse 21.

It is very important for us to remember the message. It is good to do things which show the love of God in Jesus for people, but not without the message. And it is important to get the full message across, which includes the call to live a different life.

OAKWOOD 2010 is simply a way to help us to be true to what God wants us to do. He sent his Son, and the Son sends us. We do what we do in obedience to Jesus, because he sends us, and with the message about him at the front of all we do.

Please continue to pray as we think through what all this means for us in our fellowship today. The project will be at the heart of the agenda of the church and leaders’ meetings at least every second month. We have been looking at building a consistent use of publicity over the year, and it might not be long before you see a shiny new notice board at the front of the church. Thank you, Richard!

The development of OAKWOOD 2010 will also now begin to focus on all our already existing activities. We will be looking thoroughly at each in turn to make sure the fullest advantage is taken to share the message of Jesus. This may involve simple changes, say the use of appropriate literature or invitations, or it may mean an overhaul of the whole activity, so that it serves the evangelistic mission of the church.

Pray then for a clear, shared understanding of our purpose in the work of the gospel, and for a clear, shared vision of how that work should be fulfilled in our fellowship. Pray also for grace and willingness in whatever change may be involved.

And pray every day, before and after OAKWOOD 2010, to be able to point other people you know to Jesus, that they may hear the message of the gospel about him. That is your mission and mine.

Your Pastor,
Gordon

‘HE WHO BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL BRING IT TO COMPLETION’ Philippians 1v6