My assignments at OSLM are in transition: my role as Elder will continue, as will my occasional role as Bible Class teacher, but Bob Greenwalt is taking my place as Chair of the Board of Elders. Your assignments will probably change from time to time, too, as God moves us forward as His agents in this community. However, I need to point out a quiet challenge that confronts OSLM. Look at the people who serve and lead in our congregation’s ministries. How many of them are 50 years old or older? Our Lord has blessed us with many brothers and sisters in Christ who stay engaged and productive in the ministries as long as their health permits. However, the church is always one generation away from going out of business, and until we complete the Great Commission, this issue of replacement and growth needs our attention.
We need to pray that God will continue to bring new people into our Christian fellowship. Their presence alone is not enough, though. We need to pray that God will stir them up, equip them, and bring them into active, productive service to work shoulder to shoulder with us in building up and reaching out, all in His name.
Please ask God to teach you to do two things about this challenge: First, we need to pray that God will raise up more people to do His work (see Matthew 9:37-38 about the spiritual harvest all around us). Do not forget that God would like to count you as one of the workers! Second, encourage those around you (see Hebrews 10:23-35 on how we can help each other). Your prayers and your words all have an impact beyond anything you might imagine. The Christian life is a contact sport, so it is time to get in contact with God and with each other to move His team forward!
