From time to time, I will post blog entries from guest authors. They will range from inspirational to informative. But they will always be helpful and thought provoking. Here is the first of those guests. This is a post from my pastor, Pastor Dave Walker. He is the Lead Pastor at our church, Valley Christian Center…
Last August, as I was preparing for 2010, God began to stir up in me a passion to see unbelievers place their trust in Christ. God began to show me His heart for the people in the Las Vegas Valley–people who are driven by financial pressures, family problems, the stresses of every day life…and all that without the blessing and strength that comes from knowing Christ!
As my heart was stirred with compassion for them, I began to think, “What if…” kinds of thoughts:
- What if ALL of Valley Christian Center was stirred with Holy Spirit compassion for Las Vegas?
- Since the task of reaching all of Las Vegas is so enormous, what if each of us just reached out to at least one person in 2010?
- What if it became a habit? 50 the first year; 200 the next, 400 and so on?
- What if we prayed, believed God, and invited people to come to church with us?
Out of that was born “Each 1, Reach 1”: Our goal for 2010 is for everyone who calls Valley Christian Center their home church to lead one person to Christ before the end of the year.
Here’s how we can turn “what if” questions into “We did it!” statements:
- Ask God to give you real compassion for people: not the kind that makes you shed a few tears, but the kind that makes you go out of your way to help someone.
- Ask God to show you the one person in your world who is ready to jump at a chance to follow Christ.
- Pray for that person every day; ask God to give you words and opportunity to speak to them.
- Pray the discipling process all the way through: accepting Christ, water baptized, attending church, Holy Spirit baptized, serving, and helping others
Here’s what the Bible says:
Salvation that comes from trusting in Christ–which is the message we preach–is already within easy reach. In fact, the Scripture says,
“The message is close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.”
“For ‘Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”
“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” (Romans 10:8, 13, 14 NLT)
There is someone, in your world, who is right now on the verge of choosing to follow Christ! You have been uniquely positioned, by God, to help them. Your part is “praying and saying”: pray for them, and then tell them about Jesus.
Tags: Each1 Reach1, Evangelism, Friendly, Pastor Dave Walker, Salvation, VCC, What If