Friends,
Thank you for participating in our survey last week about Schweitzer and the United Methodist Church. Your feedback is really helpful and appreciated. We will share the results of the survey in a few weeks, after our Study Group has had a chance to process the information. We’re also going to pause in our series from our last month on the United Methodist Church and the possible separation. I’m sure we’ll return to this topic over the spring, but for now we’ll take a break.
Instead, today I want to share some good news about Schweitzer.
In January, Schweitzer started a new ministry to reach people in a different way. On Sunday nights in our outreach center about 50 people per week come together to share a meal, a message, testimonies and worship music. We call it Dinner Service. In particular, many folks in our Life Change Plan are connecting with one another through this unique new approach.
There is a movement forming in many churches across America to create new and alternative ways to connect with people who otherwise wouldn’t connect in a “traditional”church setting. Forming a smaller worship service around a meal is becoming a common ministry. (If you are curious, you can read about the Dinner Church movement here.)
Here’s what I love about the Dinner Service: it’s simple. Sometimes in church we make things overly complicated, and here is a simple approach to meet people where they’re at with the good news of Jesus Christ. When I look ahead to our future together, I see us taking on many opportunities like Dinner Service as we try to reach as many people as we can with gospel.
Likely, the new and creative ways to reach more people are going to come from folks in the congregation. It may be that you have an idea to reach more people. Just this week someone told me how she was going to start a Bible study in her fitness center to connect with people who may not have a church home. If the Holy Spirit is stirring something in you to start or lead a ministry, I would love to talk to you.
This Sunday, we’re going to continue on our series, Jesus in the Present Tense, and turn to John 14 where Jesus says I AM the way, the truth, and the life.
I can’t wait to see you on Sunday!
Spencer