The R I V E R…GET IN…
(#4 of 5 Vision-exploring messages)
“And he [Christ] gave some…to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-12
“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them…” Romans 12:6
E – Equipping Saints for God’s Ministry
Greetings to you as we experience the month of May! On the 6th of this month, 8th Grade members of the Cross Family, 10 of them, will profess their life-long faith in the Rite of Confirmation. They will promise and commit to the vow that nothing—not even death—will cause them to turn their back on Christ and their relationship with Him.
And then, almost immediately, some will do just that. In spite of hearing over and over again that Confirmation is NOT “graduation,” that we should never be finished growing (vigorously!) in God’s Word and in our faith and relationship with Christ…it still happens.
For 8th Grade youth, probably the most intentional, intense time of religious instruction up to that point in their lives is Confirmation Class. I get that. But how it saddens me to see and know that one, two, three, four decades later—that long-ago 8th Grade experience remains as the main time of faith nurturing that is supposed to carry someone through life.
Don’t know about you, but I don’t want a builder, butcher, teacher, doctor, dentist, president, military, or pastor—whose education in their vocation stopped with their 8th Grade year. How thankful I am for the blessings God gives to us through the gifts He gives to others in all walks of life…in your walk of life!
Enter THE EQUIPPERS!! Those among us here at Cross whom God is using to Equip the Saints for God’s Ministry in this place! Your pastor, Vicar, DCE, Principal, Lutheran Teachers! In a very real way, our “job” is to equip…and your “job” is to be equipped—your whole life long! All so that the body of Christ is built up, and the kingdom of God is expanded.
MY VISION: We continue and enhance the ministry of Cross in ways old and new! We continue the DCE ministry and the Vicarage Program. And, as I said a couple months ago, we add the ministry of a Director of Parish Music. These—and more—will be used by God and to His glory, to bring us all deeper into the flow of following the Water of Life—Jesus Christ.
Continue to pray for God’s guidance, blessing, and provision! Come on in, the water is fine! Join me in The River…and see you in church!
Pastor Don Fraker
