Nehemiah 8:15 And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusa-lem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.
What images come to your mind during the Fall? Undoubtedly images such as pumpkins, straw and straw people, apples and apple cider, gourds, squash, canning, football and a host of many more! Here at the church I can think of a few more like Women’s Day or Special Meeting and this year our Mission Conference or Dedication Sunday.
All three of these events require two things to be successful. First, they require great prayers to the Lord to speak to us and move us to His will. World-wide Missions need God’s people to support Missions both with money and critically by prayer. Truly our church families who voted to support a missionary should be moved to pray for our missionaries weekly. To help our families, we pass out, in the beginning of the year, a prayer list for daily prayer. This card has a list of families to pray for daily and a missionary also.
The second need to be successful at the Mission Conference, Women’s Day and Dedication Sunday is you! Without God’s people faithfully attending we will, not succeed. We can promote and advertise but unless God’s people attend, all is in vain. Each one of these events have a specific purpose and a targeted group. Let me share with you that idea.
Women’s Day was begun many years ago as an answer to a dying area–wide ladies gathering. Very few ladies attended as it did not relate to a modern culture. Our vision was to provide a fun forum for ladies to be discipled and to learn spiritual truths in a fun packed day. This event has expanded from our area ladies to the whole state. While the main speaker is a drawing card, the individual workshop(s) is the foundation for the needs of the ladies. That is why our ladies need to attend and bring others from our community.
Finally, Dedication Sunday is a very sacred and special event in our church; a Solemn Assembly. It is one Sunday in the year the congregation of the Lord is called to “Remember” our calling and purpose. Secondly, it is a challenge to “Renew” our vows and commitment to our Lord. Finally, it is a day to “Reach Out” to the lost and compel them to banquet with us. More will be said about these matters next month.
Let’s have fun this fall and make God’s things our priority.