Around the Family Table

¹⁸As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. ¹⁹And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” ²⁰Immediately they left their nets and followed him.  – Matthew 4:18-20

At the beginning of this new year I want to reemphasize the mission which I discerned was needed in the McAllen district three years ago at the start of my tenure as a District Superintendent and after my visits to every church in the district.  It is:  we will follow Jesus by transforming our churches through intentional discipleship development and risk-taking mission and service.

I believe that every church in the district, to some extent, has planned and worked with this mission in mind.  Some have had visible growth in numbers of people and programs, others have worked just as hard but are still praying and waiting for the visible growth although they sense a deepening in their relationship with God, and still others are frustrated by both the hard work and the lack of response.

No matter what the outcome of our discipleship development and missional service, we are called still to follow Jesus.  When things are going well, we are to continue to follow Jesus, not just our own successful ideas and our own inflated egos.  When things are going poorly, we are to keep one foot in front of the other marching after Jesus, not to fall into the ditch of despair or run after the bright lights of easier but false attractions.  The Bible is clear on this point…and Jesus states it directly at least twenty times in the New Testament when he commands, “Follow me.” 

So, we follow.  We follow the one who showed us what attitudes to apply to life.  We follow the one who demonstrated the depth and strength of love.  We follow the one whose voice we seek to hear more clearly still.  We follow the one who has forgiven his enemies – and his friends! 

In 2010 may we all renew our desire to follow Jesus as we are transformed by and transforming in our churches, as we are intentional in our leading persons into greater discipleship, and as we undertake and are undertaken by more risk-taking mission and service.  

Go follow Jesus.