Many of the ministers in Missouri are studying and meeting to radically reverse the trends of decline found in mainline denominations including ours. We live in a post-Christian society, that is a fact most of us have noticed. However, non-Christians who live in a post-Christian society are still in need of the saving love of Jesus, the Christ. Methods to reach these people, whom Jesus loves so much he died for them, are no longer methodical as we in the Methodist tradition have known them. We are learning new ways of following the Christian call. Changing the methods and places we’ve known is not easy for us. When we look at the new nature of ministry we are a little tenuous (Or we for retirement!). We have apprehension!
Joe Garagiola, former major league baseball star and TV personality, told about a time when Stan Musial came to the plate in a critical game. Musial was at the peak of his career. The opposing pitcher in the game was young and nervous. Garagiola, as the catcher, called for a fastball and the pitcher shook his head; Joe signaled for a curve and again the pitcher shook him off. He then asked for one of the pitcher's specialties and still the pitcher hesitated. So Joe paced to the mound for a conference. He said, "I've called for every pitch in the book; what do you want to throw?" "Nothing," was the pitcher's shaky reply. "I just want to hold on to the ball as long as I can."
At times, we feel like him! We have taken great leaps in our congregation to reach people for Christ. The physical new building program, reaching people for Christ, is marching to fruition. Building Committee speakers are bringing you the news every other Sunday. Please listen closely. We’re all going to reach folk for Christ, we’re going together and we’re going to do ministry, perhaps in ways that are different, always working to reach people for Christ.
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