Dear family and friends of WCPC:

Lately I’ve been reading a lot of history concerning the Roman Empire.  I’ve read a biography of Cicero, one of Rome’s great politicians.  I’ve begun reading through another biography of Caesar Augustus, Rome’s first emperor.  Years ago as a student I read Edward Gibbon’s classic The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

Gibbons believed that one of the reasons the Roman Empire fell was because of the growth of Christianity.  I don’t agree.  There were many factors that contributed to Rome’s fall.  Christianity actually was one of the reasons I believe the Roman Empire held together as long as it did, but that discussion is for another time. 

In the chapter where he discusses Christianity, and Gibbons by the way wasn’t a fan, he argues that one of the causes for the rapid growth of Christianity was that each new convert considered it his or her sacred duty “to diffuse among his friends and relations the inestimable blessings which he had received.”  Peter in his first letter put it like this – “…Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect.”  (I Peter 3: 15)

The “E” word, evangelism, is often misunderstood.  It comes from the Greek word meaning “good news” or “public messenger of good news.”  Joe Donaho, a Presbyterian pastor, wrote a short book many years ago entitled Good News Travels Fast.  He defined evangelism as one friend telling another friend about his or her new friend, Jesus Christ.  We don’t engage in evangelism for the sake of building churches, though that certainly can result, but because we are seeking to build God’s Kingdom, as we live in response to the Great Commission (Matthew 28: 16 – 20).

This Sunday, as we consider “A Roadmap to the Future,” we’re going to talk about evangelism as we look at Goal # 5 – “We will continually seek new ways to identify and serve the needs of people from the larger community around us, helping others discover and claim the immeasurable gifts of God’s grace and Christian love.”

You may discover you’re already an evangelist, you just didn’t know it or you may discover how you can become one in your home, neighborhood, school or work place.

Please remember this Sunday the Sanctuary Choir will be presenting at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary, along with an orchestra, a service of evening prayer by Mozart based on selected Psalms.  Before the vespers, at 6:00 p.m., Bob Campbell will be providing insight into those Psalms, so your experience in worship can be enhanced. 

See you on Sunday,

Your pastor,

David Jones