A Word From the Pastor (June 2008)

Dear Friends in Christ,

Scripture tells us that as our Lord Jesus prepared to ascend into heaven, he took a moment to issue a few final instructions to his followers. His parting words, as recorded in Matthew 28:19-20a, are often referred to as the Great Commission. In that moment Jesus entrusted to his disciples a task that would expand around the globe and carry forward through the centuries. Jesus' instructions were this: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Jesus commissioned his disciples to go out into the world and share the good news of God's love, inviting people into the family of God through baptism, and nurturing them to become faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. Jesus called his first followers to a great task that would transform the world, and we who follow Jesus today share in this challenging mission.

Those who read our worship bulletin on Sunday mornings know that at the head of the bulletin insert each week is our congregational mission statement. It begins with these words: "We are a community of Christian believers whose purpose is to make disciples of Jesus Christ …" Those who were at our Annual Church Conference last fall heard our District Superintendent, the Rev.Jeannette Bassinger-Ishii, ask the question, "What are you doing to make disciples?" That question still rings in my ears. What are we doing to invite people into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ? What are we doing to welcome people into Christ's body, the church? What are we doing to help people discover their gifts and put them to work for God's kingdom? What are we doing to help people grow in the knowledge and love of God? What are we doing to help people lead more faithful lives, walking in the footsteps of Christ? What are we doing to make disciples of Jesus Christ?

Recently I came across a statistical survey describing the community of Fishkill (Zip Code 12524) as of the year 2004. One of the statistics this survey offered was a figure for the percentage of people in Fishkill who indicated no faith involvement. According to the survey, in the year 2004, 41% of the folks living in Fishkill had no faith involvement. 41% is a pretty high number. It would appear that we have a significant mission field right here in our own neighborhood. What are we doing to make disciples of Jesus Christ?

Given the complexities of our modern world, it's easy for dedicated church folk to get caught up in the mundane work of maintaining the church as an institution. Property matters can become pressing. Monitoring finances is often time-consuming. Recruiting faithful servants for leadership positions is a regular challenge. We can get busy planning church "activities" while losing sight of the mission and purpose behind those activities. We are called to "make disciples of Jesus Christ," but we can too easily neglect that purpose when we become distracted by other, lesser goals.

I am troubled by the thought that 41% of my Fishkill neighbors are untouched by the work of our area churches. I am saddened by the thought that in times of struggle, pain, or loss, 41% of my neighbors may have no faith community to comfort them, no spot in the body of Christ where they will find a loving embrace. I'm concerned that a significant percentage of the children in our community may be growing to adulthood without ever knowing of Jesus' love, without being instructed in Christian values, without being guided and upheld by a sense of God's abiding presence and power in their lives.

Before ascending into heaven, Jesus gave his followers a job. He gave them a magnificent, transformative mission. He called them to go and make disciples of all nations. We share in that calling still. That mission remains our mission today. Given the statistical data, it sounds like we have an important mission field right in our own community. Just down the block there may be people who need our prayers. Just around the corner there may be folks in desperate need of God's love and forgiveness. Across the street there may be someone searching for purpose in his or her life. There are opportunities to make disciples all around us. Please be in prayer that God will sow a great harvest of faith in our own backyard. Please pray that we may be faithful, as the body of Christ, in making disciples of Jesus.

Yours in Christ's Service,
Rev. Peggy Ann Sauerhoff