 |
Pastor's Page |
JOHN ROTHFUSZ, PASTOR - Phone 779-901-0803; email:
Dear Friends in Christ,
Go make disciples! (Matthew 28:19)
That is a foundational Word of God for us at Salem Lutheran. God sends us out to share the good news of Jesus, to touch lives by serving, and to lead people into God’s new way of life.
Our calling is to Evangelism. Many of us shudder at the thought. But we don’t need to fear. Evangelism is not a program or a committee – it is a lifestyle for all who follow Christ. Relationships are the key. When those who know us well see how we live, it sets the stage for sharing faith. When someone asks…
Why?
Why do you go to church?
Why do you have hope in the midst of death and despair?
Why does ‘stuff’ happen?
That gives us the opportunity to share our faith – to tell how we see God working in our life. We can’t wait until we are comfortable to speak. We can’t wait until we have all of our answers neatly lined up on index cards before us. Ready or not, at that moment, the time has come to be an evangelist, one who shares the good news of Jesus, and what our Lord means in our lives. When someone comes to ask questions like these, God has sent them to us. God is preparing their hearts to receive the seed of faith, which we can share. When God gives us these divine appointments, we need to recognize and seize them.
What can we say? What can we do, when faced with questions like these? How can we be ready?
Tell the truth as you have experienced it. How has God touched your life? How has God given you strength and comfort in times of need? How has God used others to bless your life?
Tell the truth as you learn it in the Bible. God promises us that he will be our Good Shepherd, leading us beside green pastures and still waters, and even through the valley of the shadow of death. God promises that nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. We know the simple story of Jesus, who dies to take away our sins and give us new life and hope. We can share that hope with others, like a seed of faith, and pray that God will let it take root in their lives.
If others see that you care about them, and honestly tell the truth of your faith, chances are good that they will listen and receive the good news you offer them. You can pray with them, and invite them to come to church with you. If you walk the journey with them, they will be much more ready to step out in faith.
Many of us still say, I couldn’t possibly do that. Yet there are people starving for the good news of Jesus, because no one is bold enough to share the food that will give them life. There are people that you encounter each day who hunger for something that they can’t even identify.
We know what they need, because it is what we need as well. Faith in Jesus fills our lives with meaning and hope. It gives us the assurance of forgiveness, new life, and salvation. We really can be evangelists, without any fancy words or elaborate testimony. God will help us to speak the words that they need to hear. We just need to share the hope that gives us life – Jesus our Lord – and invite them to come and see.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor John
