0
The VIPs
Posted by
Bob Fetherlin
,
15 September 2007
·
850 views
More than 99% of the C&MA is laypeople . . . they've not gone through a licensing or accreditation process to be formally recognized for ministry. Yet without them there'd be no C&MA!
Recently Esther and I were at a banquet to celebrate the 100th anniversary of a local church. The pastor stood up and said, "We have a number of VIPs here today." Sitting at the two front tables were Dr. David Rambo, former president of the US C&MA, the district superintendent and his wife, a pastoral couple who had formerly served the church, some other visiting pastoral couples, and us.
This pastor was right on when he introduced the VIPs . . . he presented the key laypeople in the church who had worked hard to make the special weekend celebration happen. He paised the laypeople involved in various parts of the church's ministry. This pastor gets it! Esther and I were elated that none of us at the "head tables" were introduced at the banquet . . . we had been introduced previously in other parts of the weekend celebration and certainly didn't need another introduction.
Paul describes in Ephesians 4:12 the work of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. They are "to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up". This pastor not only understood this principle, he and his people were practicing it! Esther and I were greatly encouraged to see this and again gave thanks for the 99+ percent of the C&MA who are faithful laypeople!
Recently Esther and I were at a banquet to celebrate the 100th anniversary of a local church. The pastor stood up and said, "We have a number of VIPs here today." Sitting at the two front tables were Dr. David Rambo, former president of the US C&MA, the district superintendent and his wife, a pastoral couple who had formerly served the church, some other visiting pastoral couples, and us.
This pastor was right on when he introduced the VIPs . . . he presented the key laypeople in the church who had worked hard to make the special weekend celebration happen. He paised the laypeople involved in various parts of the church's ministry. This pastor gets it! Esther and I were elated that none of us at the "head tables" were introduced at the banquet . . . we had been introduced previously in other parts of the weekend celebration and certainly didn't need another introduction.
Paul describes in Ephesians 4:12 the work of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. They are "to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up". This pastor not only understood this principle, he and his people were practicing it! Esther and I were greatly encouraged to see this and again gave thanks for the 99+ percent of the C&MA who are faithful laypeople!
