Over this past year our congregation has been working through a process of discovering who we are and how to explain that to others. I recently read and heard about a concept based on the book of Nehemiah and a lot of what was shared described who we are as a the Church of God.
First, if you were to ask me about our congregation, the first thing that I would share with you is that we are a Bible preaching/teaching church. The reason that we are is that God’s Word is where we find direction, realize His wisdom, and hear what He wants from us as individuals and a congregation. We have to remember that the “church” is not the building, but we are the “Church” when we have a relationship with Christ we are part of a larger picture than just the building. Because of the blood of Christ flowing through our veins that means that all who have that relationship are our brothers and sisters. In order for us to be the “Church” of God then we have to build that on His Word and not the latest fad. This point then means that we preach and teach and believe and strive to live all of His Word (the Bible). You can’t pick and choose what you want to believe and want to follow. you are either following the Lord completely or you aren’t. There isn’t any middle ground.
Second, Columbus West exist to help provide tools for people to live free from the bondages of their old life. Through the preaching and teaching of God’s Word we believe that people will start and build that relationship with Christ. However, Paul tells us that we should have a renewing of our mind. You see even though you are saved, you are still thinking and living the way you used to. You might even still act and live the way you did before you accepted Christ. You need to be set free from those chains. It isn’t that you aren’t saved. It just means that you need to get the garbage of the world out of your mind and put the things of the Lord into your mind. That comes through freedom. We have started a ministry that helps give people the tools that they need to be free from their past and to be free from the bondages of sinful habits.
Third, through God’s Word, through the Day of Freedom, we are praying and working on ways to help restore family values in our world today. God’s Word shows us exactly how families should be living and what that all looks like. Unfortunately in our world today there are very few Biblical family values that are lived by. The divorce rate is at an all time high. Actually, there are more people who are not getting married because of what they have experienced from previous relationships. The problem is that then the family unit suffers, children rebel or grow up with un-forgiveness and bitterness toward one or both parents. It is important that Biblical family values are restored in our world today.
Fourth, by preaching and teaching God’s Word, helping people to achieve freedom, restoring family values, we want to strengthen marriages. We do this though Bible studies, classes, and preaching God’s Word. We hope that through the power of Christ and the Holy Spirit that instead of divorce rising that we would actually work at lowering the divorce rate. We believe that we have a gift to families, marriages, and our city. That gift is Jesus who comes and heals all as we work on our relationship with Him.
Fifth, we believe that the Lord will also give us opportunity to train individuals to carry out ministry where they are, where they do business, or maybe even be called into pastoral ministry. Christ said to go out and make disciples, teaching them what he taught us. That is what we want to accomplish. We know that by making disciples, training individuals for ministry, that the “Church of God” (God’s Church) will grow and spread throughout our city, our county, state, and country, and eventually the whole world. That is being the Church that God would have us be.
Now, in a nut shell you have an idea of what Columbus West is all about. We will be working on a short statement that can be used to describe who we are in a sentence. However, if you are reading this, we want to encourage you to come and see what this is all about, that is if you don’t have a church home. As a congregation we have been really burdened for the lost in our city. We have really been burdened and convicted by God to be the Church. Come and be the Church with us. Let’s give the gift of Christ to our city as we build a place of worship within the city. Until next time be blessed by God and build that relationship with Him.
Pastor Rob
