He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. –Colossians 1:28 (NIV)

Since before we moved into the new church edifice, back when the Vision was given to me, and as I began to reveal to our congregation the dynamic personality of this ministry, one crucial aspect has been the idea of ministering to the total man.  According to 1 Thessalonians 5:23, God created man with these three parts:  a spirit, a soul, and a body—each with its own characteristics and function.  Our body has five senses that allow us to exist here on earth and to experience life here on earth.  Our soul includes our minds, our emotions, and our will, which gives us our personality.  Our spirit is that deepest part that allows us to experience God.  John 4:24 confirms this by saying, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truthfulness.”  God created us with these three parts, and it is therefore, crucial that our ministry efforts consider all three.  We strive to pattern our ministry efforts after Jesus’ earthly ministry in an effort to impact the total man.

Evangelizing, discipling, ministering, fellowshipping, and worshipping—these are the hallmarks of Jesus’ ministry here on earth. With these five key elements— (1) preaching the good news of the Gospel, (2) teaching people how to live obediently in the will of God, (3) ministering healing to their brokenness with the grace and power of God, (4) connecting believers with other believers so they can build one another up, and (5) revering and acknowledging the supremacy of God at every turn—our ministry mimics the authenticity of Jesus’ earthly ministry.  Authentic ministry always involves these elements, and this gives us a better opportunity to be effective at kingdom building.  Under the variety of ministries here at New Cedar Grove M. B. Church, we label these elements as (1) evangelism, (2) discipleship, (3) ministry, (4) fellowship, and (5) worship, and every ministry works to conduct activities that address all five.  These five elements together help us to gauge our ministry effectiveness.  We have so much ministry work yet to do!  If you have not yet gotten involved in a ministry here at New Cedar Grove, let me encourage you to make this next year your year to do just that!  Ministry of good works and fulfilling God’s vision for our church family is going to take everybody doing their part. 

As we enter into a new year in Christ, may we build on the power of our unity, especially in corporate prayer, so that we may make a difference in our community.  May we begin to discover more opportunities to minister to the total man with these key elements of ministry.  Let our individual ministry efforts create more effective ministry opportunities for our entire church family, and may we have renewed strength and increased power to do greater works in the lives of people of all ages.  2020 Vision… May we see even more clearly than ever before just how to fulfill the Vision God gave me for New Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church!  May God be glorified in all that we do! 

Happy New Year and God bless every one of you! 

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