In a community that has over 30 churches people often ask why so many different churches. Of course the people who attend these different churches all have reasons why they think that their particular church is unique. Some churches have a long established history in this community such as Crossroads United Brethren Church that just celebrated 150 years of ministry in this community. That is quite impressive seeing that the city of Charlotte is just 152 years old. Then you have several smaller churches that have begun in a home or a rented building that are only a few years old.
New Hope Community Church falls in between with our church being 42 years old. One of my goals has been to connect with other pastors and churches in our city who have a similar vision to reach the lost and hurting.
For many years as I was trying to make this connection I kept running into more of a spirit of competition than cooperation. Many churches would not become involved in activities with other believers unless it was going to directly benefit their own church. I had pastors refuse to become involved unless the activity was happening at their church or they had to be the keynote speaker.
Let me say that in the last few years I have seen a greater spirit of cooperation than ever before. Several pastors from this community have been meeting together on a weekly basis for several months to pray, to plan and to believe that God wants to see the lost saved and the hurting healed. They are believing for a spiritual revival to sweep through this community that will change lives and entire families for eternity.
How did this change come about? We began to focus on what we do agree on, such as these basic beliefs:
-There is One True God who has revealed Himself as God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
-The Bible is the inspired word of God and that only is what we use for doctrine.
-That the only way of salvation is through believing and accepting Jesus Christ by faith. That Jesus was crucified, died for our sins, was buried and rose bodily from the grave three days later and then ascended to the Father.
-That Jesus is coming again and that both the righteousness and the unbelievers will receive rewards. The righteous everlasting life with God, the unbelievers everlasting life in torment.
Together these fellow pastors are praying that the true church of born again believers will have one voice that will point the lost and the hurting to find salvation and healing in Jesus Christ.
New Hope Community Church falls in between with our church being 42 years old. One of my goals has been to connect with other pastors and churches in our city who have a similar vision to reach the lost and hurting.
For many years as I was trying to make this connection I kept running into more of a spirit of competition than cooperation. Many churches would not become involved in activities with other believers unless it was going to directly benefit their own church. I had pastors refuse to become involved unless the activity was happening at their church or they had to be the keynote speaker.
Let me say that in the last few years I have seen a greater spirit of cooperation than ever before. Several pastors from this community have been meeting together on a weekly basis for several months to pray, to plan and to believe that God wants to see the lost saved and the hurting healed. They are believing for a spiritual revival to sweep through this community that will change lives and entire families for eternity.
How did this change come about? We began to focus on what we do agree on, such as these basic beliefs:
-There is One True God who has revealed Himself as God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
-The Bible is the inspired word of God and that only is what we use for doctrine.
-That the only way of salvation is through believing and accepting Jesus Christ by faith. That Jesus was crucified, died for our sins, was buried and rose bodily from the grave three days later and then ascended to the Father.
-That Jesus is coming again and that both the righteousness and the unbelievers will receive rewards. The righteous everlasting life with God, the unbelievers everlasting life in torment.
Together these fellow pastors are praying that the true church of born again believers will have one voice that will point the lost and the hurting to find salvation and healing in Jesus Christ.