The Well Palmdale, CA

Many have asked me in the past months how things at The Well are going.  Typically, people want to hear some sort of quantitative statement like we have X number of people in worship, or we had an event and X number of people showed up, or we have X number of programs going on, or have you found a worship space yet.  Being that numbers have never really been our primary emphasis...this becomes difficult to answer.  So I thought that I would continue to use this space to talk a little about mission and why we do what we do. 

I thought that even though this week is only half over, it has been a good indicator of who we are doing this mission for and that our ministry is people focused.  On Monday I gave a call to a woman whose son went to trial just yesterday.  She is only a recent acquaintance, but I called to encourage her and see if she needed anything.  I reassured her that I, and others are praying for her, and offered other assistance.  She was very grateful and our relationship is building...but that relationship only occurred because a mutual believer friend had been ministering to her already.  Loving her and her family as Jesus would. 

On Tuesday, I got to sit down with a young man who is going through a divorce and many other struggles with life.  We had lunch and he was able to talk about his healing process and I was able to guide him through some Scripture.  We're planning on meeting regularly and going through Scripture as he continues to heal.  Just like the mother on Monday...I met him through a friend.  Someone who befriended him and showed him the love of Jesus before I was ever introduced.  He was someone who knew Jesus at one point in his life and strayed away...but the Spirit has lead him into our community.

Last night, I taught Confirmation class and talked about the Lord's Supper around a family's dinner table.  These are kids that have been around the church quite a bit, but to see their eyes opened to different aspects of the Christian life is always encouraging as a pastor.  To hear their questions and be a part of their lives is a huge reward that I've been given.  And tonight, I will lead our second Midweek Lent Gathering.  Even though we don't have a building, we still gather for Lent and meditate and prepare for the cross and the resurrection.  To hear a living room full of people sing praises to Jesus is more powerful than any cathedral full of people singing the same song.  Both the group of Confirmation students and those who will come tonight, have decided to come along on this journey loving people in this community.

As you can see, we, as a community of faith, have been called to nurture those who already have faith, and to reach out to those who don't know Jesus.  The people that I have been able to help this week have only been connected to me through the witness and realtionship of people of faith...through all of you.  Mission happens through you when you love someone as you desire to be loved...when you share the love of Jesus just like how someone had done for you.  So keep praying for those in your life, whether they know Jesus or not....and also pray that God moves you into life of mission where you are able to bring the love of Jesus to the many people whom you know.

1 Comments | Login to Post Comments