Our mission as United Methodists is to make disciples of Christ for the transformation of the world.
Our new vision is to love boldly, to serve joyfully, and to lead courageously.
First Bethel is a church that welcomes all. We will accept you exactly as you are! Our goal will never be to judge you … but to embrace you – and love you – and encourage you in your individual walk of faith.
Are you looking for answers? So are we.
If the parking lots could talk! Church parking lots that is! It is in these spaces that many evaluation sessions take place and are commonly referred to as “parking lot conversations.”
Church went too long! I couldn’t hear the young person reading scripture! I didn’t like the hymn selections! The pastor was dressed too casually! … are a few examples of the critique every church parking lot has heard. And it is okay…to an extent. We all are critics…we all critique and evaluate what we see and hear. Though a certain level of conversational critique is harmless, great caution must be exercised to keep it healthy, constructive, and redemptive.
In the church, a healthy level of critique is that where judgement & evaluation can be shared & discussed with helpful improvement for all as its goal. This is called “constructive criticism.” Paired with forthright and honest communication, God is able to use this for the greater good and redeems it for benefit of the church and the Kingdom of God.
As we leave our next church service or leadership meeting and the parking lot conversations pop up, check yourself with the Apostle Paul’s words he wrote to the believers in Ephesus: Do not let any unwholesome [or corrupting] talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians. 4:29 NIV/ESV)
May all we say and do flow out of the desire to make glad the heart of God and to further God’s Kingdom on Earth! Amen!
Journeying together,
Pastor David Ewing
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