The First Baptist Church of Redlands
T A PE S T R Y
Feb 2020
Wo v e n To g e t h e r I n L o v e : C o l o s s i a n s 2 : 2
Issue No. 2
Let Us Pray A Message from Pastor Shawn
In the morning when it was still dark, Jesus got up and went out to a deserted place, and he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” (Mark 1:35-38)
changes in how we do things and we have experimented. It has not always been easy and at times we ask the question “Is anything really happening?” And now we have been given a significant gift that has the potential to be a resource for continued ministry well into the future. But more than that, we have been made stewards of this gift that, under the power of the Holy Spirit, could change the trajectory of our church, moving us into a future of relevance and impact for the Kingdom of God. Already we have prayerfully structured the gift into four general categories: “Tithe,” physical improvements, ministry and growth, and investment for financial stability. We will be moving into a phase of discernment as to what we will do in each of these categories, which will take some time. So now it is time to pray.
It was early in his ministry and Jesus spent time in Capernaum. While he was there he taught in the synagogue, cast out a demon, healed Simon’s mother-in-law and then healed and cast out demons into the wee hours. He made quite an impression and people wanted him to stay. But he got up early in the morning and went to a place by himself to pray. When the disciples found him and told him that everyone was looking for him Jesus announced to them that they would be leaving to go to other places to proclaim the message of the Kingdom of God. It seems as though this time of prayer was one that enabled Jesus to reconnect with his mission and put his priorities in place. There are other times in the life of Jesus in which he stops for a time of prayer, often before a “big moment” or a turning point in his ministry. This is part of the rhythm of his life and he passes this on to his disciples. We see this in the early church that the people will take time to pray, and even fast, before making a decision. Or in the midst of extended prayer God reveals and gives direction to them. I believe we are at a turning point in the life of our church. In a sense, we have been in a season of change for the last 5 or 6 years. In that time we have a new Senior Pastor and a significant change in staff. Sadly, many of our past leaders have left us to go to be with the Lord. We have made some
I hope that each of us will commit to pray for our church daily. In that prayer we must pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in how we will use this resource for our future as a church in the work of the Kingdom of God within and beyond our walls. We will also be intentionally setting up times and opportunities for prayer, such as prayer vigils and prayer groups as we seek together God’s direction for our church. We will be presenting those opportunities very soon. For more than 130 years the First Baptist Church of Redlands has been involved in significant, relevant ministry, making investments into the Kingdom of God that continue to make an impact locally and globally. In fact, I would say this gift is a part of that investment made early in the history of our church. It would seem that God is not finished with us yet. Join me and the leaders of our church in intentional prayer to discover what God has in store for us next and how we might be good stewards of ALL of the resources God has provided for us. We are blessed to be a blessing! Let us pray!
Grace and peace in Christ, Pastor Shawn
