A traditional Anglican bishop recently in a letter challenged his priests about their empty
pews. He told them that they should get out become involved in evangelism, among other
things in the community. The bishop was pleased that most of those he addressed were
enthusiastic about his plan, but was surprised when one priest close to him simply wrote
back that he would resign because he could not do that. Perhaps there is more to the
resignation, but it got me to thinking, this is not just an Anglican problem, but one that
travels across all denominations, working the streets and neighborhoods is a thing of the
past. We are satisfied with the few we have and so be it.
The challenging story of the Good Shepherd should beckon to us. Jesus asked, "If a man
should have 100 sheep and one should stray should he leave the 99 and go after the ONE or
should he stay and let the ONE drown in their misery?"
There is safety in numbers. Within that 99 if there is teaching, praying and fellowship they
can look after each other. But the ONE who has left should be sought. They are out there
alone hungry, lost and possibly dying, the ONE needs attention.
Within the faith that I was raised (the Anglican) we are not blameless of this lack of outreach.
We get caught up in the traditions of the faith while the world around us falls to the wayside.
This travels across the borders of many main stream denominations, where concerns for the
past, takes precedence over the joys of the future, while there is nothing wrong in looking
at past leaders and celebrating them, we should be looking at future leaders getting them
ready for the service, who may possibly talk about us 100 years from now.
To put it simply, the church today is lacking in outreach and abandons the ONE while playing
to the 99; but it just might be that the ONE that is the future of the church, thus they should
be sought. In today's world many ministers want ready made pulpits, and are not willing to
work for it. They would be happy if others go out and find others for them to preach to, but
they, themselves, are not interested. Practically the trouble with this is that when new
people do come, those ministers who want no part in evangelism, just only to show off their
intellectual stances (among other things), they do not inspire new people.
Their approach sometimes run new people away who just do not understand what it is to be
a part of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Gone are the days when a bishop or a leader of a
denomination appointed a minister and could sit back, show up on Sundays and receive a
check on Monday. It can no longer be this way. With youth dying and parents losing control
of their children, not to mention the unrest of civil strife in the world, the preacher needs
now, more than ever to go out and preach the gospel away from the safety of his pulpit.
All churches are not guilty of this lack of leadership. There are some who work hard to bring
the lost back home, they go on a desperate search for the ONE, knowing full well that the 99
are well taught. We see a church beginning in 2005, with 4 members. One year later they
have 300 members. This has not much to do with the pastor, but the 99 who made sure they
did their part while the pastor searched for the ONE.
Which gets me back to the 99 and ONE. If the ONE that goes astray you and go after them,
you will find that in so doing you might just meet another 99 (or ONE ) who might just return
with you. There is a message for all who seek God's grace. We should never squander the
chance to meet and greet the 99, but the ONE should never be left in the cold.
Within the Anglican Church Worldwide, of which I am charged, we constantly encourage all to
go after the ONE (or 99). This is not an easy task and will never be so, but when we see
neighborhood that Speak- Easies and Night Clubs are filled, we must do more to lead others
away from a path of destruction and home to the kingdom of God. It should be a continuous
work in motion that builds faith, IT IS A DUTY. Along the way there will be setbacks and times
that we just want to throw our hands up in the air, but we must never give up. Jesus did not
on us.
Let us remember theses 3 things:
1. For every one that is brought to the church, there is joy in heaven.
2. For every one that is reached out to, maybe there are 10 around them that will follow
their example.
3.For every one that gives his or her life to Christ, there may be a 100 in his family
worldwide that will follow their example and spread the word, therein the church will
be filled.
The church in the end is the only happy alternative to the violence, pain and lost hope in the
world. We should take every chance we get to reach out to the world and give counsel and
aid wherever we can, for no matter how filled our pews are, there is always ROOM FOR ONE
MORE. Not just the ONE that has gone astray, but the ONE who sits on the curb hearing the
church bells and wonders, "Could they be beckoning me?"
We invite you in this offering to be a part of the 99, but look yonder and reach out to the ONE.