Submissive Faith. by K. Chavez.

A new year is at our doorstep. A new time God has allowed us to enjoy with our family, our church, our friends. It's that kind of year when God is calling many of us to take a step into a new level of faith, the type of faith that requires total submission to God. There have been many times in my life when God has called me to do the unexpected; in ministry, in my family life, and in my personal life. I’d like to share with you a time when the Holy Spirit made his will sweet in my life. 

About 6 years ago, I was a blessed to be part of a wonderful church. There were many talented musicians and singers. Unfortunately, all of a sudden some of the musicians moved, others left the church and slowly we began to lose all the talented people in the worship band. It was no longer a band as there was only one musician, the drummer.  

My pastor asked me to join the worship group but I didn’t feel that I could sing very well and I didn’t play any instruments. However, I obeyed the pastor and joined the group. The group didn’t have a leader and nobody volunteered to lead it, so after a couple of months, the pastor asked me to become the leader. I was hesitant to do this because after all, I had no music knowledge. How can I lead them? But in submission to God, I accepted.

I became the leader of a group of people who wanted to worship God through music but had no training and little talent. I was not too encouraged. I didn’t want to be a leader of a group like this and I didn’t have the training to get things going. I cried every night and prayed that God would send musicians and singers to the band, but nothing happened. So I prayed and waited.

Later that year, my mother-in-law gave my oldest son an electric piano for Christmas because she wanted him to begin taking piano lessons. When I saw the electric piano I felt the Lord speak to my heart and tell me “You will worship me with this instrument”. I thought… “I don’t know how to play the piano; I will make a fool of myself. How can I possible think that I can stand up in front of the congregation, play an instrument and lead worship? I’m not called for that” I put God's calling aside and continue to rehearse the worship team with prerecorded tracks on a CD. 

During one of those rehearsals, one of the team members suggested that we do one day of prayer and fasting. She felt we needed it, we were practically putting people to sleep during services! So we did it, we got together and prayed.  That day as we were reading God's Word, a passage spoke to my heart. It read “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). I understood that He had chosen me for such time as this. God chose me to lead this group of people and He would glorify Himself through us. 

I got home and took the keyboard and prayed. I asked the Lord to help me learn how to play this instrument. I didn’t have any money for piano lessons, so I took my computer and searched for free piano lessons. I came across various videos on YouTube with mini lessons and I began to use them. I started to practice every single day. To make a long story short; God helped me to learn chords rather quickly. I began to play the piano and sing at the same time in just a couple of months. And every time I did it, it was as if I was someone else. God would take over and use me like I never imagined He could. In less than 4 months I was leading worship at the church and the presence of God was felt during every service. 

About a year later a friend and a professional guitar player, came to visit. He went to one of our practices and couldn’t believe what God was doing with our group. I told him the testimony and he was in awe. He told me how playing an instrument and singing at the same time was not a simple task and required much practice, and was amazed how I could do it without any trouble. The most amazing thing was that I didn’t even take real lessons. It was all God at work. 

I never thought that at my age I would be able to learn to play an instrument so quickly and without much assistance. But God honored my faithful submission to His call and glorified Himself in my life. I never saw myself as a musician, but God had other plans for my life. I allowed God to take control and He showed me that he can "chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are" (1 Corinthians 1:28). He chose me, a grown woman, mother of three, without any previous knowledge of music, to be the leader of a band and worship Him through music. Praise God for His perfect plans.

Yup! that's me on the keyboard.

“Do not think that loving submission to God in consecration does away with your personhood. Far from it; loving submission is the way to find your true personhood, your true self.” (Tracy 89). I had to put my fears and own plans aside and faithfully submitted to God’s plans for my life. I found out that I had this musical ability that I would have never noticed if I wouldn’t have allowed God to take control of my life. I am so thankful that God used my pastor to lead me into God’s purpose for my life. I am happy that I chose to submit rather than rebel against His will for my life. 

My dear woman of God. This year a challenge you to take the step of faith God has called you to make. To submit to His will and calling. To rest in His arms and know that He's in control and His plans are perfect for your life. 

The Importance of Church Outreach in the Local Community - by Karen Chavez

As soon as the Church realizes how important it is to offer Outreach Programs to the local community, it will begin to see the positive impact Outreach will have in the church and neighborhood.  Church Outreach is a vital part of the congregation’s growth; without it, there is little hope of advancement.  Churches need to implement Outreach Programs in their local communities as an act of obedience to God’s command, to lead others to the Lord, and to promote church growth 

To establish Outreach Programs is to act in obedience to the Lord. When Jesus gave the disciples specific instructions through the Great Commission, he was telling them to go out into the world. They needed to get out of their comfort zones. For churches, this is accomplished when outreach is done. Missionaries are a great example of people who have chosen to live what the Great Commission demands. Many of them leave the comfort of home to live in a foreign place, preach the Gospel, and provide services to the community where they have settled.  Today, the local community is the mission field of the Church. This is the “land” the Lord wants the Church to conquer. It is the job of the Christians to get out of the comfort zone and begin to obey the instructions given by Christ himself.

Leading others to the Lord is one of the main reasons for Church Outreach. Through the established programs the Church can show the love of God to the people being served. When a food pantry or a clothing closet is offered to the community, the Church is doing exactly what the Lord expects. Matthew 5:35-40 says “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat… I needed clothes and you clothed me…I was in prison and you came to visit me... ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ ” Programs can be designed in various ways that will allow an evangelistic message to be shared with the folks. A great idea is to give New Testaments or devotionals with the goods that are being distributed. Outreach creates a number of opportunities to share the message of Salvation to more people in a practical way.

 

A major benefit of Outreach Programs is church growth.  If the Church utilizes its building as the main location for the Outreach events, the people that attend will become familiar with its facilities. When people start feeling comfortable with going to the church building to participate of an Outreach Program, it will become easier to invite the community to the worship services. Once the folks continue to attend worship services on a regular basis, the next step would be to begin a Newcomers Program.  This type of program will familiarize the people with the church in another level, preparing them for a possible commitment to live a Godly life.

 

 

As long as the Church gives importance to the needs of the local community, outreach programs will continue to benefit both the church and the surrounding neighborhood.  It is a blessing to obey God’s command, lead others to Christ, and see the church grow as a result of establishing Church Outreach Programs in the local community.  Outreach is a great way for the Church to show a glimpse of God’s love the surrounding communities.