Being a church in America today means living into
a countless number of challenges. There is the challenge of being counter-cultural; in a world where
there are increasing numbers of things to do on a
Sunday morning, being a church is saying that it
remains worthy, important, even critical to come
together for study and worship on a Sunday. There is the challenge of commitment; in a
world where people’s schedules are over-full and
over-taxed, being a church means finding ways to
find balance in the midst of the busyness. Then
there is the great challenge of taking seriously the
call and the commission to follow Jesus; in a world
where needs abound, where there is hunger, poverty,
homelessness, brokenness, and sorrow, being a
church means taking seriously Jesus’ call to feed the
hungry and to clothe the naked. It means taking
seriously Jesus’ challenge to love, to see him in the
faces of those around us and to care for and love him by caring for and loving one another.
At First Baptist Church in Beverly, we, like other
churches across America, must face and respond to
all of these challenges. This year, we also face some
of our own unique and personal challenges. This is
a year of change, growth, and transition for this
church family, and that reality will bring with it its
own unique set of challenges and opportunities.
Our faith tells us that God will be with us as we
face these challenges of being a church — of being
the First Baptist Church in Beverly. These are challenges that are not only to be endured, but to be
embraced. They will continue to help form us and
shape us. They will continue to help us to grow and
to discover who we are always becoming.
This is an exciting time in our lives together.
This is a time for love.
This is a time to be challenged.
This is a time to Love the Challenge!
Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all you do be done in love.
~ 1 Corinthians 16:13-14