We all need to be encouraged. Our churches should be places where people are welcomed with love, where there is practical help, where there is provision. They also need to be places where there is encouragement and praise.
Misty, the beautiful puppy was so willing to learn. But when she matured into her doggy teens, she would decide whether it was important to obey or not. Misty reminded me of how we can respond to the call of God, particularly with ministry to the marginalized.
In the UK, where I live, there are stories of people being kind and helpful to the old, lonely and vulnerable. Those in distress from the coronavirus are being supported. For a long time, many in the Church have been crying out to God for justice for the poor, the oppressed, the marginalized and those who are often discriminated against, such as those with disabilities. It has taken a pandemic for us to realize that we all need to change.
We now recognize that there are alternative, nonverbal ways in which we can communicate. Most churches, however, still rely heavily on the traditional sermon to convey God’s message. As I contemplated how other forms of communication could be integrated into churches, I was struck by how Jesus communicated with people. He used a variety of different approaches to express the Father’s message.