Praying about this question, God answered in 3 parts -
1) FIRST PRAY, PRAY, PRAY. We need to ask God His plan – below July 7, 2009 devotion*. His ways are higher than our ways and the closing prayer in our eucharist reminds us that Ephesians 3:20 says He can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine;
2) Could asking those of us who have left the Anglican church, why we did, help clarify a vision? I grew up in a loving, Christian family; was baptized and confirmed; gave my life to Jesus at 12; and, for most of my life attended Anglican church more often than weekly, as I was very involved in worship, youth ministry, and my parents have always lived exemplary role models for me. I loved working for Archbishop O’Driscoll as the Secretary-Treasurer in the Diocese of Huron for 6 years, except for the unbelievably painful journey through the residential school lawsuit.
My husband and I and the 3 kids in our blending family left the Anglican Church when God called us to stretch and learn in the Pentecostal Church. We followed God’s call across the country to Vancouver, and now we are learning at Willingdon Church, a Mennonite Brethren church in Burnaby, BC. I still consider myself an Anglican. I need change to grow in my faith and my relationship with God. Rick Warren says in his Purpose-Driven Life, God is interested in our character, not our comfort. Living in Vancouver teaches me that open doors and bridges are critical to thrive in a faith-based life. Is the Anglican Church opening doors to God and bridging ministries across the country and around the world?
3) Examine what difference the people of the Anglican Church are living today. Is the Anglican Church being salt and light? Are we feeding the hungry and fighting to rescue the oppressed as Isaiah 58 calls us to? What difference does the Anglican Church make in this hurting and confused world? Are we even relevant to a society distracted with the idols of materialism, sex, tolerance, health and fitness, and “eternal youth”? What would bring people who don’t know Jesus through the front doors to the Anglican Church?
I would be thrilled to see the Anglican Church flourish and grow exponentially to share the gospel with those all around us who need the hope and joy of knowing God loves us unconditionally. We would stretch into being more Christ-like as we open ourselves to compassion and loving others with the heart of God.
To God be the glory,
Anne Marie
*July 7, 2009 devotion in Our Daily Bread as follows:
“DOING THE WORK OF GOD
2 Corinthians 3:5 “Our sufficiency is from God.”
When I was a pastor I used to have a recurring nightmare. I would rise to preach on Sunday morning, look out at my congregation – and see no one in the pews! It doesn’t take a Daniel (Daniel 2:1,19) or a dream therapist to interpret the vision. It grew out of my belief that everything depended on me. I mistakenly believed that if I did not preach with power and persuasion, the congregation would fade away and the church would fold. I thought I was responsible for the results of God’s work.
In the Gospels, we read that some people asked Jesus, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” (John 6:28). What audacity! Only God can do the works of God!
Jesus’ answer instructs us all: “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent” (v. 29). Whatever we have to do, then, whether teaching a Sunday school class, leading a small group, telling the gospel story to our neighbor, or preaching to thousands, it must be done by faith. There is no other way to “work the works of God”.
Our responsibility is to serve God faithfully, wherever He has placed us. Then we’re to leave the results to Him. As Jesus reminded His disciples in John 15:5, “Without Me you can do nothing.” – David Roper
Reading John 6:25-33
