Thank You from Pastor Bill Pitts, Cross Pointe Free Will Baptist Church

Nice words about our church from Cross Pointe Baptist Church. We hosted a fundraiser to help pay medical expenses for those who were part of the recent botulism outbreak. 

"My wife and I attended the concert and fundraiser for Crosspoint Church members still recovering and donated an item for the Silent Auction. Pastor Bill told me how grateful he was to First Church for hosting the May 24th event and also for the gas cards provided by First Church to help church members travel to Columbus to be with their loved ones. The family of the woman that passed away was in attendance at the event. There could have been more people there supporting the cause but Pastor Bill was very grateful."

Churches Sharing in Ministry Together

This week reminds me of the value of churches sharing in ministry for the sake of God's kingdom.  This morning, I'll be meeting with pastors of six other United Methodist churches in the surrounding area for our monthly small group.

We will spend time praying for each other, sharing our personal and church ministry goals, reading scripture, planning future shared ministry events, and celebrating Holy Communion.  By meeting together, we are seeking to strengthen each other in being faithful followers of Jesus Christ. 

Tonight, I will be presiding for the annual church conference of one of those churches.  In our United Methodist system, the District Superintendent assigns an Elder to preside at this meeting which prepares the congregation for a new year of ministry.  The assigning of another pastor is a powerful reminder that there are no lone ranger churches.  We are connected to one another. 

Tomorrow, I will be joining folks from a non-denominational church to visit and learn from a church that is involved in very innovative ministries in reaching people for Christ.  We will be learning together.  This is another example of the advantage of churches remembering that we are connected through Jesus Christ.

Yes, there are theological differences between churches, but we also seek to live out Jesus' prayer, "I ask not only on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.  As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me." - John 17:20-21
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Xenia Churches Enjoying Fellowship!

Yesterday, several churches in our community gathered for an old fashioned barbecue chicken picnic at the Shawnee Park pavillion.

The Xenia Area Association of Churches decided to sponsor this picnic to help the churches in our area enjoy Christian fellowship and offer prayers for the upcoming September 23 & 24 Impact World Tour, a revival designed to reach children, youth, and young adults in our community for Jesus Christ.

Common Cup, which represents 16 United Methodist Churches sharing in ministry together has been challenged to have at least 100 people receive training to become Impact World Tour Local Links. A Local Link is someone who will attend both of the September 23/24 Impact World Tour events at Xenia High School, come alongside someone who makes a decision to follow Christ, and provide support and encouragement through personal contacts with a new believer over an eight week period.

Local Link training will be provided immediately after our Wednesday Common Cup Food Court from 6:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on September 10 and 17 at Faith Community. Both training sessions are needed to become a Local Link.

Check out the brief interview I had with Pastor Dan Jordan of Xenia Grace Chapel and our Director of Youth Ministries, Susan Fellie, about what this day of food and fellowship among our Xenia churches meant to them.