Mere Missions

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called to be a pastor of this church plant. My calling was to decrease and for other leadership to increase and lead the church. The fall of that year, twenty to thirty men were attending the men’s fellowship. Jonathan and I, through much prayer, decided to intentionally establish a church in the Spring of 1997, with Jonathan being the pastor. It was time for this gathering of men to move from a Bible Study to a community of believers committed to worshiping God, growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus, and through the Spirit reach out to their neighbors and community with the love of the Gospel. Whosoever will, may come. Easter Sunday, 1997, by the grace of God, Bethany Inner City Church was established and continues to this day to be a beacon of light for the Lowell Community. would interlock our fingers inwardly and bring our palms and thumbs touching together. “This is the Church.” Taking our pointing fingers, we would touch the tips and point them upward. “This is the steeple.” To “Open the doors and see all the people” we would open our palms outwardly so that we can see our fingers and thumbs and wiggle them to imitate the people. I love the Church. As a child, it was in the Church that I came to believing faith in Jesus the Lord. I have fond memories of Sunday evenings when it was Special Hymn Night. When asked for a favorite hymn I would shoot my hand up and shout out page 63 without even being called upon. Yes, I still remember the page number for “The Old Rugged Cross.” There was something about the chorus that touched me as a child: Content 1: Missions Plank: The Church “This is the church. This is the steeple. Open the doors and see all the people.” I learned this little action song while in Sunday School. We