November 21, 2024 Note

Hello Five Mile Friends!

Nazarene pastors are required to earn continuing education credits each year. One of the ways I do this is to take part in an Intermountain District Learning Network. The most recent book we've been reading has dealt with the importance of prayer in the church, which is precisely where the Lord has been speaking to me recently, so it's been challenging and refreshing.

In Chapter 6, the question is asked, "How do we define success?" Many churches define success by attendance, budget, or perhaps by hiring a dynamic and strong lead pastor and staff. The church in Ephesians, however, seems to define success as growing in unity, overflowing with the love of Christ, and looking more like Jesus. The former things are not unimportant, but growth in those areas are secondary to the latter metrics of unity, love, and Christlikeness.

What do you think?

Speaking of prayer, December 6-7 is "To the Ends of the Earth" 24-hour Global Missions Prayer initiative. Each region of the world has been assigned different time slots. The two time slots designated for the USA/Canada Region of the Church of the Nazarene are:

• Dec 6 from 4pm until 6pm

• Dec 7 from noon until 2 pm

Join any time slots with any region for as long as you are able during this 24-hour period of time. If you would like to join the online feed of Nazarenes worldwide, please request the link.

I encourage you to fast all or part of that 24-hour period and come to the church all or part of the times designated above to spend time in prayer as a church family for the work of God around the world! Food is a good thing from which to fast, but if you are unable to do that, consider fasting from online, social media, reading, coffee, or some other thing that is a regular part of your daily routine.

Let's pray and fast for God's work around the globe and across the street

Have a great day!

-- Pastor Steve

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