Lead Pastor’s Blog II.VI

Cornerstone you have my attention. I will take a short blogging break from examing our congregational test scores from April 25th to comment on our recent track record of responding to Matthew 25.

In January 2010 we started our year looking at Matthew 25 and the story of the sheep and the goats. Let me refresh your memory. In that story Jesus essentially says that whatever we did unto the least of these we did unto Him. So, if we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give water to the thirsty, visit those sick or in prison we effectively minister to Jesus Himself. Not only that but he also tells us that those are the faith entrance requirements for eternity in heaven. My challenge at the beginning of the year was for us to do something within those categories during this calendar year. Get involved in some way in helping the poor. Let me give you some recent results.

In October 2009 we gave you the opportunity to sponsor a child through Compassion Canada. Each Sunday we had people manning a table where we could sign up to help a child in need. During that month over 30 children were sponsored. On Sunday April 25th World Vision was here and they told me we sponsored 19 children. On May 2nd Watoto Children’s Choir was here and we sponsored 21 children in Uganda. Since October Cornerstone has sponsored over 70 children from various places around the world. This does not include children sponsored through Haiti Arise as I know some families have responded to that need in Haiti.

I applaud your response to Matthew 25. Remember Jesus said that whatever you did to the least of these you did to me. You have been obedient and I want to encourage you for being obedient. We cannot be a church that turns its attention away from the very real needs in our world. We will not be a church that talks a good game but does nothing. We will not stop responding even when it means we sacrifice in order to meet the needs of those in our world. Part of our vision entails meeting practical needs in our world in the name of Jesus Christ. We are changing our world through our participation in Matthew 25.

However, I believe something esle is happening as well. Not only are we engaging in the vision of changing our world but what is happening is that we are being changed. Jesus Christ changes lives. Jesus Christ is changing our lives. That is such great news. If we are going to continue to be obedient to Matthew 25 we need to have our hearts become more like the heart of our Saviour.

Cornerstone you have my attention. Paul wrote in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” By the way, we set an all time attendance record on Sunday May 2nd for Cornerstone. We saw 663 people attend our services that day. God is at work. Come on, there is still more to do so let’s keep it up.