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Friends United Meeting |
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January/February 2004
Commitments
By Retha McCutchen, FUM General Secretary
Evangelism can be a worn Christian concept. For some it carries concepts of salvation, freedom and inner peace. Evangelism has also been used to manipulate. Yet, our General Board has identified outreach and evangelism as a priority for Friends United Meeting's future. What does evangelism mean, for us?
One General Board member offers some compelling thoughts on evangelism: "I wish our talk of evangelism would connote that we are talking about something that turns lives upside down.ÊIt is a relationship with God that completely alters conventional worldviews. It is a peaceful pathway through this life of violence.ÊIt leads to places we can't imagine and demands from us what we don't know we have.ÊIt involves a wonderful community. It involves new conceptions of worship, hierarchy and decision-making.ÊIt incorporates new levels of integrity. It requires equality. It focuses on the simplicity of setting aside all that interferes between us and God. This is not a Sunday belief, it is every hour, every day and is a very social gospel — it is believing in Jesus' teachings enough to really follow them through.ÊIt is taking the command to 'love your enemies' at face value. It is full awareness of the ocean of light that covers this world's ocean of darkness. This is the evangelism I want to see. This is what is bringing people to our meeting. This is what is challenging us." (Jens Braun, General Board representative from NYYM.)
Living like this would change our lives and the lives of all who meet FUM Friends. All we do must be a commitment to energize and equip Friends through the power of the Holy Spirit to gather people into fellowships where Jesus Christ is known, loved and obeyed as Teacher and Lord. You are invited to offer your thoughts by writing to me at retham@fum.org or 101 Quaker Hill Drive, Richmond, Indiana 47374.
Copyright (c) 2004 Friends United Meeting
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