Heath
Church of Christ

For Such A Time As This
by Greg Robbins 

“For such as time as this” was Mordecai’s prophetic response to Queen Esther’s doubts about God’s plan for her life.  Mordecai’s famous admonition reminds us that there are defining moments in time when God opens the door of opportunity for his people.  The leadership of the Heath Church of Christ believes that God is opening the door of opportunity for our church in 2010. 
2010 is a “time” for taking the next step in our church’s mission.  Presently, I feel very encouraged about the growth and health of HCC.  New membership additions, active ministries, vibrant children and student programs, a developing college ministry, dedicated leadership, meaningful worship experiences, robust mission’s support, faithful giving, relevant Bible classes, increased service in the community, and the sincere and loving “vibe” of the congregation all testify to the strength and spiritual fitness of our church.  We will continue to invest in and showcase these strengths. 

Another sign of church health is a leadership body that is willing to be open to God’s leading and take bold steps of faith if opportunities arise.  Over the past year, we have prayerfully discerned that God is challenging our congregation to begin to intentionally and strategically target the modern culture with the gospel in our approaches and methods in ministry and worship.  The world is changing (this is my deep thought for this article!) at the speed of the internet.  Modern people are skeptical about the truthfulness of Christianity and traditional religious forms and expressions.  We can no longer assume people know the Bible or understand the claims of Jesus.   Research reveals that two-thirds of young adults leave the church after their 18th birthday.  The world of Leave it to Beaver and the Atari game system has been replaced by the world of instant information, Facebook, 24/7 family activity, and cyber church.

How should the church respond to the disorienting trends and seismic shifts of the 21st century world?  Do we lament these changes and long for an earlier era?  Do we retreat behind our church walls, denying these changes and insulating ourselves from the very world we are called to save?  Or should we, as the church, aggressively and creatively engage the community around us with the ancient, unchanging message of the gospel?  I suggest that the church’s Biblical mandate is to faithfully engage the culture around us.  By definition, the Biblical church is missional; that is to say, we are commanded to go into the world and present the unchanging Christian message, employing fresh methods that resonate with a changing culture.  As a church, we must follow the example of the Apostle Paul who became “all things to all people” so that he may win some to salvation in Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 9:22).

The gospel truth will never change; however, our methods and approaches in sharing this message must change if we are going to effectively reach and minister to the present and future generations.  Over the coming months, the leadership of the church will be sharing with you God’s “revolutionary” vision for the Heath Church of Christ.  Starting next Sunday morning, I will begin to share with you details of the “New Year’s Revolution.”  Praise God that he has appointed HCC for such a time as this.

One God, Many Responses
by Dave Mason 

How would you respond if you looked up from reading this article and saw Jesus standing beside you? Imagine if that really happened. What would you do? The way you answer that question lies at the heart of worship. Worship is how we respond when we find ourselves in the presence of God.

When Moses found himself speaking with God at the burning bush, he responded by removing his shoes, a sign that he was standing on “holy ground.” When Isaiah saw a vision of God on His throne in heaven, he responded by acknowledging his sinfulness as he cried out, “Woe to me. . .” King David responded to God by writing songs and playing them skillfully. The disciples of Jesus responded by leaving everything behind to follow Him. Mary the sister of Lazarus responded by anointing Jesus’ feet with very expensive perfume. The crowd in Acts 2 responded to God by repentance and baptism. –One God, many responses.

Christians all over the world continue to worship God by responding in a variety of ways. Some respond by meeting secretly in homes so as to avoid being arrested. Others respond by traveling on foot for miles to meet with other believers in a shelter, singing God’s praises with the accompaniment of one tambourine and listening to a simple message from the Bible.  Some respond by assembling in grand cathedrals for sessions of “high church” featuring pipe organs and old traditions. Others respond by meeting in small chapels and singing from the “old-school” hymn books complete with shaped notes. Today many Christians respond to God with modern songs of worship backed by a complete band. –One God, many responses.

Have you ever stopped to consider all the different ways people respond to God each week at the Heath Church of Christ? Under one roof, adults participate in Sunday morning services that blend old and new styles together and focus on God’s Word. At the same time preschool and elementary age children respond to God in an age-appropriate way by learning Bible stories and singing simple songs. The group attending the Sunday night Fireside Service responds to God using the “old standard” hymns and biblical preaching in a relaxed, yet traditional setting. On Wednesdays evenings our teens respond to God by rising to their feet and singing modern songs of praise followed by strong teaching from the Bible. –One God, many responses.

This Spring we seek to reach out to our community by providing yet another avenue for people to respond to God. Beginning Sunday, March 21 we will offer a “blended” worship style during first service and a more “modern” worship style during the second. The “blended” service will include our current mix of classic hymns and new worship songs with a more formal feel. The “modern” service will feature many of the newer worship songs and a more casual approach. –One God, many responses.
Please pray that God will multiply our efforts in this endeavor.