The Wilderness Way #12

In nine months JoLynn and I have grown to love Fort Worth. The vibrancy of the city and area, the hospitality of the people, the arts (well, maybe I was treated to a Bill Envall performance at Bass Concert Hall for my birthday!) and, of course, the great churches of the Fort Worth District.

First United Methodist Church in Fort Worth is a great church. Their outreach ministry to the city is tremendous. They offer a prominent and important public witness to the cause of Christ on behalf of the Methodist movement.

The same could be said for a number of other churches in the city. St. Andrews in Fort Worth has provided courageous and prophetic leadership. They are on the cusp of a new day as they embrace a different future in our post-Christendom world. I am deeply impressed by the future opening that is before First United Methodist Church in Burleson. They have had the courage to relocate and the vision to step towards a new tomorrow.

The same could be said of a host of other churches in the district — Crowley, Joshua, Saginaw, First in Azle and Christ among others come to mind. Lighthouse is living its name. It is a lighthouse of Christ’s hope and glory in the northwest part of the district. The new ministry at LifePoint is thrilling! A work of God is underway.

In a different and exciting way, Arborlawn is pioneering how to move into a new future. Among many ministries, their adult discipleship training is impressive. Both St. John the Apostle and St. Andrew’s in Arlington show similar vibrancy in developing paths for discipleship and reaching out to the mission field with new and exciting ministries.

In this district there are a host of churches situated in various city neighborhoods that are engaging their immediate mission field with creativity. Ridglea, Arlington Heights and Morningside. Campus Drive has an impressive missional outreach to children as a part of its weekday life.

And yet … and yet, as I gaze back over what I have written (begging mercy for those churches which should have been included in this writing but were not), I encountered the same split personality here as elsewhere. There are a number of churches that are struggling to connect with their mission field. The neighborhoods have changed.

Nobody comes to church to keep the institution alive. People come to meet God. They want to talk with the Lord. Jesus’ core teaching applies in this metropolitan district with an exclamation point! “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.” (Mark 8:34-35)

In some cases, the church has moved but the building has stayed behind. It is a losing proposition. In other cases, as noted in other Shepherd Visits, we desperately need to rediscover how to do evangelism. I am so impressed by El Buen Samaritano and Rev. David Martinez. They are a Wesleyan movement pioneering evangelism and mission in a neighborhood we must not abandon. The city cries out for Christ and we must answer in prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness.

By: Bishop Mike Lowry On 5/1/2009

Topics: Bishop Columns